Beast Taming

James 3:7-12

7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

• Why would James state that no one can tame the tongue?
  
• Why are you more likely to say bad things about your fellow man than about God?
  
• When are you more likely to lash out, put down, or otherwise say bad about others?
  
• What prompts your tongue to get out of control?
  
• What is the real source of "tongue" problems?
  
• How does focusing on the outside problem (tongue) keep us from dealing with the inside problem (self-oriented, self-protection)?

Harold's Musings:
It is tempting to spend our energy on controlling our tongue without addressing the source of the fire that your tongue can produce. Jesus said in Matthew 15:18-20 that what was in the heart determined what came from the mouth. So we are back to our self-serving, self-reliant, easily tempted self. Should you think before you speak? Absolutely! Should you look deep inside (or maybe not so deep in some cases) and find the unloving, unbelieving attitudes that generated the desire to say something beastly? Absolutely! I think I need to go look down my mouth using a mirror.

Tongue the Terrible

James 3:1-6

3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 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! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.

• Why did James jump immediately from being a teacher to controlling the tongue?
  
• How does this discourse on the tongue relate to the previous passage on claiming to have faith?
  
• In what areas do you have to struggle with your tongue?
  
• Why is the tongue so difficult to control?
  
• When has your tongue been like the fire in verse 6?
• When have you made disparaging remarks about someone because of their life situation?
  

Harold's Musings:
Yeah, I know I covered this before, but it is the next passage in line and, hey, it is an important issue to discuss. When I look at this passage in its context, something pops out. Earlier James talked about partiality and how we treat others. He then went to faith and works with an example of the needs of the poor not being met by words alone. Now he looks at teachers and tongue. Could he be considering the teacher who proclaims their faith and understanding of scripture but doesn't show it by action? Could it be that a teacher, who has a position of influence, is making remarks that show partiality and thereby teaches partiality? I've heard preachers and teachers make "humorous" remarks about groups of people. Doesn't that say to their audience that it is OK to think poorly of that group? What are you going to teach with your actions and tongue today? Partiality or God's love?

The Value of Works

James 2:21-26

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

• When you are shopping for something and believe that what you have just found is the best combination of quality and price, what do you do? If you decide not to buy it, why not?
• How do faith and action work together?
  
• Which is more important to you, faith or works? Why?
  
• Why do you resist doing some things that God tells you to do? Is it a faith or a works problem?
  
• What would a stranger think of your faith from only looking at your life?
  
• What can you do to increase your faith?
  
• What can you do to increase your works?

Harold's Musings:
The works vs faith struggle continues, and yet it seems to be a fake battle. This passage points out that true faith with always be manifested by works. Granted it is possible to do the works for the wrong reason (the Pharisees were apparent masters of this), but most of the true challenges to action in my life start with my trust in God. Do I really trust God enough to give up my favorite sin? Do I believe in my heart that God wants me to tell others about Jesus? Am I assembling with other Christians to encourage them the way God wants or just because it is my lifelong habit? Choosing between faith and works is like choosing between your lungs and your heart. You really need both to survive.

What faith?

James 2:14-20

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

• What is the main topic of this passage: faith or works?
• Why is it easier to say you believe something than to fully live it?
• Why is it easier to believe that you believe something than to fully believe it?
• How do works demonstrate faith?
• When might works not demonstrate faith?
• Which comes first: faith or works?
• What things do you believe that you are not living fully? Do you really believe them?
• How does knowing that God might use you to answer your prayers change your prayers?

Harold's Musings:
The faith versus works battle has been raging since the first century. James is believed to be the earliest New Testament books. He has been leading up to this point from early in chapter 1. Things are going to happen in your life. Pray and don't doubt. Study God's word and do it. Now we see the argument clearly stated, but when you have already taken sides it is difficult to see clearly. James is addressing those people who say they believe but are not living a life that shows their faith. People are showing partiality to rich people and ignoring the poor that God has elevated. This passage does not say that works are better than faith or that you can work your way to heaven. It does say that true faith is demonstrated, not just felt. True faith passes on the love and mercy that God has shown you, regardless of the costs. Why do we want faith and works to be an either/or situation? Because conflict seems to let us off the hook of obeying.