James 3:5-6 (NKJV) Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
James could not emphasized enough the destructive power of our words if we do not bridle our tongues. He said that the tongue is a fire that brings a world of iniquity or sin. We have listened to news reports of how a small spark can set the whole forest on fire during summers in Australia and the USA. The fires destroyed everything along their paths and many firemen lost their lives to them. The words that we speak if we are not careful, can bring about deadly poison, destruction and unruly evil in a relationship.
James 3:11 (NKJV) Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?
James argued that fresh water and bitter water should not be flowing out from the same spring! He said with conviction that the same mouth should not speak blessings and curses at the same time.
What is bitter water? It is referring to those words that come out of a person who is living in bitterness. The person has strong unrelenting hostility or resentment. It can be a person who has been rejected or misunderstood and is prickly, moody, negative and never good company. The mere mention of a certain other person, company, or event will trigger this person to go off on some old rant about how he/she was mistreated. These people carry baggage from certain experiences or encounters in their life. Insecurity will also cause them to speak and react in a different manner. They will vent their anger and frustration on others.
Our words will be very unkind when we harbor resentment, bitterness and unforgiveness in our soul especially when an old wound is opened. It triggers anger and vindictiveness to flow out of our mouth due to past experiences that we had with others. This is seldom a pleasant sight.
We live in a culture that we think we are entitled to say what we want, completely free from any accountability or repercussions. However, we need the Holy Spirit’s help to enable us to discard nasty old words that should not be a part of our vocabulary. We need to renew our minds so that we are able to have self-control and a redeemed personality.
We will react from our soul where the emotions and the flesh are located. We will respond and react in accordance to the old man unless we renew our minds with the word of God. The Bible teaches us to put on the new man who is made in righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24). Therefore, let us not have both bitter and fresh water flowing out of the same spring. We now have a new spring in our heart which is the new creation that has the nature of God. Let this new spring inside us flow out of us instead.
Sermon Series: Ouch! It Hurts! (Part 2)
苦水
雅各书 3:5-6这样，舌头在百体里也是最小的，却能说大话。看哪，最小的火能点着最大的树林。舌头就是火，在我们百体中，舌头是个罪恶的世界，能污秽全身，也能把生命的轮子点起来，并且是从地狱里点着的。
如果我们不勒住自己的舌头，我们话语带来的破坏力之大，雅各再怎么强调都不为过。他说舌头就是火，带来了一个罪恶的世界。在澳大利亚和美国的夏天，我们已经听到关于一个小火苗如何点燃整片森林的新闻报道。大火烧毁了沿途的一切，许多消防队员因此而丧生。如果我们不小心，我们说的话，就会在我们的关系中带来致命的毒药，破坏和难以控制的邪恶。
雅各书 3:11泉源从一个眼里能发出甜苦两样的水吗？
雅各指出甜水和苦水不可能从一个泉源里流出来! 他坚定地说，祝福和诅咒不能同时从一个嘴里说出来。
什么是苦水? 它指的是一个生活在苦毒中的人说出的那些话。这人有强烈的敌意或怨恨。有可能是一个被拒绝或被误解的人，他们易怒、情绪化、消极，从来都不是一个好伙伴。稍微提到某个人、公司或事件时，就会刺激他们开始喋喋不休地抱怨自己如何受到不公正的待遇。这些人背负着生活中某些经历或遭遇的包袱。缺乏安全感也会导致他们以不同的方式说话和反应。他们会把自己的愤怒和挫折发泄在别人身上。
当我们心中怀有怨恨、苦读和不原谅时，特别是一个旧伤口被揭开的时候，我们的言语将变得非常刻薄。因着我们过去与他人的经历，它让愤怒和报复的话将从我们口中流出。这很难是令人愉快的景象。
我们生活在这样一个文化里, 认为我们有权说出自己所想所要表达的，完全不受任何责任或后果的影响。然而，我们需要圣灵的帮助，使我们能弃绝那些令人不悦的旧词, 这些不应该是我们词汇的一部分。我们需要更新我们的心意，使我们能有节制和得救赎的品格。
我们将从情感和肉体所在的灵魂中作出反应。除非我们用神的话更新我们的心意，否则我们就会按照老我行事。圣经教导我们穿上公义和圣洁所造的新人(以弗所4:24)。因此，让我们不要同时从一个泉源里流出甜水和苦水。我们现今在心中有一个新的源泉，就是具有神本性的新造的人。让这新的泉源从我们心中涌流而出吧！
讲章系列：哎哟！很伤人啊！（第二部分）