"My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgement..." (vs 1) Leadership forces responsibility. If we are in a position of authority or influence over anyone, the greater our responsibilities will be, and we will be held to a higher standard. Just something to be aware of!
"Look also at ships: although they are so large, and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how a little fire kindles a great forest!" (vs 4-5)
This is something I've struggled with a lot. I've prayed continually for God to help me guard my tongue, so that I will speak good things and not destructive things. Sometimes I have the tendency to want to speak before I think about the implications, and I've really been learning to hold back and consider. I don't always get it right, but the power of the Holy Spirit is working in me in this area! The tongue is such a powerful thing. It can defile our whole body, and it can steer the course of our life! It is not something to be taken lightly.
"Out of the same mouth produce blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so..." (vs 10)
To me this speaks so clearly of inconsistency. So often our lives just don't match up! We bless God one moment, but the next we are cursing others. Maybe not literally cursing someone, but so often what we do and say is not reflective of Christ...even though we claim to follow Him. When did we become so divided? We can't keep jumping back-and-forth over the fence. We're either for Him or against Him, no in between.
"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom..." (vs 13)
The Bible clearly instructs us to be be slow to speak, slow to anger, and quick to listen. We should be doing good works in humbleness, and seeking divine wisdom from the Lord DAILY. The Word says that those who have bitter envy, are self-seeking, and boast and lie against the truth are confused an evil. Their wisdom is from the world. Wisdom from above is what we should be seeking. This wisdom is: pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, merciful, bearing good fruit, showing no partiality, without hypocrisy...
"Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace..."
Ahh, 4-5, I've really struggled with that in the past. But God has helped me a lot. It's funny because quite often I used to pray for me to be silenced, but through being silent God opened my eyes to so much I had not seen from behind my words.
ReplyDeleteI love verse 10, because I see that so much in my school and even my church. It's so confusing to watch people go from one end to the other over and over again. I wish they could truly understand that that isn't what God wants, and begin to grow in that area.
Good stuff Judith! (: