The Quiet Onez

Taming the Tongue

3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. ² 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. ³ If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. ⁴ 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. ⁵ 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!

James 3:1-5 (ESV)

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The words of my heroes

When I was a kid, there were many adults in my life who I looked up to. A lot of these adults were heroes to me in some aspect.

I looked up to these adults because I didn’t feel like I could rely on my parents for that sense of safety and encouragement. Yet, I learned quickly that even the best of us will fall short of our expectations.

These same people who I looked up to were extremely judgmental, angry by small things, and prideful. Something always happened to where I felt utterly disappointed by what they did.

If I saw these people who I considered to be mentors and heroes to me without their knowing, how much more respect should I have for someone who is a teacher of wisdom directly being that source of truth?

And how much more should a teacher’s conduct be by the words that they are saying?

In my Christian life…

This passage has always given me a sense of conviction. To claim myself as a “Christian” but talk as if I don’t know God reveals a lot about where my relationship is with God.

It gave me a lot of reason not to talk about God and Christianity in my life. Suffice to say, I felt ashamed of the gospel.

Words move mountains.

And to allow ourselves not to take what we say seriously will be the detriment to the vessels of love that God meant for us to be.

What is Christianity?

I think there’s a lot to consider when the Bible talks about how God “speaks.” God “spoke” life into existence and he “speaks” to His children.

Christianity comes back once again to the value of human relationships. And what is most powerful in human relationships? Communication, words.

I believe God made our words important as He too shows us through His own “speech.”