The Tongue's Potential for Good or Evil – Part 1

We’ve all heard the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Have you found that to be true? I doubt it. That’s because words are powerful. They can hurt.

I remember a time I was impersonating a college professor in front of a group of my peers. Our professor was very intelligent and kind, but she had some mannerisms that we found humorous. So, we’d often mimic her behind her back. On this occasion, I spent about five minutes entertaining my friends by walking and talking like her. 

A few minutes later, I walked down the hallway and noticed that she was in an office with the door open. There’s no way she had missed what I’d done, and I assume it was hurtful to her—how could it not have been? Even though we never talked about it, I think it changed our relationship from then on.

This was one of the many times that I experienced the reality that what I say, and how I say it, can have a huge impact on people and relationships—in both negative and positive ways. 

James 3:1-5 teaches us, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 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. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 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. 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!”

James starts off by giving all his readers a warning: those who are teachers will be judged more strictly. But then he writes something very interesting: “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” (v. 2). The implication is that taming our tongues can be a struggle for all of us.

Three additional metaphors are provided within this passage to emphasize the power of our tongue. A horse weighing an average of 1,000 pounds can be controlled by a small bit in its mouth. A ship can be controlled by a small rudder. A forest fire can be started by a spark.

These metaphors are still relevant for us today, but I can also think of some more modern examples. For example, I’ve seen plenty of people deeply hurt because someone pressed the send button on a social media post or text.

What we say, and how we say it, matters. Apparently, James didn’t believe the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”  He knew better. The tongue can be used to cause all kinds of hurt. 

James went on to write, “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. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (vv. 6-8).

Sounds serious, doesn’t it? Consider the damage done through gossip, slander, and other misuses of speech. It is serious! The tongue, though little, can poison and destroy lives, marriages, families, friendships, churches, etc. Wielded in harmful ways, it can destroy entire societies.

That’s heavy. So let me give you some good news. Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). Jesus taught, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). Proverbs 4:23 reads, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” 

Earlier we read that no human being can tame the tongue. But that’s not the whole truth! In Christ, our hearts have been transformed (Ezekiel 36:26). As Holy Ones, we can speak life, love, and encouragement to others in very powerful and purposeful ways. We’ll talk more about this next week. 

For now, I encourage you to pay attention to your words this week. How do they reflect what’s going on in your heart? There’s no shame in confessing to your loving heavenly Father that your heart isn’t quite right. Repent of anything getting in the way, so that springs of life can flow freely.