We all stumble in many ways
James 3:2 - If we wish to align our actions with God’s will in furthering our transformation and obedience to Christ, controlling our tongue is an important first step.
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“We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.”
James 3:2 NIV
Today’s verse comes from the Epistle of James. This epistle was criticized by Martin Luther during the Reformation based on its emphasis on faith and works. Our salvation is based on faith alone; in this epistle, James elaborates that true faith must be demonstrated through works, and he taught that faith without works (such as caring for the poor, praying for the sick, and living in peace with others) is dead. I’m not a pastor nor do I claim to understand each word of scripture, but there is something to be said for James’s desire for believers to live their lives in emulation of Jesus.
Let’s look at another verse from the epistle that expands on this focus on living godly lives, James 3:13 — “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”
In this chapter of the epistle, James begins by talking about “taming the tongue”, something that gets so many of us in trouble. James cautions in the previous verse (James 3:1) that “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”
With that as the context of our verse, you get the idea that “teachers” (pastors, ministers, church leaders) “all stumble in many ways” and have the very human tendency to say the wrong thing. And it’s not just the “teachers”. Many times we feel that we are saying something positive when actually we’re doing just the opposite.
Theodore Epp, quoted on Precept Austin, said this:
“The tongue can be used in so many ways that dishonor the Lord. It can be used to tell an off-color story; it can be used to utter profanity in a time of anger; it can be used to pass on idle gossip; and it can be used to report dishonest half-truths.”
Our words have the power to either exalt or destroy; Proverbs 18:21 demonstrates this in saying “The tongue has the power of life and death…” At the time James wrote his epistle, most communication as done through speech and the integrity of what was said was critical. When James says “Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect”, he’s suggesting that it is so rare for a person to control their speech at all times that it is something to be celebrated, and it shows that person has a remarkable spiritual maturity.
Nobody in the history of mankind — with the sole exception of Jesus — has ever been completely sinless and perfect. James is pointing out that perfection is all about reflecting the character of Christ. As Christians, we are justified by our faith in Jesus Christ, and during our lives we are to engage in the process of sanctification — growing in holiness and becoming more Christ-like.
A few verses after this in James 3:5-6, James expounds on the dangerous aspects of speaking without the filter of the Holy Spirit:
“Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”
If we wish to align our actions with God’s will in furthering our transformation and obedience to Christ, controlling our tongue is an important first step.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Lord, help me to be mindful of my words and to control my tongue, as I know that we all stumble in what we say. Grant me the wisdom to speak with kindness and truth, reflecting Your love in all my conversations. AMEN.
And thanks for reading, Bradley! My language is one of my major sins and a place where my life needs major work. Let’s both pray that the Holy Spirit fills our hearts and minds with a more loving response to those emotional situations that cause us to curse!
Very timely and truthful! I dislike it when I hear our daughters speaking to each other and every other word is an explicative! As they have grown older, finished High school and on to college they have assimilated into society and have taken on the speech of those around them. The only time prior as they were growing up was while overhearing an argument. They were brought up in the church and such words were unacceptable! It breaks my heart to hear it!