Who’s the Helmsman of Your Tongue?

“Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” — James 3:4–6 (KJV)

Saints of God.

James paints a picture every sailor understands. A great ship, driven by fierce winds, is turned by a very small helm, “whithersoever the governor listeth” (James 3:4). Notice that the helm does not steer itself. Behind that little piece of wood stands a governor, a helmsman, and the ship goes wherever his will directs. James is not simply telling us the tongue is powerful. He is asking us a question this morning: who has his hand on the helm?

Then James changes the picture. “Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” (James 3:5). The word translated “matter” is the Greek ὕλη, hulē (HOO-lay), a forest. One careless spark sets a whole forest ablaze. One careless word can do the same to a marriage, a ministry, or a church family. And James tells us where that fire comes from: it is “set on fire of hell” (James 3:6).

But Apostolic people, we know another fire. On the day of Pentecost, “there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them” (Acts 2:3). Hell sets tongues on fire to destroy. The Holy Ghost sets tongues on fire to declare the wonderful works of God. James confesses, “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8). That is exactly why willpower is not enough. We need the Holy Ghost at the helm.

A few days ago I had some soup. It was nutritious, with good ingredients and everything the body needed. But it was too salty, and the taste would not let me eat it. The nourishment was there. The seasoning ruined the delivery.

How often have our words been rejected, not because what we said was wrong, but because of how we said it? The truth was in the bowl, but we over-salted it with harshness and served it too hot. Paul did not tell us to leave out the salt: “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Colossians 4:6). Truth must keep its savor. But salt is the seasoning, not the meal. Grace is what makes the word receivable.

Solomon put the temperature check plainly: “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). The same truth, served soft, opens a door. Served grievous, it slams that door shut.

So before you speak to your spouse, your children, your parents, your coworker, or your congregation today, check the temperature, check the seasoning, and check the tone. Most of all, check who is standing at the helm.

Declare it with me:

“Holy Ghost, take the helm of my tongue — season my words with grace.”

To God be the glory.