# 33 2020 Dev. James 3:1. Speech! Read all of Ch. 3. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.
James 3:1 “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”
James divides this chapter into two sections and accomplishes the same purpose of promoting good communications, words supported by actions. He begins with speech, “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.” James calls the tongue; “a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” He is pointing out when speech is misused but speech is also used for good. For followers of Jesus speech must always be used for good, yet, we all know how difficult that is to accomplish. We turn to Scripture: “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.” (I Pe. 3:10) and (Pr.15:4) “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”
In vs. 9-12 James tells us that a person’s speech can not be good and bad at the same time; I interpret this to mean that our use of words is a matter of the heart, as well as dictating our actions.
In the second part of Ch.3, vs.13-18 James deals with the other part of speech; actions, by pointing out “two kinds of wisdom”. Heavenly wisdom Is displayed “by a good life, deeds done in humility” that come from the heart. Earthly wisdom is “bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts… or deny the truth.”
James starts this chapter with a warning; v.1 “Not many of you should become teachers, we who teach will be judged more strictly.” That warning applies to not only teachers, but also pastors, parents, civic leaders, law makers, police, and especially politicians. The bottom line we take away from good speech, words and action is: “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”
Amen and Amen!
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