This verse tells us to look at ships. Not because ships in themselves are spiritually all that significant, but because there is something to be learned from them as an example. To make more sense of this, lets look at the surrounding context:
James 3:2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 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. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
So the example is that, although ships are large, and driven by strong winds, yet they are controlled by a very small piece of equipment, the rudder. In the same fashion, our whole body can be defiled by our very small tongue. Jesus made the same point.
Matthew 12:34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
So everything we say is recorded and we will have to give account for every idle word that we speak. The word for idle is ‘argon’ and comes from ‘alpha’ (a negative prefix) and ‘ergon’ (work, accomplish). So every word that does not work or accomplish something useful is idle.
Jesus explains that our words are a reflection of our hearts, and if our hearts are good, our words and actions will be good. Likewise, when our hearts are bad, our words and actions will be bad. And we know that God will judge our actions (Matthew 16:27, Romans 2:6, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Revelation 22:12 etc). So we have to make sure our hearts are good. What is a good heart? In scripture, our hearts represent the essence of our being, probably because without a heart, there is no life. A heart that loves God above anything else and others as himself is a good heart. A heart that keeps Gods commands (Proverbs 3:1) and that trusts in God (Proverbs 3:5) is a good heart.
We can actually change our heart by recognizing the consequences of our speech. As Jesus mentioned, we will be judged by our words. There are also many proverbs that talk about speech, some highlight the positive benefits of good speech, and some the disastrous results of bad speech.
Proverbs 12:14: A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth.
Proverbs 18:7: A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.
With our mouths, we can teach, edify, comfort, encourage, ask, rebuke, show compassion, respond in anger, swear, curse, lie, boast, flatter, reveal secrets, and make hasty promises. Some of these are good, some of them bad. Try to analyze your own speech and think about why you say what you say. This sermon might help you with such an analysis. It contains examples and motivations of both good and bad speech, and a long list of proverbs about speech.
Your tongue is the rudder of your soul, so make sure you steer it in the right direction.
Godspeed!
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