The Power of the Tongue
by Shawn Stacy
Greetings to my Fire Family in Christ! Full disclaimer- much like the previous devotionals I have written-this one especially hits home. I usually land on topics not because I’m nailing them in my daily walk, but quite the contrary-it’s typically areas that I need drastic improvement on. This one area I think we as firefighters can always try to be better at. It’s the ability to control our tongue- what we say, how we say it, what NOT to say and sometimes how to repent or apologize for what we have already said. It’s so easy to fall into the conversations around the station, at the table or in the rig. We have incidents where we arrive to an emergency situation- where something has gone wrong- that’s why we’re there- to help people because of the sin that has entered this world causing emergencies. And then we might have a member or a crew that made a mistake on the call- and instead of us being quick to help encourage them and help them learn from their mistakes (ourselves as well)-we criticize and make fun of them. Well- my hope is that this passage can help us all learn the power that our tongues possess and how we can properly utilize this power. Use it to build the kingdom of Christ, not push people away from it.
The passage is from the Book of James 3:3-12. A little background-James is the half-brother of Jesus. James was not even a believer in Jesus until after he witnessed Jesus’ death and resurrection. This letter is written to the Jewish Christians that have been scattered throughout the Roman Empire and its basically a blueprint on “how to act.” It reads:
Taming the Tongue
James 3:3-12
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 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. 5 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. 6 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.
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
So much to break down in this passage- lets start at the top. Literally- a bit and a rudder are small components to a large object (a horse and a ship). But they have the power from humans to completely change the direction these objects are traveling. Likewise, the tongue has the power to completely set forth the direction you can travel. Will it be fruitful and positive, encouraging and motivating? Or will it be negative, condescending and hurtful? If you can control the tongue- ou can control yourself! So something as small as your tongue can actually have huge power of either good or evil in your life. Something else to consider to this analogy is that a horse is not meant to be kept permanently in its stable, same that a ship is not meant to be kept in a harbor- they are to be used and used for good. So taking a vow of silence and not speaking up when necessary is also not ok. There are times when we need to defend someone or speak up to encourage someone in their time of need. And we get this guidance from the Holy Spirit by being plugged into scripture. If we don’t get proper direction from the Spirit the analogy of a small spark causing a large fire is what James uses. We definitely have seen that first hand- this is the true power that our tongues possess if we are not careful. But all 3 of the analogies (the bit, rudder and fire) when controlled can be used for a huge amount of good! They can lift a person out of the darkest situations of their life!
Look at Proverbs 18:21-The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Let’s bring Life to those around us through positive and encouraging words- not negative, hurtful words that bring people down. Our days are constantly filled with situations that we can have this positive impact.
Now moving on to the second half of the passage starting in verse 9-12- we need to have consistency with our words. We can’t act one way in certain areas in our life, but then act completely different in other situations. Meaning- we can’t act one way at Church and then act completely different while on the rig driving with your crew. Yeah- I went there- because I myself know that’s an area where I have consistently lost control of my tongue. I remember on probation I learned early to turn off my headset- this allowed me to have that moment to really make sure I want to say what I’m about to speak into that mic. So we should take that extra second to think about the impact of what the words we’re about to speak will have.
So now, lets really dive deep and look into ourselves. Jesus says in Matthew 12:34-37:
34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Your words show what’s in your heart. I once heard a pastor say an awesome analogy- when something is squeezed- you will always see what’s inside come out. When an orange is squeezed- you will get orange juice. When a tube of toothpaste is squeezed- you will get toothpaste. Likewise, when you are squeezed in a hard situation- what comes out? Is it fruits of the Spirit? Or is it bitterness, anger and resentment? If the second one is you-The encouragement is that the Holy Spirit has the power to change that in you. You get that power by plugging into The Word of God and spending time with Him. Let Him change your heart- I know firsthand that its completely possible. So my hope for you all (and myself) is that we will consistently dive into God’s Word and acquire this guidance and encouragement. This will translate to us controlling our tongues and using the power they have to bring good for the Kingdom of God. Lets build each other up, encourage one another and engage into conversations properly with the guidance of the Holy Spirit! God Bless!
