In our series on the overview of the Book of James we have been talking about how
Our wholeness or mature faith is demonstrated through steadfast endurance of trials and active obedience to God's Word, rather than just hearing it.

and last week we focused in on how that mature faith or
Genuine faith is demonstrated to others by not showing favoritism or partiality towards others and instead by doing good works.

Today we begin taking a look at James Chapter 3.

Being a teacher in God’s church comes with accountability.

No one should teach just because they are good speakers.

Teaching is a gift that comes from God, that He expects us to use for His work.

Teaching is a necessary gift and calling for the benefit of God’s people, that we should not ignore. But

Those with the gift must teach God’s Word accurately and not for personal gain.

Paul said this in Titus 1: 10 – 11

James reminds us of a principal Jesus taught in Luke 12:48

The words of Jesus and James remind us that there is accountability for what God gives us to do for Him.

James then goes on to add some reasons as to why teachers should take this matter seriously.

Just because you have been gifted as a teacher doesn’t mean you are incapable of sinning. So, take your calling seriously and be careful what you teach.
None of us are perfect and we all stumble in sin.

The ancient Greek word translated stumble does not imply a fatal fall, but something that trips us up and hinders our spiritual progress. James then goes on to give some great illustrations to further embed these concepts into our minds.

Well James may have started addressing the teachers in the room, but now he is stepping on all of our toes. What great images to illustrate how powerful our words are. A simple horse’s bridle, a small rudder on a ship and our tongues can change the direction things are going. The direction the horse goes or the ship goes depends on whose hands are on the reins or on the rudder. So the question is,

Whose hands are on your reins? Is it the Holy Spirit or self?

Some people have no hand on the reins or rudder, and therefore say whatever comes into mind. Others direct their tongue from their emotions or from aspects of their carnal nature. James points us towards having the Spirit of God, working through the new man, set directing hands on the reins and rudder that is our tongue. Let’s read the rest of this passage in James 3: 6 – 12.

Wow, a wild animal can be tamed before we could ever hope to even tame our tongues! What power our words have!

Like flames of fire, our words can burn or cause great damage to others and to ourselves.

You may think you are hurting someone else with your words, but your words can come back to hurt you to. Say something bad about your boss behind their back and see how fast a little bird carries the message to the boss and soon you are out of work. Children are told sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me. But that child’s rhyme isn’t really true; the bitter pain of a word spoken against us can hurt us for a lifetime, long after a broken bone has healed. The tongue can be used for the highest calling, to bless our God & it can be used for the lowest evil, to curse men.

As Christians we should not be speaking words that bless God and then turn around and say evil things about others.

I love James’ illustration in verses 11 and 12, lets read those verses again:

Our heart, the place where Jesus should be on the throne should not be putting out good and bad words at the same time.

A freshwater spring only puts out fresh water. If the words we speak are bad, they point to something wrong in our hearts.

We are not letting the Holy Spirit pump that living water from the spring of our heart out to others through our words.

James takes this concept right from the Sermon on the Mount. Luke 6: 43 - 45

A good person, one following God, will bring forth good treasure or good words from their heart!

So, what comes from your mouth? That is a question we should all be asking ourselves. Are we putting out fresh and bitter water? Are our hands on the reins of our bridle? Who is steering your ship of words? We all need to be more careful with our words. None of us needs to set a forest on fire. Wise King Solomon said this in Proverbs 18:21