A World Of Iniquity

Sometimes the smallest of things can be responsible for tremendous damage. Think about a match. In size, it is rather small. Unless it is lit, it will not do very much harm. However, once it is lit, that small flame can be the start of something terrible. Houses can burn to the ground. Forests can be destroyed. Lives can be lost. As James put it, “…Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth” (James 3:5)!

With that knowledge in hand, let us examine what James compared to the “little fire”. We will start with a profound declaration about man. “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body” (James 3:2). Out of every aspect of life, James made it clear that if a man can master his words, he can control his entire body. That is amazing! Something so small, but yet so powerful. To demonstrate this truth, just stop to think about the many times we have said something that we later regretted. It might not have seemed like such a big thing in the moment, but then came the consequences. How much damage to our relationships have we caused? Have we ever had to live with the realization that now that something was said, our lives can never be the same again? If only we had kept our mouths closed!

James further explained, “Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth” (James 3:3-4). Horses are powerful animals, yet a small bridle can control them. A helm is rather small compared to the rest of a ship, yet it is responsible for the course that is taken.

James then blatantly exclaimed, “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell” (James 3:5-6). That little thing called the tongue can be responsible for the defilement of the entire body. It can ultimately “burn” so much that it will cause the soul to burn “…in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8). That is how serious it is that we work on controlling our tongues as much as possible.

To further illustrate the point, James wrote, “For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:7-8). Again, James is quite graphic in his assessment. The tongue can be responsible for “poisoning” our souls to destruction. There is none of us that can say I have perfectly “tamed” my tongue.

We should not forget though that much good can also be done by utilizing the tongue. The preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is one of the greatest things that can be done in a life. By using our tongues, we can help souls know the truth and be made free (John 8:32). Paul wrote, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18). Also, think about the amount of good that has been accomplished by a kind word. It may be the encouragement that some person needs to make it through a difficulty. Yet, for all the good that the tongue can do, it can still be key in destroying our lives and souls. James mentioned, “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh” (James 3:9-12).

It would do us all well to think about how we are using our tongues. Can we truthfully say that we are fighting diligently to control them, or are we frequently using them to start “wildfires” in our lives?
~ Corey Barnette