"And they deceive and mock every one his neighbor
and do not speak the truth. They have taught their tongues
to speak lies; they weary themselves committing iniquity."
Jeremiah 9:5
"But the human tongue can be tamed by no man.
It is restless, undisciplined, irreconcilable, evil,
full of deadly poison."
James 3:8
A READING FROM THE THIRD CHAPTER OF THE BOOK OF JAMES
A BROTHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
(See Mark 6:3)
Not many of you should become teachers, self-constituted, censors,
and reprovers of others, my brethren, for you know that we teachers
will be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity than
other people; thus we assume the greater accountability and
the more condemnation.
For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things.
And if anyone does not offend in speech, never says the wrong things,
he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control
his whole body and to curb his entire nature.
If we set bits in the horses' mouths to make them obey us,
we can turn their whole bodies about.
Likewise, look at the ships; though they are so great and are
driven by rough winds, they are steered by a very small rudder
wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines.
Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can boast of
great things. See how much wood or how great a blaze a forest
a tiny spark can set ablaze!
And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is a world of wickedness
set among our members, contaminating and depraving the whole body
and setting on fire the wheel of birth, the cycle of man's nature,
being itself ignited by hell (Gehenna).
For every kind of beast and bird and reptile and sea animal, can
be tamed and has been tamed by human genius (nature).
But the human tongue can be tamed by no man. It is restless,
undisciplined, irreconcilable evil, full of deadly poison.
With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse
men who were made in God's likeness!
Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing.
These things, my brethren, ought not to be so.
Does a fountain send forth simultaneously from the same
opening fresh water and bitter?
Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine, figs?
Neither can a salt spring furnish fresh water.
Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent?
Then let him by his noble living show forth his good works
with the unobtrusive humility which is the proper attribute of true wisdom.
But if you have bitter jealousy, (envy) and contention (rivalry, selfish
ambition) in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it and thus be in
defiance of and false to the Truth.
This superficial wisdom is not such as comes down from above,
but is earthly, unspiritual, (animal), even devilish (demoniacal).
For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and
selfish ambition) there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony,
rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices.
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, (undefiled); then it is
peace-loving, courteous, (considerate, gentle). It is willing to yield to
reason, full of compassion, and good fruits; it is wholehearted and
straightforward, impartial, and unfeigned, free from doubts,
wavering, and insincerity).
And the harvest of righteousness of conformity to God's will in
thought and deed is the fruit of the seed sown in peace by those
who work for and make peace in themselves and in others,
that peace which means concord, agreement, and harmony
between individuals, with undisturbedness, in a peaceful
mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts.
"I Will Give You Rest"
Yongsung Kim
Korean Artist
Only in Jesus is there true righteousness and real
peace for weary hearts in a broken world.
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