Praise and Curse

James 3:9,10


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.



Aman can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea. God gave a privilege to Adam to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over every living creature that moves on the ground(Gen 1:28). The same promise was given to Noah(Gen 9:2). All animals have been tamed by man(James 3:7). We were created in God's image to glorify God. But, we live in a chaos in which both good and evil exist. A man is sometimes like an angel; and sometimes like a monkey, has both good and bad characters. In addition, a man is sometimes like a saint and like a sinner. James said there is nothing more contradictory than a tongue. Out of the same tongue comes praise to God and a curse and a slander to others(Matt 26:35, 69–75). "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Our of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be"(James 3:9,10).

John Bunyun denoted "A tongue becomes a saint outside, but becomes a devil at home." We often talk gently, and softly to a stranger or to people in the church. However, we speak ruthlessly to people whom we are close to at home and work. A tongue is like a medicine: it can be a poison or a healer. It is and work. A tongue is like a medicine: it can be a poison or a healer. It is beneficial only when it is wisely used according to a prescription of a doctor. So does a tongue. With the same tongue, one can praise or curse, and hurt or heal. One can speak the most beautiful words or dirty words. A tongue betrays us by speaking both praise and curse. "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"(James 3:11,12).

Therefore, James said a man is perfect if he can tame his tongue, so that he can speak unmistakably. Taming a tongue is closely related to our spirituality. A tongue is under the control of our sinful nature. All evils come from Satan and rules over our tongue. Only God can tame our tongue. and only the one who can tame his or her tongue can keep his or her whole body in check. We should let God tame our tongue and keep our body in check by the power of the Spirit.