James 1:26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
I’ve had a few people ask if a certain day’s blog is specifically about them. It never is. I am self-absorbed enough to always write about me. I would however, like to deviate from that pattern and point today’s blog at someone else. Anyone else. I would like to say that James’ convicting words today are about anyone but me. They are however, of course meant for me and they make me squirm. So no, today’s blog is not about you. It is, sadly, about me again.
James said that if I claim to belong to God but my words indicate the opposite, then my religion is worthless. If I say that I have God in me, but I am known for vicious, angry, vile, and bitter language, then I am a hypocrite. He said that which comes out of my mouth betrays my façade and reveals the reality of what is actually in me.
What language am I known for? Do I bless God and curse man in the same breath? Am I known as a kind, loving and gracious person or am I known as a bitter, angry, foul complainer who is hypercritical of everyone around me? How do my coworkers know me? Would they testify that I love God or would they know by my tongue, that I am a self-absorbed malcontent? Here is maybe the toughest question. What does my family think of my religion? Does my language prove to my wife that I live in humility before God or does it betray that I am still a selfish, immature, petty man?
What if everything I said in private ended up on this blog? What if it ended up on Facebook or Instagram? I would need a muzzle. My speech reveals that I am still in desperate need of God’s grace and forgiveness.
The problem of course, is not simply my tongue. My tongue just reveals that which is in me. My primary need, as always, is to focus the gaze of my soul on God instead of self. Then, that which comes out of me will reflect the goodness of the creator instead of the defects of self.