Avoid Stumbling
Sometimes on Saturday morning I’ll go for a run with a few friends along the sand dunes in Murlough. However to stretch it out a bit, I’ll park in Newcastle, run out to meet them, and then run back to the car afterwards. On one such outing I stumbled and fell. It was on my way back, and of course I landed right in front of a couple out for a walk. I’d cut my knee and grazed my hands, and there was a little blood. Concerned, they were asking if I was ok. …I was a little sore, but no major damage done, so I picked myself up and carried on - more embarrassed than injured. …I thought about that event when I read this morning’s verse from James 3:2
James 3:2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
Although James is telling us we stumble in “many ways,” his focus is not on my kind of fall. He’s speaking of tripping up in our faith walk, and particularly in what we say. And we’ve all been there …speaking when we ought to be listening, saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, gossiping, making an insensitive comment, an outburst of anger... As James says - there are “many ways” in which we stumble in what we say.
But that doesn’t mean we are helpless the moment we open our mouths. To the contrary, James implies we can do better by pointing us towards the perfect. In this verse, and subsequent ones in the section, James advises: “giving attention to,” and “exercising control over” the tongue. …We don’t have to stumble.
My fall before that couple caused me some embarrassment, brought a measure of pain and interrupted my stride, but it could have been avoided. I was probably a little fatigued at that stage, and perhaps too if I’d paid a little more attention to the terrain I was on I could have avoided my stumble and carried right on to the end.
As we mix with different people ask yourself - how am I. Am I built up spiritually, encouraged, or am I suffering faith fatigue. If it’s the latter you’re more likely to stumble in what you say. …What should you do? …Get alone with God. Get some Bible time - read, reflect, pray, and be built up.
Also ask yourself what kind of terrain are you navigating at the moment. Is there tension in the home, conflict at work, gossip in the neighbourhood. What should you do? Give careful thought to your words. Be gracious, considerate when speaking to, (or about), others. Resist the temptation to judge or to gossip. When we give attention to the terrain we’re on we’ll be less likely to stumble. …Can I invite us to pray the first four verses of Psalm 141:
Psalm 141:1-4 NIV [1] I call to you, Lord, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to you. [2] May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. [3] Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. [4] Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies.