In contrast to our canoe which tends to go to the left and right of our desired direction as my wife and I paddle, our tandem kayak has a rudder which makes navigation easier. Though the rudder is a smaller aspect of the craft, even when our paddles might get a bit out of sync, the setting of the rudder keeps us on a straight course.
After noting a bridle’s ability to turn the whole body of large horse, James went on to state. . .
“(4) Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. (5) So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! (6) And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.” (James 3:4-6 ESV)
The tongue — though a relatively small part of our body — has great power over the course of our life! James went on to note how the same tongue can be used to bless God and to curse people made in His likeness; something to be considered as unnatural as expecting both fresh and salt water from the same spring. (James 3:9-12) As Jesus noted it is “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34), let us be mindful of the well from which our words are drawn. Rather than speaking along coarse lines, the tongue needs to be properly piloted as it impacts the whole course of our life. May we prayerfully seek God’s help for our tongue to be set for a proper course of life that will glorify Him and bless others!
Have a great day ACCEPTING GOD’S HELP IN PILOTING THE TONGUE!
Carl
