Covenanter Witness Vol. 54 - Rparchives.org

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PRAYER MEETING TOPIC
June 1, 1955
The Unbridled Tongue
James 8:1-12.
M. K. Carson, D. D.
Psalms: 34:7-10, page 80;
141:1-4, page 344;
140:1-2, page 343;
145:12-13, page 351.
References: Rom. 3:14; 10:9-10; Eph.
4:29; 6:19; 4:15; Ezekiel 33:31; Col.
3:8; Ps. 51:14; Luke 6:45; Proverbs
10:20; 12:18; 15:2-4; 16:1; 18:21; 21:23,
Ps. 52:2.
As we study this Epistle, let us ever
remember that a man is justified by
faith without the deeds of the law.
(Rom. 3:24-28). Good works can never
be the "ground" of our justification. But
they have their place, for as has been
said, we are saved by faith alone, but
the kind of faith that saves is never
alone. (Eph. 2:8-10). This true and liv
ing faith produces fruits. Among these
"fruits"
is the right use of the tongue.
"Let me see your tongue." If the doc
tor can tell us something about our
physical condition by looking at our
tongues, we shpuld be able to learn
something about our spiritual condition
as we "look" at this portion of God's
Word.
"Be not many of you teachers." (3:1
R.V.) Yet most of us are teachers in
the home, church, school or elsewhere.
We cannot escape it. And we do not
want to escape it for teaching is a noble
work if it is done for the glory of God.
But it is a work which carries a heavy
responsibility with it. "For by thy
words thou shalt be justified and by
thy words thou shalt be
(Matt. 12:36-37). The man who speaks
only
when he should speak what he
should speak and in the way that he
should speak is truly a "perfect
"We all oftentimes offend;
and of those
frequent offences, sins of the tongue are
so weighty
a part and so constant a
cause, that he who is free from them
may be said to be perfect . . "able
also to bridle the whole body." (3:2).
We admire a great teacher like Dr.
Robert Dick Wilson, who was constrain
ed by his conscience and convictions to
withdraw from Princeton where he had
been an outstanding professor for thirty
years. A few days before his death, he
congratulated the students of Westmin
ster Seminary that they had been "given
faith and courage to stand up for Jesus
in the midst of a faithless
The Lord gives us each one the faith
and courage to use our power of speech
in witnessing for Jesus in this genera
tion which seems to be even more faith
less than 1930.
302
The unbridled tongue is lawless
"But the tongue can no man tame;
it is an unruly evil, full of deadly pois
Our tongues need to be controlled.
Two illustrations are used, the horse
and the ship. The horse, many times
stronger than the driver or rider is
controlled by
the use of a bit in the
mouth of the horse. The bit is very
necessary in the breaking of a young
and unruly horse. But with the bit the
horse is controlled and is made useable.
The "very small helm" enables the gov
ernor to guide the large ship. And it is
quite an achievement to bring the ship
into the dock, especially if the water is
rough. How useless both the horse and
the ship are if they cannot be control
led! How necessary it is that our tongues
be controlled! Is an unbridled tongue an
evidence of a true and living faith or
the lack of such a faith This warning
is often found with a new fountain pen.
"When this pen flows too freely it is
a sign that it is nearly empty and should
be filled." Are uncontrolled tongues an
evidence of empty hearts Psalm 39:1-3.
The unbridled tongue is destructive
The tongue may be a small member,
but it can cause great destruction. This
was true in the first century. But the
influence of the tongue for either good
or evil is even greater in these days of
the telephone, radio and television. It
does not take very much to start a very
destructive fire. Many lives, much prop
erty and thousands of acres of the finest
timber have been destroyed because
some one was careless with a match. So
there are many warnings along
our
highways about the dangers of fire, es
pecially where there are valuable forests
and great fire hazards. The tongue is
like a fire and may be very destructive.
for there are always "fire hazards" for
the tongue. "Behold, how great a matter
(forest) a little fire kindleth!" Most of
us are very conscious of the danger of
fire. Are we as conscious of the danger
ous fires which may be caused by our
tongues In contrast with the greatness
of the fire is the smallness of the first
spark. Who can estimate the serious
damage which is often caused by a word
from an unbridled tongue During the
days of the war there was a poster
with the picture of a ship being de
stroyed and both the soldiers and the
sailors being lost. The caption on the
poster was,
"SOMEBODY TALKED."
Some one had revealed some secret in
formation which made it possible for
the enemy to locate the transport. Are
we giving aid to the enemy by the way
we use our tongues How far-reaching
is the effect of one's words life or
death! Paul uttered a very important
and sometimes difficult obligation when
he commanded us to speak the truth in
love. Such a practice could turn a de
structive tongue into a constructive
power for good. We have the power of
speech, may we use it for the glory of
God!
The unbridled tongue is inconsistent
'Therewith bless we God, even the
Father; and therewith curse we men . .
Out of the same mouth proceedeth
blessing and (3:9-10). Do we
find such things in nature What about
the fountain Or do we expect olive
berries from a fig tree No tree can
bring
forth fruit inconsistent with its
nature. If the fountain did send forth
at the same place both sweet water
and bitter it would not be long until
the fresh water would lose its charac
ter. The consistent use of his tongue en
abled James Renwick, the last Scottish
Covenanter martyr to suffer death by
public execution upon the scaffold, to
utter his last words, "Lord, into Thy
hand I commit my spirit, for Thou hast
redeemed me, Lord God
(Luke 23:34; Acts 7:59-60).
of
Truth"
Augustine said, "He (James) does not
say that no man can tame the tongue,
but no one of men; so that, when it is
tamed, we confess that this is brought
about by the pity, the help, the graceof
God." Lord give us power to control
our tongues. "Consistency thou art a
jewel!"
Questions
How can we bridle our tongues Mat
thew 12:34-35; Luke 6:45.
2. How is this subject of the "Tongue"
related to the Ninth Commandment
See Larger Catechism, Questions 144
and 145.
Prayer
For the Lord's forgiveness for the
times we have used our tongues in the
wrong way and for power to control
them.
For the various Boards of the Church
and for the meeting of Synod.
For the Covenanter Crusader Corps:
and our summer C.Y.P.U. Camps.
SCOREBOARD
The State Board of Health
that during 1954 in Kansas there was:
A birth every ten minutes.
A death every 27 minutes.
A marriage every 30 minutes.
A divorce every hour and 40 minutes.
A heart disease death every hour and
20 minutes.
A cancer death every 3
10 minutes.
hours and
An accidental death every 6 hours.
An infant death every six hours
30 minutes.
A motor-vehicle fatality every 14
hours.
A pneumonia death every 21 hours.
A suicide every 36 hours.
A tuberculosis death every 72 hours.
THE COVENANTER WITNESS