Sticks and Stones

“STICKS AND STONES”

JAMES 3:1-13

KEY VERSE: JAMES 3:5

INTRO: Kids are honest. Whatever is on their mind they say.They have a

transparent, unrestrained honesty. One child was the only member of

his family at Church one day and he blurted out, “Please pray for my

mom and dad—they’re at home goofing off.” Someone has said that

we spend the first two years of a baby’s life trying to persuade him to

talk and the next 75 years trying to get to hush.

We are all guilty of letting a throwaway phrase or a destructive word

slip. Trying to take that phrase or word back is like trying to unring a

bell. As kids we all learned this little rhyme—“Sticks and stones may

break my bones but words will never hurt me.” Friends, words do

hurt but they also destroy.

I want to speak this morning on the subject STICKS AND STONES. I

want you to note with me that STICKS AND STONES may break my

bones but….

(1) WORDS REVEAL THE MATURITY OF THE BELIEVER

JAMES 3:2—“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.”

A. SIN IS OUR PROBLEM. James shows us here the common failure of all of

us—“For in many things we offend all…”. All of us stumble and fall. None

of walk so closely to God that we never stumble. We are all sinners and

none of us can live a life of sinless perfection. Someone has humorously

pointed out that life is strewn with banana peels. We all stumble. We all

slip up. Ecclesiastes 7:20 tells us—“For there is not a just man upon earth,

that doeth good, and sinnethnot.” Friends, sin is not only a personal

problem but it is a universal problem. 1 John 5:19 reminds us—“…the

whole world lieth inwickedness.” SIN IS OUR PROBLEM but as believers…

ILLUS: "For the Word of God is living, and powerful, and sharper than any

two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and

spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the

thoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb. 4:12).

As the powerful chain saw cut its way through the oak tree, it

uncovered an object foreign to a tree. There, embedded in the tree was

a 22-bullet, once hidden from view, now made visible by the cutting

asunder of the tree. From the outside, the point of entry was no

longer visible, but on the inside, the path of the bullet had clearly left

its mark in the wood. Compared to the size of the tree, it was an

extremely small mark, yet by its presence, had caused the area

surrounding it to turn black with rot. Had one been present when the

bullet entered the tree, it would have been possible not only to see the

mark, but to dig the bullet out. However, with the passing of time, the

tree grew larger and stronger. The bark had grown thicker and the

bullet remained hidden, a part of the tree. Just as the bullet

penetrated into the tree, so sin penetrates us. The point of entry may

not be visible to anyone else, but the sin becomes embedded in our

lives, and unless it is removed, causes a growing spot to rot.(Bible

B. SPEECH SHOWS OUR PROGRESS. The words of our mouth reflect the

maturity of our hearts. James says—“If any man offend not in word, the

same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” I want you to

look at those words “a perfect man”. It is not speaking of sinless perfection

but of spiritual progress. The Greek word for perfect used here is teleios

which means “fully developed in maturity.” James shows us here that the

tongue is most reliable indicator of the heart. The tongue gives proof

whether the new man is in control and whether sin and self-will are under

restraint. James 1:26 tells us—“If any man among you seem to be religious,

andbridleth not histongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is

vain.” Matthew Henry said—“The not bridling the tongue, readiness to

speak of the faultsof others, or to lessen their wisdom and piety, are signs

of a vain religion. The man whohas a slandering tongue, cannot have a

truly humble, gracious heart…An unspotted life must go with unfeigned

love andcharity.”(MATTHEW HENRY’S COMMENTARY ON THE WHOLE BIBLE CONDENSED VERSION

ILLUS: The control of the tongue is the barometer of Christian maturity. The

speech of any Christian will soon reveal whether or not he is spiritual,

for "If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able

also to bridle the whole body." James is telling us that if a person

could be found who was never guilty of uttering a faulty expression, he

would be a well-balanced and thoroughly mature man, able to control

the rest of his body.(Lehman Strauss. Lehman Strauss Commentary.WORDsearch 7.0.

WORDS REVEAL THE MATURITY OF THE BELIEVER but also…

(2) WORDS REVEAL THE DESIRES OF THE HEART

JAMES 3:3-6—“Behold, we put bits in the horses’mouths, that they may

obey us;and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships,

which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet

are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the

governorlisteth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth

great things.Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And

the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among

our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire

the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”

A. THE TONGUE IS PETITE. V5 tells us—“Even so the tongue is a little

member, and boasteth great things…”. James employs three symbols of

power to show us how the tongue influences and impacts lives. He says—

“Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and they

turn the whole body...”. (v3). These little bits turn large horses. Second, he

speaks of “Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are

driven of fierce winds, yet they are turned about with a very small helm,

whithersoever the governor listeth.” (v4). Small rudders turn large ships.

And lastly, he speaks of “Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!...

andsetteth on fire the course of nature…” (v6). Small fires burn great

forests.

ILLUS: We should mind little things in life-little courtesies, little matters of

personal appearance, little extravagances, little minutes of wasted

time, little details in our work. It seems that a thing cannot be too

small to command our attention. The first hint Newton had, leading to

his very important optical discoveries, was derived from a child's soap

bubble. The art of printing was suggested by a man cutting letters in

the bark of a tree. The telescope was the outcome of a boy's

amusement with two glasses in his father's shop. Goodyear neglected

his skillet until it was red hot, and the accident guided him to the

manufacture of vulcanized rubber-little things, every one a little thing.

Yet how important they proved to be to the man who had the wit to

correlate these things with the idea in his head. So the tongue is like

the helm of a ship. The helm is small, but it can direct a big vessel.

