James 3:1-12

 ¹ My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. ²For 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. ³ Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. ⁴ 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. ⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. ¹⁰Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.


Paraphrase: Brothers, let not many of you become teachers, or we will have stricter judgement. For we are all prone to stumble. If anyone don't stumble in speech, he is mature, able to also control the whole body. We place bridle on horses mouth and control their whole body. Even large ships can be controlled by a small rudder. The tongue likewise, boast great things. How great a forest a little fire kindles. The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue defiles the body and destroy the pattern of nature, and it is set on fire by hell. Every beast is tamed but no one can tame the tongue for it is unruly evil. We bless our God and Father with it and we curse men with it, who have been made from the image of God. Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and curse, this is not to be. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.


Lessons Learnt: The tongue although small, is not to be underestimated. I'm thinking that James told them not many should be teacher because some might not be the right person and they might use their tongue and send the wrong message. 
We cannot bless and curse with the same mouth as it would make no sense. Although directly it is not cursing God. But if we curse man, who are made in the image of God, aren't we too cursing God in an indirect manner? Or aren't we directly cursing His creations?


Prayer: O LORD in Heaven, I thank you for the Word written in James. I thank you that we had the discussion about this particular text in our CARE group the other time, may your blessing continue to be with us, and I pray that you may provide the harvest for us once the workers are ready. LORD I also pray that I may learn to control my tongue LORD, as you know LORD I have a sharp tongue that reacts quicker than my brain, I often speak before I think, LORD please help me reverse that order. I know it is not going to be instant, but I pray that you guide me LORD. Amen.