Slow to Speak (10-15-12)

James 1:19 - "This you know, my beloved brethren. But let each of you be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger."

The three commands in this verse directly contradict human nature. The natural tendency is to be slow to hear, quick to speak and quick to anger. All three of these are difficult to obey, but I personally find that the second one is the one that trips me up the most. The Bible gives us a lot of warnings about the power of words. This isn't the only time James speaks about it either. Several times in his small epistle James brings up the subject of the tongue and the power of words. In chapter 1 verse 26 he says - "If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless." That's basically what chapter 3 is all about. James 3:2-10 says - "For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way." The tongue is a powerful thing and it has the potential to cause great trouble. Proverbs 10:19 says - "When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise."

Jesus said Matthew 12:36-37 - "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." This isn't to say that a person is saved or can lose their salvation based on their words, that's not what Jesus is teaching. We know from the clear teaching or Scripture that we are saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning death, burial and resurrection. But Jesus is here teaching that you know what's in a persons heart by the fruit of their lips. Just before He said this He said - "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." Whatever fills your heart is going to come out your mouth. If you want to know what your heart is full of just listen to what comes out of your mouth over the course of a week, especially a very trying week, or when your forced to spend time with people you don't enjoy being around. You are going to be known by the fruit of your lips, and not just what you say in a religious setting, but what you say day to day. This is a good reason to be slow to speak, our testimony depends on it. Proverbs 15:28 says - "The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things." This is a very simple principle, think before you speak. I tend to talk without thinking first and that is never profitable. This verse says that a characteristic of the righteous is that they ponder how to answer. Proverbs 15:1 says - "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." This is something that we should ponder before speaking. What response is the hearer going to have to these words? Is this answer going to turn away anger or stir it up? Of course, we always want to tell the truth, we should never sacrifice an honest answer in order to avoid anger and there are situations where anger is going to be unavoidable, but as much as possible we need to learn to speak the truth in love as we're told in Ephesians chapter 4.

Proverbs 21:23 -"He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles."