James 3

Devotionals, Articles, and Bible Study Resources on James 3

1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.
3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal.
4Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.
5In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze.
6The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,
8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.
10Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!
11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
12My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
14But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.
15Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.
17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.
— James 3

Related Resources from Heartlight

Just Because You're Right
Article by Rubel Shelly

How important is proving to everyone else that you are right? Just because you are right doesn't make you right -- how we deal with others is crucial in being right!

Can't Keep Your Mouth Shut?
Article by Alan Smith

It's really hard to do, isn't it! Alan Smith talks about how hard it is to keep our mouth shut using a humorous story about a police trooper and an English professor.

HALT
Article by Mike Barres

What do you do when you are emotionally on fire? A recovery saying, HALT, reminds us to be careful when we are hungry, angry, lonely, and tired because then we are vulernable to temptation, sin, and weakness as well as addictions.

Jockeying To Be Shocking
Article by Rubel Shelly

Aren't we way past too far? Shock jocks have tried to out do each other in shocking, crude, and obscene remarks on radio, TV, and interviews and they have crossed the line and we are the only ones who can do something about it.

Wildfires!
Article by Phil Ware

How is your speech like a lighted cigarette? Heartlight's first article was about how we use our speech.

You Bear a Resemblance to Him
Article by Max Lucado

Because God’s promises are unbreakable, our hope is unshakable. Max Lucado reminds us that we are made to resemble God and we must believe and Lauren Daigle reminds us we must listen to what God says about us and believe.

Human Nature?
Article by Russ Lawson

So is our human nature really all that bad? Russ Lawson reminds us that our human nature was created by God and that we can use it to choose wisely, to choose God.

Wisdom and Consequences
Article by Paul Faulkner

Why do we fool ourselves into thinking our actions and choices don't matter that much? Our descisions have consequences and these choices are not inconsequential to our children and grandchildren.

Biting our Tongue?
Article by Lou Seckler

Can you keep it in check? We must watch our language for others and for God.

Let Jesus ...
Article by Phil Ware

What do these words mean and whose words do we trust? Phil Ware weaves in the 7 sayings of Jesus on the cross with the sense of forgiveness and mission that should be ours in the cross and resurrection of Jesus.

Horrifying Halloween
Article by Phil Ware

What could make Halloween any more horrifying than it already is? An awful Halloween ten years ago reminds us how important it is to value children for who they are!

The Real Reason
Article by Byron Ware

Let's cut through the fluff and deal with the real issue here! Selfishness is what really lies behind all of marriage problems and the devil wants to use selfish people and marriage problems to render the church ineffective.

Cross References for James 3

Cross References Provided by Open Bible

The Berean Standard Bible

The Berean Standard Bible (BSB) is a modern, clear, and faithful translation based on the best available Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. Ideal for reading, study, and sharing, it entered the public domain in 2023. For more information, visit berean.bible.