“Resist the Temptation to Sin”

But no one among mankind can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. Does a spring send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, bear olives, or a vine bear figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh. James 3:8-12

When I was in grammar school, one of my teachers wrote on my report card, “David’s mouth is getting him into a lot of trouble.” I don’t think this came as a surprise to my parents. They knew about the arguments I was getting into with the other boys in the neighborhood. They also knew from the parents of these boys about how the arguments would often turn into a brawl.

In junior high school, I became a follower of Jesus. The Lord helped me to control my tongue and to turn the other cheek. Unfortunately, when the people I used to fight with saw this change, they took advantage of it and gave me lots of opportunities to turn the other cheek.

As a pastor of followers of Jesus, I see plenty of people who are struggling to control their tongues. I am often involved in conflict resolution with people who just can’t stop gossiping, telling lies, and cursing others. I also see these same people in the worship services using their tongues to praise and bless God.

You have also seen how relationships are harmed when people don’t control their tongues. Marriages, parent-child relationships, friendships have all been harmed by what people say. You have probably experienced how one or two words can cause years of pain and heartache.

We really don’t have to say every word that pops into our heads. And we really don’t have to listen to every word that comes out of someone’s mouth. Whenever we are tempted to lie or gossip or curse someone, we can resist the temptation to sin. And when we hear someone else giving in to these temptations, we can help them to stop sinning by refusing to listen and by refusing to join them in the conversation.

We will be saving relationships, and we will be saving people from years of pain when we control our tongues. Let’s use our tongues as God intended, to bless God Him.

In Christ,

Pastor David