Living Faith: Practicing Self-Control

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This sermon is the sixth one in a series of messages on the New Testament book of James. It is based on chapter three and focuses on the use or misuse of the tongue, which is a clear indication of self-control or lack thereof. 

Written Excerpts:

James 3:2 ^(NKJV) For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 

Introduction:

The general need for self-control in all of life is aptly defined by William Law:

Our souls may receive infinite hurt, and be rendered incapable of all virtue, merely by the use of innocent and lawful things. What is more innocent than rest and retirement? And yet what is more dangerous than sloth and idleness? What is more lawful than eating and drinking? And yet what is more destructive of all virtue... than sensuality and indulgence?... It is the right and prudent management of ourselves… that all the art of holy living chiefly consists. (William Law, Leadership, Vol. 7, no. 1, quoted in Today's Best Illustrations)

(Draper's Book of Quotations)

·     I have more trouble with D. L. Moody than with any other man I ever met. – Dwight Lyman Moody 

·     It's possible that we—in pursuit of the disciplined life—focus our eyes on larger-than-life goals. We take on three jobs at church. We memorize not only verses, but chapters. We sell the TV or get up at 4:00 a.m. every morning for devotions.... But it may be that we've overlooked more immediate and obvious things. We've passed over things like a clean room, or being on time, or curbing our tongue. – Joni Erickson Tada

·     Voices are saying, "Let it all hang out" and "Tell it like it is" and "Hold nothing back" and "Be open... express your feelings without restraint!" It's easy to buy that kind of advice. But when I go to my Bible, I find contrary counsel being marketed. – Charles R. Swindoll 

For several weeks now we have been examining the letter written by the Apostle James, and today we are ready to cover chapter three. A quick look at the chapter will reveal that the primary focus of James’ discussion is the control of the tongue. Even though we will be primarily speaking about the use or misuse of the tongue in these verses, the general principle involves the Christian grace of self-control. For James says that anyone who is able to control his tongue is also able to control his whole body. Out of all the possible ways intemperance can be manifested, the effects from an uncontrolled tongue are the most prevalent.

Let us turn to James 3 and see what guidance the Lord offers for us in learning more about self-control.

V.  Living Faith: Practicing Self-Control (3:1-18)

We have been talking about “living faith.” In other words, we have been learning about how to put into practice what we say we believe. James has so many practical truths to offer in the way of living out our faith.

What can be more practical than learning how important it is to control what we say?

A.  Self-control is exhibited in speech. (1-12)

Here is chapter 3 James is reminding us that a major aspect of Christian living includes self-control. A word used by other NT writers that means the same thing as “self-control” is the word “temperance.” Paul tells us in Galatians 5 that temperance is one of the fruits of the Spirit.

James boldly asserts that self-control is primarily exhibited in the way we control our mouth or our tongue.

1. Careful speech is commanded. (1)

He begins in verse 1 by issuing a command to the readers / hearers in general that they should not strive to become teachers. 

One author, (Lenski) believes that this prohibition was not directed toward the elders/pastors/teachers, but was directed to those in the church that would tend to stand up and offer teaching to their fellow members. (Seems like this was the practice that Paul is addressing in 1 Cor. 14.)

Teaching requires the frequent use of the tongue, so this ties in with what he is about to say regarding the control of one’s speech. The reason for the warning is explained in the fact that those who teach have a greater accountability before God. There is a greater accountability because they have the power to lead people in the truth or to lead them astray into error.

Dr. Herron – “Medical doctors bury their mistakes, but when a preacher errs, the parishioner will suffer in hell for all of eternity.”

2. Speech reveals one’s level of self-control (2)

“we all” – James reminds us that none of us is perfect and we do stumble, err, and make mistakes of all kinds. 

“stumble” – Lenski makes a distinction between “stumbling” and “falling” (or falling away).

We all have those times that we realize we messed up. But… the person who does not “stumble” in his speech is a perfect person and able to control all the other aspects of life. He/she has demonstrated excellent self-control.

I heard a long time ago that John Wesley once said, “You cannot be in a conversation with someone for more than 45 minutes without sinning by what you say.”

3. Notice the way control works in life. (3-5a)

James gives everyday examples of small objects that can control great big objects. Small bit/bridle; small rudder; small fire. 

Tongue – the implication is that the tongue is similar to the other two objects mentioned in the sense that it is small, but it does BIG things.

