1:26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.
In the verse above, James may be posing a supposed thought and possibly a statement that some people were making. I'm a religious person" or, "I think I'm religious" etc. But, they were not bridling their tongues.
Religious, or religion here, means, the person who is worshipping, or fearing God. So, when a person says, "I'm a worshipper, I'm a follower of the Lord, I fear God", but they are not at the same time bridling their tongue, they are deceiving their own heart, and their religion is useless, it's empty, it's vain.
To bridle the tongue, would be for the tongue to be led, or to be restrained. Or, for a person to be in control of themselves, and not unrestrained in what they are saying. They are watching what they say. They are controlling what they say.
James will have more to say about the tongue in chapter 3. But for now, he makes this one simple, short little statement. Jesus spoke about the connection between the heart and the tongue. Let's take a quick look.
Lu 6:45 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Jesus had been talking about good trees and bad trees ( Luke 6:43-44 ) Good trees bear good fruit, and bad trees bear bad fruit. And, a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Trees bear what they are, either for good, or for bad. A tree cannot bear something other then what it is. For example, an apple tree does not bear oranges, or pears, but apples, because it is an apple tree.
Now, turning to men, Jesus says that a good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. And then Jesus gives an explanation. "For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks" Meaning, that what a man is full of, is going to come out in the way that he talks. You can tell what is in a man's heart, by listening to him speak. The tongue and the heart are connected in that sense.
Why would this kind of man's religion then be useless as James says? Useless, means, to no purpose, or of no purpose, barren, and futile. But, again, why is this person's religion useless? It is a good question. As some have said, "talk is cheap", and "actions speak louder then words" I believe that's true when it comes to our walks with the Lord. We can talk all we want about the Lord, but if it's not showing up in how we live, it's really useless. There is power in love. And, God's love can change our hearts, and make us careful and aware of what we say, and of how we act. God's love, can make us watchful over how we are living, and encourage us to live and act in His love.
We probably have all heard the statement, "Walk Your talk" In other words, if you are saying one thing, then show it in the way you live. James will also deal with that subject later in chapter 2. The relationship between our faith and our works.
Father, I'm sure we have all been guilty of saying and not doing. And, I know that You forgive sins, and cleanse us of all our un-righteousness. We thank You that You can not only forgive, but You can change us, and we can bear fruit in our lives, and we can seek to control our tongues and have our hearts pleasing before You. Help us Lord. In Jesus name.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
Application/Promises
1. God is so good.
2. God seeks to change us from the inside out.
3. God gives us self-control.
4. We need what God gives.
5. God does not condemn us for our sins.
6. God sent Jesus to save us from our sins.
7. God wants us to shine and bring glory to Him.
