Scripture
"Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts...no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison." (James 3:4-8)
Observation
Every time I drive past Aloha Tower, I admire the gigantic cruise ships temporarily docked for restocking. So many rooms, so many amenities, so many opportunities for fun and adventure on, basically, a floating city, and to think that these ships once traveled the seas on a few motors and rudders. These tiny rudders, controlled by the hands of the captain, direct this large vessel toward safety allowing its passengers to relax and enjoy. But in the wrong hands those same rudders can direct it toward destruction causing harm to everyone on it and near it. Definitely a scary reality, but, in the right hands the crew and passengers can enjoy relaxation, fun, and the trip of a lifetime. What if the captain didn’t want to accept responsibility for directing those rudders? What if he just thought it was too much work and decided to dock the ship permanently? The ship’s purpose would never be fulfilled, the fun would never be had, and it would sit uselessly....just taking up space.
This came to mind as I read James 3 where Paul compares our tongues to a ship’s rudder. Even though the rudder is a tiny piece, it has the power to direct the ship to safety and blessing people or destruction and harming people, so too, even though our tongue is a tiny piece, it has the power to bring safety and blessing to people or destruction and harm to people...so small yet so powerful, so critical, so influential, and the choice is ours:
What will you do with your tongue?
Will you allow it to get out of control and bring destruction and harm to people?
Will you not accept responsibility and say nothing while completely avoiding interactions?
Will you use it to bring safety, blessing, and hope to people?
I wonder if the first two options are equally bad? Allowing words to loosely, selfishly flow from our mouths brings lasting hurt and consequences. But maybe you’re thinking, “I know that, and that’s why I just don’t say anything. I avoid all conflict, all difficult situations, and any potential drama and just mind my own business.” Again, I wonder if this option is equally as bad because then, like the ship where the captain didn’t want to take responsibility and just permanently parked it...never used for its purpose, never allowing the fun and adventure to be had, just sitting uselessly taking up space… if our lives will face the same reality— never finding our purpose, not being used by God to speak hope, life, and blessings to others, and just sitting on the side useless to the Kingdom and just taking up space.
Application
God wants to use YOU to bless your family this Christmas season. He wants to use your mouth to share His love and to extend encouragement and blessing to those around you. Your tongue, and your emotions, are going to need some intentional steering, some finessing and some muscling, but it’s worth it because you have a purpose, you are meant to dispense His joy and hope, and you can be useful to the Kingdom as a conduit of His words to those around you. Choose to accept responsibility over your tongue and surrender control to Captain Jesus. Don’t park yourself on the side, but be available, be willing, and find joy in being used by Him to bless your family and loved ones.
Prayer
Jesus, please forgive me for allowing my tongue to be a source of hurt and a conduit of frustration and aggravation. I recognize that it’s actually a tool You’ve given me for Your use, so I surrender my tongue to You. Help me to accept responsibly over it and surrender control to You that You might use it to bless those around me. In Your name, Amen!
