James 3:4a  "Behold also the ships, which though they are great, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they are turned about with a very small helm…"

Earlier I had written in James 3: 3 about "…bits in the horse's mouths, that they may obey us; and we can turn about their whole body."

James uses those two comparisons to present  what he wants the people to understand concerning a particular sin.  James 4:5a  "Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things.  Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindles!…"

As we have seen the huge fires in the West this year that were kindled by a match or campfire, we know this is true.  People die.  Thousands lose their homes.

Small things.  Bits, helms and tongues.  They can produce mighty works.  But when misused, can cause disaster.  And each disaster is final.  You can't un-buck a spill from a horse, or un-crash a ship.  In the same way, you can't take back your words.  Once you say something, it is irretrievable.  Your words do great good or great harm.

We are social people.  We love to communicate.  But care is needed in what we say, how we say it and whether it should be said at all.  I have such difficulty in this area because I am a public speaker.  I find by writing to all of you, I can edit, and reedit what I want to say.  You can't do that when you open your mouth.  If you say something, you can't very well edit it.  All you can do is apologize.

In James 3: 10 James gives further warning.  "Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing.  My brothers, these things ought not to be so."  Basically, that means don't curse.