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"With it we bless our God and Father..."

Text: James 3:9

A CANDID COMMENT

James makes sharp observations about life. He is also capable of making candid comments.

“With it we bless our God and Father,
and with it we curse men,
who have been made in the similitude of God.
Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing.
My brethren, these things ought not to be so.”
James 3:9-10

1. The use of the tongue to bless God

a) This is as it should be.

i) We should extol the Lord (Psalm 145).

ii) We should always give thanks to the Lord (Psalm 103).

b) This is how God wants us to use our tongue.

i) To be a source of encouragement to people.

ii) To bless the hearts of fellow-men.

2. The use of the tongue to curse men

a) James was aware that some were abusing the use of the tongue.

i) To curse people is to despise them.

ii) To curse people makes us no different from an unbeliever.

b) Why we should not curse men?

i) They are made in the image of God.

ii) We have no right to abuse the use of the tongue.

3. “My brethren, these things ought not to be”

a) There are reasons why “these things ought not to be”.

i) It is incongruous.

ii) It is inconsistent with our profession of faith.

iii) It is simply “sinful”.

b) James sought to make an appeal to cease this anomalous practice.

i) We are “brethren”.

ii) We are redeemed children of God.