James 3:2-6

Careful about control -- James 3:2-6: The fact that all teachers are prone to speak error is one of the main reason why men were cautioned about seeking to be a teacher. Mistakes in teaching not only damn the teacher, but his false teaching will lead other to damnation. What a terrible sin to answer for on the Day of Judgment!

Man must learn to bridle his tongue. The thought is that if one attains control or mastery over the tongue he is able to control the entire body. Our tongue is the most unruly and rebellious member of our body. James had in mind the challenge to avoid teaching error, or doing wrong with our tongue.

James sets forth three illustrations to help us understand the subject of controlling our tongue -- (1) bits in a horse's mouth, (2) the very small helm (rudder) of a ship, and (3) the tongue as a small fire. The "bit" and the "helm" stress the importance and power of such a small thing as the tongue. The fire stresses the astounding damage resulting from such a small beginning.

The bit is a small thing. Yet, with it you can control the entire horse, even as large as he may be. Likewise, a small thing, the tongue, controls our body. He who has proper control over his tongue can govern his entire body.

The second illustration is that a large ship being controlled by a small helm or rudder. The ship is very large, yet this small rudder easily manages it. He that has control of the helm has control of the ship itself. The rider controls the horse with the bit. The ship is managed by a small helm. A tongue, under control, is God's special mean for governing the whole man.

An uncontrolled tongue is compared to "fire” in regard to the damage that it can do. Just a spark turns a house to ashes or burns thousands of acres. A fiery, out of control tongue can destroy a family, corrupt a society, ruin a church, or wreck a kingdom. The origin of the destructive fire of the tongue came from hell itself. Let us remember the harm done by a tongue whose words have a hellish origin. Contentions, revilings, reproaches, and all kinds of false teachings come from such a tongue.