Determining Our Destinies With Our Tongue

JAMES 3:1-18; 1 PETER 3:10; MATTHEW 12:33-37

Chapter three of the General Epistle of James is peculiar, for it is devoted to the use or misuse of the tongue; and how serious and important such a subject should be. Actually, you will find that from the Bible, Genesis to Revelation, our tongue determines how happy we are in life; how useful to the Lord; how healthy we are in ourselves and how spiritual. It is the tongue that determines how rewardable we are going to be in eternity; how friendly we are in society; successful, profitable, good and how well-remembered our lives will be after we are gone. It is the tongue on the other hand that determines our sadness, rejection, defeat, loss, failure, suffering in life, unanswered prayers, self-destruction, eternal ruin and damnation. Like a small steering wheel, it drives us to our desirable or damned destination. “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile” (1 Peter 3:10). If you want a prosperous and rewardable life, check your tongue. “….for the tree is known by his fruit” (Matthew 12:33). The tree is known by its fruits not by the noise, height or its leaves. By the fruits it is bearing, you will know the nature of that tree. Jesus said, “…..for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34b). The problem is not at the doorstep of the tongue but the heart. If the heart is happy then the tongue will speak happy words, if the heart is depraved and dirty, then the tongue will utter words that are dirty, defiled and depraved. If the heart is cleansed and holy, the tongue will speak clean and righteous words, but if the heart is devilish, the tongue will speak devilish and evil words. Idle words come from an idle, vacant and worthless heart; the heart that has not experience the touch and salvation of the Lord. Every idle word that men speak, they shall give account. “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matthew 12:37).

It is the tongue that prays, confesses, shows confidence in Christ, that comes to ask the Lord for salvation, and then the fire of the Lord touches, purges and transforms that tongue, and this will lead to life and justification. But the tongue that is self-righteous, proud, says there is no need of the Lord’s salvation, misses conversion, and this will lead to condemnation. Here on earth, it is our tongues that determine how good our family will be, how prosperous the salesman will be, how good a teacher is, how good anyone in any field or profession is and what we get out of life. On the other side of the grave, it is the tongue that determines where we are going to be. A step further, it is unfortunate that we determine other people’s destinies with our tongue. The Evangelist determines the sinners’ destiny with his tongue, the Pastor-Preacher determines the destiny of multitudes of people with his tongue. The wife or mother determines the destinies and direction of the children with her tongue; our leaders in the nation determine the direction and destiny of the nation with the tongue. We determine quite a lot with our tongue, so such a little member requires our attention.

Point 1. THE DEFINING FACTOR IN THE MASTER’S TONGUE

James 3:1-2; John 7:46; Matthew 10:24-25; Isaiah 50:4-7; Luke 4:22; Colossians 4:6; Proverbs 31:8-10; Isaiah 53:7; 1 Peter 2:21-23; Revelations 14:4-5

If any man or woman, believer offends not in word, that man, woman or believer is a perfect one, and able to bridle the tongue. If you are going to have mastery over your tongue, you need to look at the Master Jesus, and see what defines His use of the tongue. “The officers answered, Never man spake like this man” (John 7:46). Check the condition of your tongue; look at Jesus Christ, and see how He used His tongue, and come to Him to touch and transform your tongue, then you will be able to speak as He spoke. “….Be not many masters” Watch the Master, Perfect Teacher and Counsellor, and learn of him, because if we rush to be masters, with unsanctified tongues, we shall receive the greater condemnation. Check up your life, the history of your family, a broken home, or lack of promotion at work, lack of success and even the growth of the Church, and you will find that the tongue contributed in a large measure to those situations. Are people avoiding you, check your tongue; is it a razor blade tongue that cuts through the people? “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body” (James 3:2). Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said and did nothing but what the Father taught Him. Let us learn of Him. “Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise” (John 5:19).