What The Wise Say

Dennis E Long

A Season of Wisdom • Sermon • Submitted 9 months ago • Presented 9 months ago

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The Wise Speak to Build Up Others & Display The Love of God.

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Introduction An elderly man had serious hearing problems for a number of years. His family tried, again and again, to convince him to get a hearing aid. Finally, he relented. He went to the doctor and was fitted for a set of hearing aids that allowed him to hear 100 percent. A month later, he went back to the doctor. The doctor said with a smile, "Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be really pleased that you can hear again." The old man replied, "Oh, I haven't told my family yet. I just sit around and listen to their conversations. I've changed my will three times!"

James, the brother of Jesus, had become the leader of the church of Jerusalem. James spends much of this letter, addressing church leaders and teachers. In Chapter 2, James had been pointing out to leaders this issue of favoritism, which we looked at last week. Now he was addressing their speech. The early church leaders had failed to recognize that their words were the root of a lot of problems in the church and community. Remember, that teachers in this culture were highly respected and revered. So what they taught and did was extremely important, and James understood this reality. Even though James was speaking directly to the leaders and teachers of the early church, what he was instructing them on is very relevant today and applicable to all of our lives. Do you remember the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me?” I don’t know who came up with this, but it’s just not true because words can break our hearts. When I was growing up, on different occasions, I broke some bones. I have broken both ankles and a finger. Those were painful experiences, but I really don’t remember the exact pain. However, there are other scenes from my life that I clearly recall hurtful things being said to me, and when I remember them, I do remember the pain. We can all recall moments like that. Broken bones can heal with time, but a broken spirit caused by words, is not quickly repaired. We need to understand the effect of our words and what our words can do.

Bible Passage James 3:1-18

James 3:1–18 ESV

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Scriptural Analysis Verses 1-2 As the early church was growing, so was the need and demand for teachers. James knows that teaching has to be done, but those who teach must understand their responsibility, as those who teach will be judged more strictly. James also wants those who are not teachers to recognize and respect those who are teachers. Since a teacher has taken on that responsibility and more strict judgment, they should be respected. To be a teacher within the church is something for which one is recognized; it requires mastering the Scriptures and their application to faith and life. James then moves into the pressing topic of chapter 3, words and speech. James did not point a finger at the offenders without including himself: we all stumble in many ways. James, who once ridiculed Jesus knows everyone can stumble.

Verses 3-8 James presented his readers with one of the most memorable arguments regarding the source of sin within the self: the tongue. The tongue has its own way, much like the human will, without the bridle of the Word of God and the anticipation of judgment. With respect to one’s own affairs in life, if the tongue is controlled, general self-control will be the result. James asserted that controlled speech enables one to guide the whole body.

Out on the sea, without a mechanism for steering, the pilot would have no way of keeping the ship on any course. The ship would be tossed and driven about like the waves that bear it along. But with the rudder, the mere will of the pilot is sufficient to direct the ship. The tongue, representing the believer’s speech, is not easily mastered. But the tongue must be mastered by acquiring wisdom through the careful and routine study of God’s Word. The images of horses and ships, bridles, and rudders show how such small things as the tongue are the real instruments of control over large things.

James uses relevant examples to explain the power and danger of the tongue. James says that the tongue is “a fire. Fire has been, of course, one of the greatest friends of man and nature. Some historians say that civilization began when man discovered fire. When it is under control, it warms our bodies, cooks our food, and it generates power to turn the wheels of industry. It is dangerous, though, when it is out of control. It is a tragedy when a house is on fire. This warning James gives is found over and over again in scripture: The Psalmist and the Book of Proverbs are filled with warnings about what you say when you should say something, and how something can best be said.

James taught that the original stamp of the likeness of God in the human creature is still present. It is to be respected and blessed, not made the object of ridicule. The human being was made for God, fashioned to know God and to reflect the attributes of God in a human way. To dishonor any human being in some way dishonors God. Those who bless God out of one side of their mouths and curse their neighbors out of the other side are double-tongued in speech and behavior. The tongue can corrupt all of life, whether that of an individual or that of a community. Our speech reveals our character, which is the essential point being made here. Our speech reveals the heart.

Verse 13-18 King Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:25), Job (Job 9:4), the psalmist (Ps. 104:24), Solomon (Proverbs 3:19, 16:16), Jeremiah (Jer. 10:7), and many others in the OT proclaimed the infallible wisdom of God. Solomon & David both proclaimed that human wisdom is totally bankrupt. James is saying here that those whose lives are based on and motivated by human, ungodly wisdom are inevitably self-centered and arrogant, living in a world in which their own personal ideas, desires, and standards are the measure of everything. James is explaining that the wisdom that is of the world, which is based on man’s own understanding, standards, and objectives, is false. In false wisdom, man is supreme. False wisdom does not recognize God’s sovereignty, God’s will or God’s truth revealed in His Word. The wisdom from above refers, of course, to God’s own divine wisdom, which He graciously bestows on those who trust in His Son, Jesus Christ. The Old Testament equated wisdom with loving and trusting God. The New Testament links saving faith and godly wisdom. Godly wisdom is peaceable, godly wisdom is gentle, godly wisdom is reasonable, godly wisdom is full of mercy, and godly wisdom is full service to others. Godly wisdom is unwavering, and godly wisdom is without hypocrisy. This wisdom leads to righteousness and peace.

James is offering alternative versions of wisdom. True wisdom is marked not by ambition and a desire for status, but rather by humility. Neither Moses nor Jesus were interested in personal popularity or power, nor did they defend themselves, but in humility, pointed others to God. In a similar fashion, the Christian in humility is to do the same. This is the spirit of true wisdom.

