Bible Verse Synopsis 2-11-25
James 3:
Be cautious as a teacher of the Word. Make sure that you are allowing God to speak through you, not you through Him. This is a little differentiation but is incredibly important. He holds teachers to a higher standard than the student. Our faith (that we talked about yesterday), should be our guide. Faithfulness will open the door to Him working through us.
Manage your tongue, not the other way around. The mouth is a dangerous weapon that must be cautious of. Allow the Holy Spirit to control out tongue. This way we will follow the Word and speak not ill of other men. The tongue can start fires that cannot be put out. Do not lash your words around. The punishment can be severe. Mental or physical illness, suffering, & sleepless nights can all be caused by the tongue. The tongue sets our course. What we speak we believe. Do not let your tongue alter your course of chasing after Him. The tongue can and poison and cure, but which it propels into the world is determined by our relationship with Christ. With the Holy Spirit influencing us our tongue can be tamed. But only through full faith in Him. Do not bash the neighbor out of one side of your mouth only to praise God out the other side. This is hypocrisy! A fountain only gives 1 type of water, as should our tongue only speak in one way, the way of Christ.
The wise man shapes his lifestyle with caution and mercy. Thinking before he speaks and calming the tongue and sin nature. Praying always to give control to the Lord. Boasting is not the way a man of God proceeds. Nor is the envy of others. Self glorifying words are from the devil, not from the Lord. It should be praise and thanks for blessing us, not look what I have done. The wisdom here is brought about by Christ and through Christ alone. As James says in verse 17: “ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partially, and without hypocrisy.” This verse does a great job of wrapping up the chapter and being a guide to how man should continue to live his/her life.