To conclude this week’s look at James’ Test of the Tongue (James 3:1–12), we turn our attention to the final four verses of the passage.

Earlier this week, we looked at how a believer is called to speak and how what fills our hearts will eventually come out of our mouths. Our words can either justify or condemn us, revealing what is truly taking place within our hearts.

Today, we will look at the hypocrisy that can often fill our speech and how our tongue can contradict itself. James begins in verse 9:

“With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.”

We must not contradict our profession of faith through the use of unwholesome words.

How can we praise our Creator while cursing His creation? How can we sing hymns of praise in the light, yet gossip in the darkness?

The apostle Paul puts it well in his letter to the church in Colosse:

“Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”
Colossians 4:6

As believers, our speech should be consistent with our profession of faith. The same mouth that praises God should not be used to tear down those made in His image.

May our words be filled with grace, truth, and love, and may our speech reflect the transforming work of Christ in our lives.