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"We all stumble in many things..."

Text: James 3:2

STUMBLING IN LIFE

James humbly admits that everyone will stumble at some point in life. The Apostles too stumbled in their life. This is a humbling and sobering reality of life!

“For we all stumble in many things.
If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man,
able also to bridle the whole body.”
James 3:2

1. “For we all stumble in many things”

a) The word “stumble” has a number of nuances.

i) To fall

ii) To sin

b) The phrase “we all” would include:

i) The Apostles

ii) The teachers

iii) The believers

c) This reality has to be acknowledged.

i) Humbly

ii) Candidly

2. “If anyone does not stumble in word”

a) There may have been some who claimed that they have not stumbled (1 John 1:8, 10)

b) Only the Lord Jesus Christ could be described as One who “does not stumble in word”.

3. “He is a perfect man”

a) James is not describing a sinless person.

b) He is describing a person who is “fully spiritually mature”.

c) The person who does not stumble would be that “perfect man”.

d) But the solemn truth is that this person does not exist!

4. “Able also to bridle the whole body”

a) The use of the word “bridle” hints at an analogy of a horse (Psalm 32:9).

b) It is difficult to bridle the whole body.

c) It is difficult to not stumble in word!