On February 8th, we covered some of the topics through page 100 and somewhat into page 101, where the section on "Power to Destroy" begins, of Warren Wiersbe's, Be Mature, study of James.
I mentioned some homework that I’d like us to do based on what Wiersbe says in the last paragraph on page 100. He says,
“It would do us all good to read frequently the book of Proverbs, and to note especially the many references to speech.”
That prompted me to do a word search on just the word "tongue" just from the Proverbs and the Psalms, and I found 18 negative references to the tongue (meaning how the tongue is used for evil); and I found 21 references where it was used in a positive way (for good).
So for this homework, let’s just stick to the Proverbs and follow Wiersbe's suggestion.
For our next meeting, and maybe the study after that also, let’s all pour through the Proverbs and note those references. But as you do this, try to pick out the top 5 negative references, and top 5 positive references, which most specifically apply to yourself.
One other thing to consider:
Additionally, consider something about our relationship with each other. Perhaps you have experienced an instance where someone has said something that either hurt you or set you off, whether it’s true or not. Just consider how much Satan loves it when that happens and it causes the individual who was hurt or wronged to silently retract and stew and hate, and the like. Satan loves a run-away fire, which James teaches can be started by such a small spark, and our tongues are so apt to start it for him.
If this is you, I want to encourage you to purpose, to allow those slanderous hurts or wrongs done to you to remind you of how every single one of us, at one time or another, has done the same to Jesus Christ. And yet, He still died for us! And if we need comfort from such an instance, let's remember and discipline ourselves to go to Him, because there is nobody in existence who can relate to what has happened to us better than He, who came to do nothing but for our good, but the world hated Him, and slandered Him, and lied about Him, and killed Him!
But we are a peculiar people, who have been revived in the power and joy of His resurrection! Amen? Amen!
I mentioned some homework that I’d like us to do based on what Wiersbe says in the last paragraph on page 100. He says,
“It would do us all good to read frequently the book of Proverbs, and to note especially the many references to speech.”
That prompted me to do a word search on just the word "tongue" just from the Proverbs and the Psalms, and I found 18 negative references to the tongue (meaning how the tongue is used for evil); and I found 21 references where it was used in a positive way (for good).
So for this homework, let’s just stick to the Proverbs and follow Wiersbe's suggestion.
For our next meeting, and maybe the study after that also, let’s all pour through the Proverbs and note those references. But as you do this, try to pick out the top 5 negative references, and top 5 positive references, which most specifically apply to yourself.
One other thing to consider:
Additionally, consider something about our relationship with each other. Perhaps you have experienced an instance where someone has said something that either hurt you or set you off, whether it’s true or not. Just consider how much Satan loves it when that happens and it causes the individual who was hurt or wronged to silently retract and stew and hate, and the like. Satan loves a run-away fire, which James teaches can be started by such a small spark, and our tongues are so apt to start it for him.
If this is you, I want to encourage you to purpose, to allow those slanderous hurts or wrongs done to you to remind you of how every single one of us, at one time or another, has done the same to Jesus Christ. And yet, He still died for us! And if we need comfort from such an instance, let's remember and discipline ourselves to go to Him, because there is nobody in existence who can relate to what has happened to us better than He, who came to do nothing but for our good, but the world hated Him, and slandered Him, and lied about Him, and killed Him!
But we are a peculiar people, who have been revived in the power and joy of His resurrection! Amen? Amen!