James 3:5

GUARDING OUR WORDS

‘Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth.’

James 3:5

St. James is nothing if not practical, and in this chapter (James 3:5) he warns us of the evil of an unguarded tongue. The tongue is but a small member, yet it is a potent force for good or evil. It is, therefore, of the greatest importance that we should guard our words.

I. Avoid mere gossip.—The happiness of many a life has been marred by thoughtless, to say nothing of ill-natured, gossip. The ‘parish gossip’ can do a great deal of harm, and seldom does any good, and as often as not this objectionable person is a male.

II. Abstain from evil speaking.—It is unnecessary, I hope, to warn a Christian congregation against the use of blasphemous language, but there is too much loose talk permitted amongst us.

(a) The small swear words in which men indulge, to relieve their feelings as they say, are blinked at, whereas they are most reprehensible.

(b) Foolish jesting, also, is to be avoided. Not that we are never to have a real good laugh, but the habit of jesting is apt to destroy all serious views of life, and after all ‘life is real, and life is earnest.’ Moreover, the recollection of some foolish jest will often obtrude itself upon us at times of prayer, and will thus destroy the devotional spirit.

(c) The border-line conversation which, alas, is more common than we like to believe, should not be indulged in or encouraged or even listened to.

III. Christian conversation should be blameless.—Do we need encouragement and help? Then—

(a) Remember the high calling of the children of God.

(b) Remember, also, the account which every one of us must give of our words at the judgment day.

A word once spoken can never be recalled. It goes out upon its way like the stone thrown in the pool, with an ever-widening influence.

Illustration

‘A lady who confessed to being a slanderer was given a penance. She was to buy a fowl in the market-place, and then to return to the priest, plucking it as she went along. She did so. “Now,” said her confessor, “retrace your steps, pass through all the places you have traversed, and gather up one by one all the feathers that you have scattered.” “But,” exclaimed the woman, “I cast the feathers carelessly on every side; the wind carried them in every direction. How can I recover them?” “Well, my child,” replied he, “so it is with your words of slander: like the feathers which the wind has scattered, they have been wafted in many directions; call them back now if you can.” ’