Word@Work James29 - James 3:9-12
Published: Fri, 03/20/09
Word@Work from BeaconLight
DOUBLE STANDARDS AND QUALITY CONTROL
James 3:9-12 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig-tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. (NIV)
The mess that our world is in, all started with the forked-tongue of Satan. In pretending to be wise and logical (cf Gen 3:1-5), he seduced mankind into foolishness that contradicted the Word of God, and corrupted human nature. Alas, the human tongue continues to be capable of double standards. To our shame (well. we ought to be ashamed), we find that our mouths contradict what we, half-heartedly, believe to be true (cf James 1:5-7). Like wild dogs, curses against our fellows can chase out of our mouths, even after we have sung our praises to God. No wonder that both we, and the watching world, become confused.
The forked tongue belongs to the snake, but such duplicity should never characterise the children of God. It is as unreliable as a rock-spring producing either fresh and salt water according to its mood; fig trees growing olives; or grapevines bearing figs. No farmer could stay in business with such unreliability. Nor should the church. So, a decision to change is essential, along with the perseverance to see it through; because we should not be like that.
Some people think that this is just a matter of will-power. Such determination is necessary, but as the problem is really one of spiritual motivation, we also need to go back to the Lord and ask Him for a clean heart and a right spirit; like David prayed after his moral collapse (cf Ps 51:7-12). We cannot have clean mouths if our hearts are full of impurity (cf Matt 15:16-19), any more than pure water can come from a salt-polluted spring - so we need a deep-clean of our hearts, which the Lord will gladly do if we are willing to let Him. Then others will see the difference at work and at home, making us productive (cf Gal 5:22-26) with the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer: Gracious God. I am ashamed that my mouth displays the double standards of my heart. I know that I need to be fit-for-purpose, as a child of God and so I ask you to deep-clean my heart and give me the desire and perseverance to be single-minded for You. Help me to pray and practice these disciplines at work today. To Your praise and glory. Amen.
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
The mess that our world is in, all started with the forked-tongue of Satan. In pretending to be wise and logical (cf Gen 3:1-5), he seduced mankind into foolishness that contradicted the Word of God, and corrupted human nature. Alas, the human tongue continues to be capable of double standards. To our shame (well. we ought to be ashamed), we find that our mouths contradict what we, half-heartedly, believe to be true (cf James 1:5-7). Like wild dogs, curses against our fellows can chase out of our mouths, even after we have sung our praises to God. No wonder that both we, and the watching world, become confused.
The forked tongue belongs to the snake, but such duplicity should never characterise the children of God. It is as unreliable as a rock-spring producing either fresh and salt water according to its mood; fig trees growing olives; or grapevines bearing figs. No farmer could stay in business with such unreliability. Nor should the church. So, a decision to change is essential, along with the perseverance to see it through; because we should not be like that.
Some people think that this is just a matter of will-power. Such determination is necessary, but as the problem is really one of spiritual motivation, we also need to go back to the Lord and ask Him for a clean heart and a right spirit; like David prayed after his moral collapse (cf Ps 51:7-12). We cannot have clean mouths if our hearts are full of impurity (cf Matt 15:16-19), any more than pure water can come from a salt-polluted spring - so we need a deep-clean of our hearts, which the Lord will gladly do if we are willing to let Him. Then others will see the difference at work and at home, making us productive (cf Gal 5:22-26) with the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer: Gracious God. I am ashamed that my mouth displays the double standards of my heart. I know that I need to be fit-for-purpose, as a child of God and so I ask you to deep-clean my heart and give me the desire and perseverance to be single-minded for You. Help me to pray and practice these disciplines at work today. To Your praise and glory. Amen.
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