Have you ever back-talked your parents? It’s a sure sign of disrespect, a lack of caring for authority, and the words in which we have disdained with our reply. The phrase: ‘smart mouth’ is actually a play of words from British English. ‘Smart’ is to say: ‘clever in a sly way’. It can also be used in the very sly way, in which it is disrespectful. They have a quick tongue or a fast come-back to give.
I’ve found here in James 3 a simile of sorts, with ‘smart mouth’. I encourage you to read the fuller context of James 3.13-18. James continues his discussion of how a believer should be, and act. Verse 13 says— “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.” If there is truly wisdom or ