James 3:1-18

(James 3:1-18)

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.  Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.  Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.  For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:  But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.  Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?  Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.  This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

 

When the teaching content and the "doing the content" coincide, the effectiveness of the teaching is very great. This means that it is difficult for you to do as you teach others. So James says:『My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 』 It is possible to become a complete person if a person uses his tongue properly, as if gagged with the mouth of a running horse, and a sergeant going to a destination with the height of a ship.『Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 』 The human tongue also reveals the lust and anger hidden in the fallen human nature.『 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.』However, a better way than silent without speaking is to always remember that we are dead with Jesus Christ. If we are dead with Christ, we are in Christ, we are not, and there is only Christ. This is not a matter of training, but depends on whether or not you recognize your identity.

『Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.』 If we place our identity on being from God, we will use the language of the kingdom of God. So instead of being angry and angry with people, we can pray and bless them. There are two kinds of wisdom, says James. That is, wisdom on earth and wisdom from above.『Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.』 Those who are born again from heaven appear as good deeds. It is not a result of effort or determination, but a gift from God. The way we can do is to do nothing but our old man die with Jesus on the cross.

The wisdom of this world means "putting on your own righteousness and making judgments for yourself and making good decisions." So, a conflict arises because of self-assertion. Disputes arise between families, couples, and neighbors.『This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.』

『But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.』 The first characteristic of God's wisdom is holiness. In other words, God's wisdom is clean and has the power to overcome sin. In 1 John 3:9, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. Even in 1 John 5:18, 『We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. 』