Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
James 3:1-12
During 2026, Peachtree Church is inviting everyone into Cultivate, a churchwide discipleship plan centered on the fruit of the Spirit and the kind of life God longs to grow in us. Throughout the year, we’ll explore how love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control take shape in everyday life through the Spirit’s work. Cultivate brings together worship, Scripture, group guides, and meaningful practices designed to meet you where you are and support growth in ways that fit your season. These twice-weekly devotionals are one way to stay connected, offering reflection and grounding for daily life with God. Whether you engage in many ways or just one, you’re invited to be part of this shared journey of becoming more rooted in who God has created and called you to be.
Devotional
You know that insurance company commercial that says, “We know a thing or two because we’ve seen a thing or two.” Usually that funny tagline is preceded by some incredible disaster that is greeted calmly by the insurance representative because, just as we heard, they’ve seen an awful lot and will know how to cope with the tree in your house, the car on your roof, and the knee-deep flood in your kitchen.
The writer of the Book of James also knows a thing or two because he’s seen a thing or two. The author is thought to be the brother of Jesus, and he is the leader of the Jerusalem Church. Along with Peter and John, he is listed by the Apostle Paul in Galatians 2:9 as being a leader of the church in Jerusalem, and his being listed first means he is the primary leader. Pastor James watches over that church with an eagle eye, and he knows his congregation well. He sees what troubles them, where they are going wrong, and how they need to shape up. And he is totally willing to tell them exactly what they are doing wrong. James is like strong black coffee for the soul: one swift jolt, and his hearers are awake and aware. His book is full of keen observations and correctives, as well as pastoral concern.
James begins chapter 3 by talking about the huge responsibility of teachers in the church. Perhaps James was one of them himself, along with leading the whole church. He says the judgment of God on those who teach will be stricter than on other believers. He then transitions to talking about the dangers of wrong speech, perhaps thinking of how carefully teachers need to speak.
James tumbles from one metaphor to another about the power of the tongue (or speech). As he considers the power of such a tiny organ, he thinks of a small bit in the mouth of a horse, that enables the rider to turn the enormous horse this way or that. He thinks of a small rudder which can turn the course of a huge ship. He thinks of a small spark that sets a forest ablaze. Then he describes the way a malicious tongue can set all kinds of things on fire: lives sent to hell because of gossip, slander, and hateful speech. He describes the untamable nature of the tongue, and he sees the tongue as a poisonous source of evil. He says that no human being can tame the tongue, but he would not speak so scathingly unless he believed that the Lord can help us control what we say!
James has seen the powerful destruction that can be wrought in a church by hateful, uncontrolled speech. He may have seen things like a sly aside described as a request for prayer for another. Perhaps he’s seen the effect of disparaging words about someone previously well thought of and respected. Perhaps he’s seen the effect that a gossipy person has had, from mean talk that has exposed a painful chapter in another member’s life. All of these can and do happen in James’ church and ours. No wonder he describes them as poison. No wonder he longs for us to think about the power for evil in our speech.
James ends this section by describing how each of us can be duplicitous, a source of good and bad speech. We’ll think more about this part on Wednesday.
As you move through your week, begin to notice the effect of your words on others, and notice the times when you have a hard time controlling your speech. I’ll do the same!
For Reflection
- What makes it so easy to get into trouble with our words? Do we seem to have less control over our speech than over our bodies?
- Have you thought of words as harmless compared to actions? Have you ever had to apologize to someone for something you carelessly talked about with others?
Prayer
Dear Lord, I remember when others’ speech hurt me, but I don’t notice when my own words have wounded or wronged someone. Help me to watch over my wayward words and keep them under your control. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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