(Bible Illustrator for Windows.Version 3.0f.Copyrignt 199-1998. Parsons Technology, INC. All Rights

Reserved).

B. THE TONGUE IS POWERFUL. James shows us that the tongue must be

bridled as the horse, and governed as the ships; because, though it is small,

it is capable of ruling the whole man; andof irritating and offending others.

(CLARKE’S COMMENTARY NT, VOLUME 6B: I THESS. – REVELATIONby Adam Clarke. The Master Christian

smoldering cigarette can cause great devastation and destroy many acres of

land. So also can a careless word or words spoken in the heat of anger

devastate and destroy many lives. Someone said, “A judicious silence is

always better than truth spoken without charity.”— FRANCIS DE SALES.

AGES Software. Albany, OR).

Concerning “…the ships, which though they be so great”, I want you to note

that it says “they are turned about…whithersoever the governor listeth.”(v4).

The rudder of a ship is under the control of the pilot. This means that the

tongue and its use are under the control of the heart of the owner. An old

proverb says “While the word is yet unspoken, you are master of it; when

once it isspoken, it is master of you.” — ARABIC.(PEARLS FROM MANY SEASby J. B.

WORDS REVEAL THE MATURITY OF THE BELIEVER, WORDS REVEAL THE DESIRES OF THE HEART, and thirdly….

(3) WORDS REVEAL THE INFLUENCE OF EVIL

JAMES 3:6-8—“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the

tongue amongour members, that it defileth the whole body, and

setteth on firethe course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For

every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in

the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue

can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadlypoison.”

A. THE TONGUE DESTROYS. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 16:27—“An

ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as aburning fire.”

James says that the fire of a loose tongue “is set on the fire of hell.” (v6b).

Whenevermen’s tongues are employed in sinful ways, they are set on fire of

hell.(MATTHEW HENRY’S COMMENTARY ON THE WHOLE BIBLE CONDENSED VERSIONby Matthew Henry.

ILLUS: A scientist has found out that poison from the skin of a tiny South

American tree frog is far more toxic than any other known venom. Rain

forest Indians use the venom from the skin of the kokoi frog to poison

their blowgun arrows. There is a poison even more deadly-the poison

from an evil tongue. "The tongue is a fire, a word of iniquity." "With

their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their

lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness" (James 3:6 and

context; Rom. 3:13, 14). Are you a Christian, able to control your

tongue? If so, you are a mature Christian. "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).(Bible Illustrator for

B. THE TONGUE DEFILES. A loose tongue defiles. Our word defilethis

translated from a Greek word which means the tongue “corrupts, spots,

spills evil”. V8 says—“it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” It is “An

evil that cannot berestrained; it cannot be brought under any kind of

government; it breaks allbounds.” (CLARKE’S COMMENTARY NT, VOLUME 6B: I THESS. –

OR).

ILLUS: I am your tongue! I am an important fellow. The Bible mentions me

about 215 times (Prov. 18:21; 21:23, etc.). When I speak kind,

thoughtful and true words, there is happiness; when I speak mean,

untrue, angry or complaining words, there is trouble.(Bible Illustrator for

WORDS REVEAL THE MATURITY OF THE BELIEVER, WORDS REVEAL THE DESIRES OF THE HEART, WORDS REVEAL THE INFLUENCE OF EVIL AND lastly let us see that…

(4) WORDS REVEAL THE CONDITION OF THE SOUL

JAMES 3:9-13—“ Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and

therewith curse wemen, which are made after the similitude of God.

Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My

brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth

at the same place sweet water andbitter? Can the fig tree, my

brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs?so can no fountain

both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued

with knowledge among you? let himshew out of a good conversation

his works with meekness ofwisdom.”

A. INCONSISTENCY. Our tongues are capable of singing and praisingGod’s

glory, proclaiming His majesty, and publishing His Gospel, what a pity it is

that many use the same tongue to gossip, slander, belittle, and lie against

their brothers and sisters in the Lord. Someone has said, “An arrow can kill

at 50 yards, but the tongue is deadly at 1000 miles.” “Out of the same

mouthproceedeth blessing and cursing.” Nature teaches us many lessons.

We see one of those lessons here. No fountain, at the same opening, sends

forth sweet water and bitter; no fig tree can bear olive berries; no vine can

bear figs; nor can the sea produce salt water and fresh from the same place.

These are all contradictions, and indeedimpossibilities, in nature.(CLARKE’S

COMMENTARY NT, VOLUME 6B: I THESS. – REVELATIONby Adam Clarke. The Master Christian Library. Version

waterthere is no way for the tongue of a rebellious, impure heart to produce

a blessing.

B. INCREDIBILITY. Only a heart full of Jesus will produce words which bless

our Lord and encourage men. Let to what v13 says—“Who is a wise man

and endued with knowledge among? let him shew out of a good conversation

his works with meekness of wisdom.” Friends, the condition of the soul will

determine the words that are spoken. By our walk and with our words the

meekness of true wisdom are seen.

CLOSING: WORDS REVEAL THE MATURITY OF THE BELIEVER, WORDS

REVEAL THE DESIRES OF THE HEART, WORDS REVEAL THE

INFLUENCE OF EVIL, and WORDS REVEAL THE CONDITION OF

THE SOUL.

Friend, let me ask you today, “How are you doing what that little

member we call the tongue?

PREPARED BY BROTHER BRYAN L. BROWNING, PASTOR OF BEECHMONT BAPTIST CHURCH, BEECHMONT, KY FOR SUNDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 8, 2009.