We cited James 3.5 – 8 when writing last week about Will Smith’s Oscar outburst. The tongue surely is dangerous.
- And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness…set on fire by hell…
- It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
- With it we bless our Lord and Father, and
- With it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
- From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. (James 3.6 – 10, ESV, bulleted for clarity)
But the solution is right there in James 3 although the appropriate verses are usually under another heading like “Wisdom from Above.” The break causes us to miss what might be a connection to the earlier warnings about the tongue. What’s the solution? I offer it straight from scripture without further comment:
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom… The wisdom from above is
- first pure,
- then peaceable,
- gentle,
- open to reason,
- full of mercy and good fruits,
- impartial and sincere.
And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3.13, 17, 18, ESV, bulleted for clarity)