(Lenski) The first two objects illustrate how much control they have over much larger objects, while the third object (small fire) illustrates how great the damage is when it gets out of control.

4. Uncontrolled speech produces much damage. (5b-6)

He goes on then to apply this “small fire” example to the misuse of the tongue and how it can cause so much damage.

“sets on fire the course of nature” – The tongue does set fire to the whole round of our being or existence. Note how some bit of slander sets a whole village or a town afire. Or see what vicious propaganda does in a whole nation or in many nations. International hatreds are thus fanned into wars. Consider the moral and the spiritual field. Vicious moral teaching, popular religious and doctrinal errors, rage like vast conflagrations and leave countless victims in their wake. The whole round of existence is set aflame by the evil tongue. (Lenski New Testament Commentary) 

“set on fire by hell” – (Not hades; but Gehenna) The word is connected to the Hebrew “Valley of Hinnom” outside of Jerusalem where refuse was burned. It the OT it was described as the place where children were sacrificed in the fire to pagan deities. It was the ultimate example of both corruption and consuming fire. 

Jesus used the word often to illustrate the kind of punishment awaiting the wicked. James, borrowing from Jesus, ties the destructive nature of the tongue to the place that was synonymous with evil, corruption and destruction.

5. Uncontrolled speech is inconsistent with nature. (7-12)

In the next several verses James provides some illustrations from the world of nature to show how inconsistent it is for the tongue to be out of control.

a. It can’t be tamed like animals. (7-8)

Animals can be and have been tamed, but not the tongue!

b. It mixes good and evil. (9-12)

Fresh water/bitter water from same spring?

Figs, olives, & grapes on opposite trees?

But the tongue has been known to mix blessings to God and curses to men. It isn’t proper and it isn’t consistent with the world that God has created. In the same way that you shouldn’t expect to go up to a fig tree and find olives, neither should you expect to find a person who claims to love Jesus and yet hear all kinds of cursing, slander and vulgarity coming out of their mouths.

Ills. – Man in my dad’s barbershop was cursing and using foul language until my father introduced him to a minister that was in the room waiting for his turn. The man suddenly quit his cursing and began to talk about the church he attended and the Sunday school class he taught!

B.  Self-control requires godly wisdom. (13-18)

This is the second time that James has made a specific reference to the need for wisdom. First, in chapter one – wisdom to know how to respond to various temptations, trials and tribulations. Now – wisdom to know how to control our tongues and how to exercise self-control in our daily lives in general.

1. Godly wisdom is revealed in conduct. (13)

A cliché that has been around for a long time: “What you say speaks so loud I can’t hear what you’re saying.”

James says that a person who has wisdom and understanding will demonstrate such in his/her conduct. It seems like he has switched from focusing on one’s speech to focus on behavior/conduct. However, in the very next verse, while giving an example of evil conduct, James refers again to the kinds of things that involve the tongue – bitter envy > boast; lie.

2. Earthly wisdom produces evil conduct. (14-16)

Evil or corrupt conduct is the fruit of earthly wisdom which he describes as sensual and demonic. 

“sensual” – is also translated as “unspiritual;” “natural.”

Demonic or devilish.

When one is governing his/her life by earthly wisdom, there is no such thing as self-control – not in speech nor in conduct. Such a person is driven by the desires and passions that are of this world, they are not spiritual, and they are inspired by demonic/satanic influence.

3. Heavenly wisdom produces righteous conduct. (17-18)

In order to live a righteous life pleasing to the Lord we must have the wisdom that comes from God; not the kind of wisdom that comes from our surrounding environment.

Conclusion:

We have tried to describe through the words of James how destructive the tongue can be when it is out of control. I’ve not given any specific examples, but I think we already know the kinds of ways that the tongue is used for evil, even by good people and people who claim to love Jesus. Evil reports about other people; gossip; slander; lies; rumors; cursing, etc. etc.

James has been emphasizing the need for wisdom in knowing how to control our desires, our tongues and our whole lives. I’ve been reading in Proverbs lately and Solomon has a great deal to say in Proverbs about our need for Wisdom. 

There is no other way for us to find the wisdom we need to be a disciplined, self-controlled, temperate Christian than to daily seek the help of the Lord and guidance that only comes from Him.

Our closing song is a prayer acknowledging how desperately we must rely on God for His help in our lives.    I Need Thee Every Hour