Send or Delete

GETTING STARTED

While watching a football game with some friends, someone made a funny comment about Twitter. As we laughed about it, one friend turned to me and said, “By the way, I unfollowed you on Twitter. You never tweet!” He was right. I hardly ever tweet because I know I would spend more time deleting tweets than sending them. I struggle enough watching my words in conversations, emails, and texts, let alone on social media. What I say, and how I say it, matters to me. I believe my words will either invite others toward Christ or away from him.

  • When was a time you wanted to delete the words you spoke or typed? Why?

READ THE WORD: JAMES 3:1-12 (ESV)

3:1 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! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. In verse 2, what explanation did James give for his warning from verse 1?
  2. What examples did he provide for the powerful nature of speech (vss. 3-6)?
  3. In verses 7-8, what did James contrast?
  4. If the tongue is uncontrollable, why did James say, “these things ought not to be so” (vs. 10b)?
  5. How would your speaking and teaching be different if controlled by the Holy Spirit?

RESPOND TO GOD

Whether as a pastor, elder, church member, parent, friend, or family member, all Christ-followers teach about God in some form. James’ warning is that our instruction will lead our “students” to either encounter God or engage in sin. It is only by the empowerment and control of the Holy Spirit that we are able to teach in such a way that leads to life. Seeking God before we speak ensures that our message will be on point. Listening to him guides us as we teach God’s truths. Resting in him afterward assures us that we taught to restore and not to destroy.

  • Thank God for the warning he provides as you teach others about him .
  • Ask him for forgiveness for the specific ways in which you have dishonored others with your words.