The Need for Humble and Holy Teachers in the Lord's Church

Resurrection Wisdom in a Perishing World – Part 5

Fresh Water from Above

(James 3:1-12, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, April 6, 2014)

[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.

James instructs the various churches receiving his letter that not many Christians should be teaching within the church. This is not about school teachers as we have in our day. He is referring to those who would be set aside by the Lord and His church to devote themselves to the ministry of the Word and prayer—pastors, elders, and other authorized church teachers.

The reason James gives for this surprising instruction is not inability to speak, but the spiritual danger that comes from so much talking and the trouble we can get into with the Lord for the things that we say. He says that “we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” The problems teachers face are at least two-fold. 1. We may say things that are not true. 2. We may not live in accord with the truth that we teach others. Teachers are called to control their tongues.

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.

After giving some memorable images of powerful good that comes from control of that little tongue (horse and bridle, ship and rudder), James gives an illustration of the great trouble that can come from lack of control of the teacher's tongue in the church (forest fire started by a small flame). He says an undisciplined teacher's tongue is “set on fire by hell.”

Self-control in speech is a fiction. “No human can tame the tongue.” We need a power greater than our own discipline. We need fresh water from heaven's river to flow through the Lord's ambassadors to all who would hear His Word in the church.

This requires a consistency of speech that can only come from an honest and renewed heart. If we bless the Lord and then curse people, something is deeply wrong. Christ can fill us with gratitude and praise appropriate for those who worship Him. Mixed messages won't bring life.

Put the Word to Work: Cultivate gratitude and praise in your inner being every day. Begin your day with a refreshing draft from a pure spring. Then your speech will be sweeter and safer.

Teach us Your Word from lips of faithful men.