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"The tongue is a little member..."

Text: James 3:5

THE ISSUE OF THE TONGUE

James briefly commented on the subject of the uncontrolled tongue in the following text.

“If anyone among you thinks he is religious,
and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart,
this one’s religion is useless.”
James 1:26

He takes up the same issue, only more elaborately, in this text.

“Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us,
and we turn their whole body.
Look also at ships: although they are so large
and are driven by fierce winds,
they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.
Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles!”
James 3:3-5

1. The illustration of the use of bits to control a horse

a) A horse is significantly larger than the bit put into the mouth of a horse.

b) Yet, the bit affects the horse and controls it effectively.

2. The illustration of the rudder

a) A rudder is comparatively smaller than a ship.

b) It takes fierce winds to drive a ship across the sea.

c) Yet a small rudder can control the direction which the ship takes.

d) The pilot is able to control the direction of the ship by the rudder.

3. The illustration of the tongue

a) The tongue is indeed but a small member of the body.

b) But it has great influence.

4. The illustration of a little fire

a) A huge conflagration starts with a small fire.

b) A little bit of fire can create great damage to a forest.

THE POWER OF THE TONGUE

James was highlighting the danger of the tongue. If a person teaches wrongly, he can affect people in the Body of Christ adversely.

1. Great damage can occur.

2. The tongue must not be dismissed as an insignificant “little member” of the body.