"A Restless Evil..." Controlling the Tongue

How important is it for Christians to control their tongues? The Bible has much to say about the importance of this small part of our bodies. Consider these verses:

-Proverbs 21:23, “He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.”

-Proverbs 15:1, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

-Psalm 19:14, “May the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

-Ephesians 4:29, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

-Colossians 4:6, “Let your conversations be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

There are so many verses in the Bible that address our mouths. We are to be wholesome in our conversation, building others up, full of grace, gentle, guarded in what we say, and our words should be pleasing to the Lord.

That’s a tall list, especially as we consider James’ words in James 3 that the tongue “is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8). James teaches us about the dangers of the tongue, and how such a small part of the body can cause so much damage. How often are our tongues like wild animals, running away with little desire to be controlled?

He says, “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” (James 3:3-5).

James makes three illustrations here. The first two reveal the power of the tongue. He makes a comparison to the bit in the mouth of a horse. He explains that a bit in the mouth of a horse can make it obey and can turn the whole animal. He also uses the example of a ship. Ships are large vessels, and yet a very small rudder can direct the course of the entire ship.

Even though the horse is a powerful animal full of great strength, if one desires to make it obey, it can be controlled by one small device. A ship can be turned any direction, at the will of the pilot, by a small device. These large, powerful and extremely hard to handle things can be brought into submission by the will of the one controlling them. A person can control a strong and powerful horse, and a person can navigate a large ship driven by strong winds-if they desire to do so.

Notice the power of the vessels: both a horse and a ship are powerful and difficult to navigate. If left unchecked, they will chart their own course and go where they please. However, a small instrument has the ability to bring both into submission. A small bit can turn a whole animal, and a small rudder can steer an entire ship. The ability of such a small device to alter an entire course and change an outcome is incredible, yet James warns the outcome can go the other way also. If guided properly, the result is control, obedience and peace, but if left unchecked, the tongue can spark a fire that will burn out of control.

The tongue makes great boasts. It is powerful and left to its own devices, has the ability to set a great fire. Without supervision, it will boast in such a great way as to burn up everything it encounters. It will destroy everything in its path: relationships, marriages, families, churches, friendships.

How many times do we throw out a spark that leads to a raging forest fire because we made such a great boast? We just wanted to say that one thing. James says, “Consider what a great forest is set on fire…” How many times do we stand back and watch a fire burn out of control because we let our tongue throw a spark?

“The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:6-8).

James paints a pretty staggering picture here. The tongue has the ability to set the whole course of a person’s life on fire. This small part of the body, itself set on fire by hell, is a world of evil among the parts of the body. It cannot be tamed. Wow, that kind of sounds hopeless, doesn’t it?

Well, there is indeed hope. Remember the power of the bit in the mouth of a horse? At the will of the trainer, a horse can be made to obey. Likewise, our tongues are powerful, but can be made to obey. We have the ability to control them, if we choose to. It isn’t an easy task. James says the tongue is a restless evil. Your tongue cannot remain at rest. What does that mean? It means you cannot let down your guard or take a break from reigning in your tongue.

Just like a horse has to be made to obey by the will of the trainer, so the tongue must be made to obey at the will of the follower of Jesus. We must make a constant, intentional effort to practice control. Our tongues are a small part of our body, but they have the power to direct the whole course of our lives through our daily interactions with others. We can make the tongue obey and change the impact of its destruction, or we leave it to determine its own course, letting it set the whole course of our lives on fire. Consider this: You can either set fires or turn the animal; you can either set fires or turn the ship.

You can determine how to use your tongue, and how you determine to use your tongue, often determines the outcome of the situation. Just as there are many verses in the Bible that teach us the importance of controlling our tongue, so there are verses that help us when we struggle with our tongue. James 3 gives us helpful instruction. Consider also Psalm 141:3, “Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.” We can ask the Lord to help us control our tongue, and He will be faithful to do it.

-Jennifer