TODAY'S KEY TRUTH The Wise Speak to Build Up Others & Display The Love of God.

Application The Egyptian king Amasis once sent an animal sacrifice to his god and requested the priest to send back the best and worst parts of the animal. The priest sent back the tongue, which, he said, met both demands.

James is imploring his readers to let their words be wisely deliberate. It’s foolish for a surgeon to use a chainsaw to remove a benign mole. For most of us, our choice of words is like choosing a chainsaw instead of a scalpel. We say too much, too often, and all the wrong things. And by we, I most definitely mean me. Wise speech is such a difficult skill to master. Wisdom is precise and accurate, while foolish words are careless and plentiful. Wisdom is dispensed drop by drop, while ignorance is a geyser. Our struggle with speech is nothing new. Many biblical heroes struggled with their tongues: Moses, Isaiah, Job, and Peter, just to name a well-known few. The tongue is our biggest stumbling block. By saying that only a perfect man has control of his tongue, James is saying no one does. It is a constant, lifelong battle. One of the ways we begin this battle is by recognizing the destructive force of our words. So often, people say it just words but words do hurt. As we have seen in Hawaii this week, it's just fire, but when it spreads, fire destroys. The words we speak have the power to destroy like wildfire. For every word in Hitler’s book, Mein Kampf, 125 lives were lost in World War II. Our own words may not have caused wars or wrecked cities, but they can break hearts and ruin lives.

After entertainer Karen Carpenter died of heart failure at the age of 32, brought on by years of fighting an eating disorder, it came out that her fatal obsession with her weight was triggered by a single critic’s comment. When referring to Karen, this entertainment critic called her “Richard’s chubby little sister.” While I’m sure there were other factors attributing to Karen Carpenter’s struggles, this one comment unleashed a furry of self-doubt, which contributed to her eventual disease and death.

One remark can set the course of people’s lives. Your comments to your spouse can set the course of your marriage. Your remarks to your children can determine their lives. Your comments can affect your co-worker's career. Your words can direct the course of your life and the lives of others.

That's why Paul wrote these words in Ephesians 4: “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.” Listen to the directives of this verse: Do not let ANY... But ONLY. "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.” There are no exception clauses before, during, or after this verse. Paul is explicit in the fact that our speech should only build others up.

The Wise Speak to Build Up Others & Display The Love of God.

Think about all the sins of the tongue: gossip, lying, slander, critical speech, harsh words, insults, ridicule, and any speech that does not build up. That is sin, all of it. And there are no magical prefaces that negate these sins: "I don’t mean to gossip… I don’t want to say anything mean but… I'm just being honest... I don't mean to offend." It does not matter what you say before; any speech that is destructive, James says, is still a sin. That's a powerful thought.

However, if I intentionally only say words that are meant to build up, encourage, and help others, then peace and contentment come into my life more. People respond better, the surrounding tension is lower, and people want to be around you. It's amazing how much better life is when I chose only to speak in an effort to build others up.

And If I chose to speak only to build others up, I also realized another key reality that is helpful for life: I Talk Less.

My chances of blowing up my day or week with my words are directly proportional to the amount of time I spend with my mouth open. Abe Lincoln said, “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” Proverbs said it first: “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” Talking less lowers the volume of my life. The more I listen and the less I say, the fewer holes I have to dig myself out of. The volume of my life is at a peaceful and quiet level when I say less. And when I talk, if I make words like "I apologize, Thank you, I love you, What can I do, and I’m praying for you," the majority of my language, my life finds a lot more peace. It's amazing when I say, "I apologize," even when I know I haven't done anything wrong, my life is so much easier. When I focus more on building others up, the more my life runs like it's supposed to. That's the wisdom from above James is referring to."

The Wise Speak to Build Up Others & Display The Love of God.

Conclusion I've been told before, "Preacher, you step on my toes today." But the most powerful version I heard of that comment is when one little old lady told me, "That sermon went from preaching to meddling." James is definitely meddling here when he goes to point out our hypocrisy. We come to church on Sunday and make the highest use of our mouths, praising God. Then we walk out, get into the car, and on the way home, we argue about where we’re going to eat lunch or complain about something we did not like at church. In one minute, you’re saying, "Praise the Lord," and the next, you’re saying, "Shut up!" It’s amazing how quickly it can change, like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. One minute we’re praising God and the next, we’re cursing other drivers or the wait staff. Cursing here doesn’t necessarily mean profanity. It means any kind of put down, insult, or belittling remark. Any kind of put-down is a curse because everyone is made in God’s image.

To James, there are no real sips of the tongue. Our words display our hearts. Which is why we must use our words to display the love of God. It doesn't matter what you do; if your words aren't consistent, if your words don't point others to God's love, it's all for nothing. What we say should be the display of God's love to a world filled with hatred and darkness. The kindness, grace, mercy, and hope of Jesus should be woven into everything we do and everything we say. Our words are an audible display of God's love.

The Wise Speak to Build Up Others & Display The Love of God.

Why is it so hard to say kind things with our tongues? It’s because the Bible says that in our strength, we will never tame our tongues. God doesn’t want you to leave this service and try to tame your tongue totally in your own strength. It will take more than just willpower and determination. In its natural state, the tongue is a “restless evil.” If you want to stop using words destroy and devastate, and begin speaking words of life, you need a different heart. The good news is that Jesus specializes in heart transplants. If you keep your old heart, you’ll continue to launch verbal grenades and live like you’ve always lived. But, if you ask Jesus for a new one by turning your life over to Him, you can have a fresh start, a new beginning. Only God can give us the power we need to build others up instead of tearing them down. If you want to be a dispenser of life words instead of words of destruction, you need a new heart from and for God.