Words Matter: James 3: 1-12
Words matter. I’ll never forget hearing that in a closing argument years ago. The poor lawyer had gone all the way through the case, which had been tough to say the least, and was now at the end—the closing, the summation, her time to shine. The problem was—she really had nothing she could say and could think of no real way to defend her client. So she stood up, looked the jury squarely in the eye and said: “Words matter.” It flowed powerfully and carefully from that point talking about the witnesses’ words, listening to them, the importance, what might be said or missed.
After careful deliberation, the jury came back and seated itself, poised to deliver a verdict that was carefully considered, a verdict which spoke the truth, and which understood that words matter. In the end the guy went to prison because he was guilty as homemade sin. But the phrase still resonated—words matter. The problem James presents to us today is controlling our tongue. Now the tongue itself is just a mechanism for speech. It doesn’t really do much in and of itself. But the tongue is controlled by the heart, and in that control can do more damage than any other power we have.
James starts on a specific point then becomes more general in his discussion of words and speech. First he notes that teachers should be guarded in their role. In the scripture he says, “not many you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.” He then talks to teachers and to everyone more generally, “For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way” Teachers should actually have the spiritual gift of teaching. In James’ day everyone wanted to be a teacher, and it created problems in the a church filled with everyone saying different things to the members. Such a situation confused and alienated people.
Teachers have a deep responsibility in the formation of faith in people. As a child, if you regularly went to church, sermons and services were not where you learned your faith; it was Sunday School with a teacher. I will never forget my Aunt Jenny carefully teaching us in our small church with the old school flannel boards and cut outs of Bible figures. She is a gifted teacher, was precise in her teaching, and between her and the other Sunday School folks, I learned a lot about the stories of the Bible. And as I recall, most of my Sunday School teachers brought snacks, which is the best way to learn and get the attention of a kid. But teachers should also be cautions to teach truth as God reveals it and even when that truth is tough to hear.
As James moves more generally, he notes that people should be willing to lean on God’s help for controlling their words. Ultimately, words have great power. The example James gives us is that by placing a bit in the horse’s mouth where the tongue is, you can control the entire animal. Likewise, a small rudder, similar to a tongue, can control an entire ship. This small thing can control and do so much. But we must realize that both the ship and the horse are under the direction of the rider or the pilot, just as the heart controls the tongue, and we can see whether God controls the heart.
Therefore, we should refrain from words that harm others. We should be quick to avoid gossip—something we all may struggle with, and chief of sinners though I may be! We should avoid criticizing others from on high, avoid trash talking about people, avoid abusive language in our conversations. The words we say and the way we say them have the power to destroy an already fragile mind and spirit.
Words, then, have great potential for evil and should be watched over carefully. Look at the power—God spoke the world into existence. Christ spoke words of comfort never heard before. Paul’s preaching converted tens of thousands. Peter’s testimony literally founded the concept of Christianity and the church. And the best we can do is tell a dirty joke from time to time. Verses 8 and 9 warn us that no one can tame the tongue for it is restless and evil, “Sometimes it praises our Lord…and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.” When we speak it should not be for destructive purposes, least of all to our brothers and sisters made in God’s image.
But, words have great possibilities and can produce good things. James tells us about good and proper fruit being produced by the olive and fig trees, of fresh water bubbling up from a spring. These things are wonderful, refreshing, powerful. And I love that last bit—you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring. I remind myself regularly, when I get in some kind of way, that God’s Word says I better not be salty. Ultimately you cannot bless God while cursing God’s creation. Our words and speech should reflect God both in singing God’s praises and in speaking to God’s people.
Perhaps, if we have trouble, we can look to a little checklist that Paul gives us in Philippians 4:8, which tells us, “And now dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” It’s a good verse, but it needs to be placed into context for us.
We should consider the following questions before we speak. Do we know it’s true? Does it bring honor to the person spoken to as well as to God? Is it a fair thing to say? Is it free from slander? Is it free from fault and malice? Does it portray the person or object in the best possible light? Is what we say positive and worthy of others (and especially children) to imitate? Does it look for the best in someone?
Words matter. How we speak and what we say is a reflection of God working in our hearts and guiding our minds. It is so easy to be tempted to say something mean, hurtful, and bad simply because it’s funny, or gives us a false sense of power, or because our emotions outweigh our good sense and God’s grace. Speak with grace. Speak with the love of Christ and the goodness of God. Speak carefully. Speak in such a way that people hear the words of Christ speaking through your very voice and your very words which give life and hope to a weary world. Words matter, so use them carefully.