Ask yourself:
Can I discern wise words from foolish ones? Do I receive wise words with humility? Do I say wise words? Are my words a source of life or death, of building or destruction, of blessing or cursing? Is the Father’s wisdom flowing through me?
James 3:1–12 is a famous passage highlighting the importance and impact of our words. James’ implication is clear: the mature, wise person tames their speech. Taming our tongues may be a tall order, but James could recall the righteous words Jesus spoke, the way He spoke them, and the things He did not say. James knew exactly what maturity in speech looked like.
James 3 helps us to become more Christlike in our speech. Do you long for your words to become life-giving, course-setting, and exemplary for yourself and others? So, how did James think we could get there?
1. Raise Your Opinion of the Significance of Your Words (James 3:1–5a)
Not only are our words measured by God, but our words are a sign of maturity.
“Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” — Matthew 12:34
This means that if there is poison in the heart, the tongue will produce it. But it also works the other way around. Mastery of our words gives us the power to master other areas of life. This is not simply because words are hard to control and actions are easier to control, but because many of our actions lie downstream from our words.
James illustrated this with horses and ships (vv. 3–4). A horse is controlled by a small bit, while a boat is guided by a small rudder wherever the pilot directs. In both illustrations, the larger is guided by the smaller, and that’s the way it is with our mouths.
What we say, how we talk, what we commit to, what we decline, what we affirm, what we agree to, and the tone we use all combine to direct the course of our lives.
Our words are a primary indicator of our spiritual health. Just as a modern physician might inspect your tongue as a quick reference point for overall health, James sees speech as an indicator of spiritual health. This ought to make speech control a major priority in our lives.
2. Believe Only God Can Tame Your Words (James 3:5b–8a)
We must recognize that only God can truly tame our words.
James referenced a great forest set ablaze by a small fire (v. 5). Our words can be like a fire.
“A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.” — Proverbs 16:27–28
Worthless, dishonest, or slanderous words can do wildfire-like damage.
Many of our troubles in life start with our words.
“A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.” — Proverbs 18:7–8
So many troubles in life can be traced back to offhand comments, words of anger, or agreeing to the wrong things. Rage, abuse, drunkenness, adultery, fornication—at some point, words could have put the brakes on all of them, but too often accelerate them.
This may sound hopeless—our mouths are like a destructive fire that no one can control. But James wants us to see the utter impossibility of transformation without God’s help.
He’s presented the immaturity of our words like an obstacle as big as the Red Sea, an enemy like Goliath, or the finality of the grave. But we serve a God who parted the waters, slew the giant, and defeated the grave.
So, as we consider the magnitude of the problem, we must turn to the magnificent God who can deliver us from it.
3. Allow God to Heal the Source of Your Words (James 3:8b–12)
In this final section, James elaborates on how the chaos of our mouths produces words that are often poisonous and duplicitous.
There aren’t many direct commands in this passage, but they are implied. James wants us to turn to God regularly, so that He can help us grow in this area.
God’s Vision for Our Words:
a. From Dangerous Poison to Good Medicine
“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” — Proverbs 12:25
As we walk daily with God, He transforms our words into a source of life.
We so often preach lies of discouragement, hopelessness, and fear to ourselves. But the mature believer quickly uncovers those lies and returns to the truth and joy in Christ.
b. From Duplicitous Speech to Blessing
“Springs do not pour forth both fresh and salt water.” — James 3:11
“With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.” — James 3:9
Even your worst enemy is made in God’s image. God wants to cleanse our speech so that it reflects blessing, not hypocrisy.
c. From False Identity to True Self in Christ
Just as a grapevine will not produce figs, and a salt pond cannot yield fresh water, so a believer should not produce corrupt speech.
If you are in Christ, the truest you is dead to sin and alive to God:
“We were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” — Romans 6:4
The new you talks like Jesus—confident, loving, truthful, sure, hopeful.
Like Him, you:
- See beyond people’s brokenness into what they could be in Christ.
- See beyond the world’s brokenness into what it will be when His kingdom comes.
- See beyond lies of failure, knowing that God is still at work.
You are a source of life and fruit.
Our aim is to walk with God so that the person with destructive words fades to the background and the wise person comes to the forefront more and more.
