PASTOR’S CORNER, Bailey Norris, New Beginnings Church, Liberal
Living a life of integrity is a key marker of walking out our faith. Integrity is such an important thing to have for each of us. It matters so much how we respond in hard times and integrity becomes a large part of our character. Living a life of integrity also extends to the words that we use and how we speak. Our speech matters. It is something that all people have wrestled with at some time or another.
We have all likely said things that makes us want to go into a time machine and stop ourselves from saying it. James tackles the power of our words when speaking to the early church in James 3.
James 3:3-5 (ESV)
3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 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!
James uses several metaphors that show the power that something so small can have. The metaphor that stands out to me the most is that our words are like a rudder. Several years ago, I took up paddle boarding as a hobby. I spent every spare moment at the lake on my paddle board. It was one that you had to inflate yourself and put together. One afternoon, I let someone borrow it. They called me after their paddle boarding adventure and complained about how hard it was to use. They had gotten stuck in the middle of the lake and were paddling but were unable to guide the direction. It lead them to realizing that they had not attached the rudder to the board. Without it, the paddle board was just a float with no direction.
Our words carry weight as we walk in relationship with other people. Just as a rudder steers a ship, they can be used to steer our lives in both positive and negative ways. They can either tear people down or build them up. Single phrases can destroy relationships or build them up.
James calls us to use our words in ways that are glorifying to God. He gives some simple advice on how to think through using our words. We need to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. Our words should both glorify God and edify others. Our words have the power to speak life into situations that may otherwise be dead.
Our speech should point people back to God. They should display that we are living a life of integrity and striving to follow God. Our words display what is happening in our lives. We speak from an overflow of what is happening internally. When we are living lives close to God, it is easy to speak words that build others up.
Words matter. They can heal, heal, hurt or harm. We need to ensure that we use them in a God honoring way.
