Friday, February 7, 2014
The Challenge Of Control
Today I was reading the letter from James. In chapter 3 there is a discussion about the tongue and how powerful it is. Comparisons were made to ships and animals.
James 3:3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
An interesting part for me came when I investigated the root meaning of the Greek word for tongue. It refers to both the physical part of the body and the language it naturally learns, as if they are tied together. I do not fully understand what this means, but there seems to be a connection to our language and our control of ourselves through the use of the tongue. James refers to this when he says both good and bad should not come out of the same mouth, and then talks about what is in our hearts.
James 3:11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
James is giving examples that good and bad cannot and should not come from the same place. He connects what is in our hearts to the actions we see in our lives. Finally, in the last verse in the chapter he notes how we can work toward that place of control.
James 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
We get good fruit, good speaking and actions, when we plant those things. How do we do that? By spending time meditating on the scriptures, praying and praising God, and asking God to help us think on the good. That sounds like a good formula for a life that is turning more toward God every day.
Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You. You are the Most High God. Help us remember to meditate on the scriptures every day. Help us to remember to talk to You every day. Please forgive us for the things we say and do that are not right in Your eyes and are not according to Your ways. Please heal and purify our hearts. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.