Lesson 16: Fire in Your Mouth (part 2)
Read James 3:1-12 - www.bible.com/bible/59/jas.3.esv

 James 3:2 is a challenge to us all. We all have weaknesses, we all fail God in various ways and circumstances. None of us is exempt from making mistakes. Since James understands that the tongue reveals what we really are inside he says that if we never make a mistake with our tongue we would indeed be perfect - which none of us are. Learning to live successfully is a process. We are never totally mature. Notice, the mature Christian learns to control his tongue.

To impress on us the importance of controlled speech, and the great consequences of our words, James gives 6 pictures of the tongue:
1. The horse’s bit (3:3)
2. The ship’s rudder (3:4)
3. Fire (3:5-6)
4. A poisonous animal (3:7-8)
5. A fountain (3:9-11)
6. A fig tree (3:12)

James 3:3-4 – A small bit, with a length of rope, and a few strip of leather, enables the rider to control the whole body of a great horse. A small rudder enables the pilot to steer the whole ship. Both the bit and the rudder need to overcome contrary obstacles. The bit must overcome the wild nature of the horse and the rudder has to overcome the winds and the currents that would drive the ship off course. Even so the tongue, being but a small member can control the direction of our lives. The bit and the rudder must be under the control of a strong hand in order to avoid disaster. So must our tongue be under the control of the strong hand of the Lord.

*What do these verses say about the tongue or the mouth?
*Proverbs 18:21 _____.
*Psalm 141:3-4 _____
*Matthew 12:34 _____
*Proverbs 15:1 _____.
*Proverbs 12:22 _____
*Proverbs 10:19 _____.

Just like a runaway horse or shipwreck could affect the lives of others around us, so can a runaway tongue. Never underestimate the guidance you give with your tongue, or the condemnation you confer. How important like a bit and rudder that our tongues guide and direct people in the right direction.