Warren W. Wiersbe recalled the story that a pastor friend of his told him about a member of his church who was a terrible gossip. Her schedule for the day included hanging on phone for hours on end with tidbits with anyone available. One day, she came to her pastor and told him that the Lord had convicted her of the sin of gossip. She declared that her tongue was getting her and others into trouble. The pastor asked her what she would like to do thereafter. “I want to put my tongue on the altar” she replied. Sensing insincerity on her part and for the fact that she had gone through such a routine of confession before, the pastor answered with sarcasm, “There isn’t an altar big enough”! Well, if there wasn’t an altar big enough to place her tongue, it must be big indeed!

“Mankind has not been able to make a success of controlling the tongue…Since no man can tame the tongue, we must seek intervention from God who is able to bring all things under control.”

I recalled this story to stress that putting the tongue under control is not going to come easy or through human mechanisms. James reminds us the success that human beings have made in subduing the animal kingdom, including the most ferocious and deadly species. Lions and other carnivorous animals are tamed. They are in safaris all over the world. Some daring individuals even keep them as pets. Unfortunately, that is where it stops. Mankind has not been able to make a success of controlling the tongue. Matter of fact, James declared that “no man can tame the tongue”. We can now appreciate the desperation in David when he prayed this prayer: “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.” (Psalms 141:3 NKJV). Since no man can tame the tongue, we must seek intervention from God who is able to bring all things under control.