For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 

                                                                                                                     James 3:2-5 

“For we all stumble in many ways.” Isn’t that the truth? All of us stumble and fall in a variety of ways. But one of the most common ways in which we reveal our sin nature is with our words. I believe that is one of the reasons why James spends so much time looking at this portion of the Christian life. And because he spends so much time on this issue, so will we.

A horse is a majestic, powerful animal. Horses are capable of injuring a rider if that person is not knowledgeable and skilled. Yet, despite the horses capacity to break free and run, a small bit, proportionally speaking, is able to bring that entire animal under control.

Likewise, a ship is a majestic and powerful machine. Ships are capable of traversing the open waters of the ocean. Yet a ship can be controlled be a small rudder. Just like the bit that is placed inside the mouth of the horse, this tiny part, proportionally speaking, of the ship is able to turn and guide the ship in whatever direction the pilot desires.

And what about the forest? Every year there are repeated attempts to educate people on just how dangerous fire can be in the forest. When conditions are right, a forest can be reduced to rubble just because of the carelessness of someone building a campfire. In these conditions, extreme caution must be used or else the forest, and everything in it, can be vulnerable to devastation.

So what point is James making in each of these examples? He is reminding us that the tongue is also a proportionately small part of our body yet has tremendous power and capacity to do either good or evil.

Like the bit is able to keep in check the power of the horse, we need to keep our tongues in check so that our lives are also brought under control. “If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.” If we can control our tongues, we prove ourselves capable of controlling our entire beings as well.

Like the ship, our tongues are capable of moving our lives in various directions. The very words that we speak can build up and encourage or they can destroy and devastate. Like the ship that is directed by a rudder, the course of our lives can also be directed in the words that we say.

Like the fire, our tongues must be kept under control lest they can cause tremendous damage. To be careless with our tongue is to put everyone involved in the path of potential devastation and destruction. Like with fire, extreme caution must be used when we are formulating exactly what we are going to say.

“So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.” It is such a simple concept to grasp yet so difficult (at times) to live. But as believers, we must consider the power that the tongue has on our lives and the lives of those around us!