But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly
evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith
bless we God, even the Father; and there with curse we men, which are made
after the similitude of God. Out of the
same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.
My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place
sweet water and bitter? Can the fig
tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain
both yield salt water and fresh. Who is
a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good
conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and
lie not against the Truth. This wisdom
descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is
confusion and every evil work. But the
wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be
entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without
hypocrisy. And the fruit of
righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. James, Chapter 3, verses 8-18.
I think God is asking us if a Christian can truly be
two-faced. You wouldn’t consider someone
a true friend, who is nice to your face but works against you, behind your back.
I think God is telling us through this passage that
we can’t truly be both. Can we truly be
a Christian one day a week, but participate in a worldly life with no attempt
to change the rest of the week? I think
God tells us that if we truly profess to be a Christian, we will be examples of
our faith seven days a week instead of just one.
Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.
