There is a striking connection between James’ teaching on the tongue in James chapter 3 and Jesus’ teaching on the tongue in Matthew 12. When we compare these teachings, we see that the tongue (our speech) is both an indicator of our spiritual condition and a driver of our spiritual growth.
Jesus taught in Matthew 12 that, “… the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Matthew 12:34 NASB95). Similarly, in Matthew 15, Jesus said, “But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man” (Matthew 15:18). We see that the tongue is a window into what is going on in our hearts. The heart is the center of our inner being—the seat of our thoughts and attitudes. Whatever fills our heart will eventually come out of our mouths. And if what comes out is evil, it will defile us.
The words that come from our heart are very powerful. They not only indicate what is inside of us, but they have a great impact on the direction of our lives. James writes, “… 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… 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” (James 3:2-4). Just as a small bit can control the direction of a horse, and just as a small rudder can control the direction of a ship, so also the tongue, which is a small part of our body, can control the direction of our lives.
Does our speech really drive the course of our lives? It does, and we have all seen this effect in real life. When we’re upset and we keep on talking about our anger, what is likely to happen? We become more angry. Our words can be the fuel for rising anger. If we continually engage in boastful language, going on and on about how great we are, those words can fuel an even greater arrogance within us. On the other hand, the tongue can also direct our lives in a good way. If we are in the habit of expressing our thanksgiving to God, it will lead to us being even more thankful. When we speak well of someone we are at odds with, when we lift up their name in prayer, those words begin to reshape our perception of that person.
So we see that the tongue reveals our heart and has a bearing on the direction of our lives. The tongue is quite powerful—both for good and for evil. May we learn to bridle our tongues and let our words be a source of blessing in our own lives and the lives of others.
—Scott Colvin
while today 