Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom
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What Does James 3:11 Mean?
James 3:11-12
In examining ourselves, perhaps the critical question is, "How much salt can be in the water before it tastes salty?" If our words hurt or cut others down only on occasion, does that make us guilty of all that James describes? How much confidence would we have in the kitchen faucet if we never knew whether we would receive salt water or fresh water from it? Would we fill a glass and drink it down or carefully test it each time?
When I was in school, a common practical joke was to dump salt in someone's milk or water, watch him unsuspectingly drink it down and chortle gleefully when the shock emerged on his face as he discovered what he had just consumed. When it happened to me, it was indeed a shock! No matter how many times I had watched it done to another, or participated in doing it, or how hard I laughed at another's "getting it," when my turn for a "salting" took place, it was totally unexpected and entirely unpleasant.
It happens like this in our relationships. We expect to trust one another, and we expect the "waters" of our words to be refreshing, to be pleasant, to be loving and positive. When we are hit with the "salt"—words spoken in anger, gossip, merciless criticism, or caustic sarcasm toward us when we may need some kinder attention—it is always a shock and always leaves us feeling distaste in our mouths and betrayal in our hearts.
All of us are capable of all these kinds of communication. We have to ask ourselves: Do I send both fresh and bitter water from my mouth? Does my tongue produce both figs and olives?
Staff
Are You Sharp-Tongued? (Part One)
Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing James 3:11:
Mark 7:8
1 Corinthians 10:20-21
1 John 2:15-17
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Even occasional hurtful words raise the question of guilt, much like wondering how much salt can enter water before it tastes salty. A kitchen faucet that unpredictably yields either salt or fresh water would inspire no confidence, requiring careful testing rather than trusting consumption. Just as a practical joke of salting someone's drink brings unexpected shock and unpleasantness—regardless of how often one has witnessed or participated in it—so too do salt words wound in relationships. Trusting others to speak refreshing, pleasant, loving, and positive words, people are shocked when hit with anger, gossip, merciless criticism, or caustic sarcasm, leaving distaste and betrayal. All are capable of both kinds of communication, prompting self-examination: Does one's mouth send both fresh and bitter water, producing both figs and olives?