THE TONGUE AND WISDOM
JAMES 3:7–12
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom
(James 3:13).
In James 3:9–12, James tells us that there is a blatant contradiction evident when we use our tongues on the one hand to praise God and on the other hand to curse the images of God, our fellow men. It is true that in the Psalms we find God instructing us to pray for judgment to fall upon the enemies of the kingdom. Obviously James is not contradicting this kind of imprecatory cursing. What he means by “cursing” is the kind of callous attitude toward other people that he has been describing throughout his letter.
Anyone who uses his tongue to praise God should also use his tongue to build up other people. If a criticism or judgment must be pronounced, we should make the judgment in such as way as to bring glory to God. There is no room for nasty, cutting speech, gossip, or catty talk about others. There is no place for tearing down other people, especially those God has put in authority over us. If we are callous in our lives and with our tongues, then our “praise” of God is nothing but empty talk, the kind of pseudo-religion that James has criticized in chapter 2.
Back in James 1:5, James told us to ask for wisdom. Now that he has moved to a discussion of true and false faith, he introduces the subject of true and false wisdom (3:13–17). Wisdom has everything to do with the tongue. Wisdom is the speech of those who are mature and seasoned, who have become true elders as a result of many years of living in the world with the Word of God in hand, head, and heart. False wisdom, however, is nothing but empty words and opinions, youthful knowledge not tempered by maturity and experience. James thus begins by saying that a truly wise person will show his or her wisdom by a relatively silent life of good deeds done in humility (3:13).
True wisdom comes from God, growing out of a life of prayer. For that reason, true wisdom is always characterized by humility before God. Humility before God will always show itself in humility before people, an attitude of service toward those who are poor and weak. Anyone who does not have such an attitude does not have wisdom, and has little worthwhile to say.
CORAM DEO
Philippians
WEEKEND
Ephesians
Unlike animals, human communication is characterized by speech. Since speech is central to our lives—to what we are in essence—we must learn to speak properly. Our first speech must be Amen to God and His Word in prayer. In your prayer today, ask God to reform you through new speech.
For further study: Prov. 11:11–13; 12:18–19 • 1 Peter 3:8–18
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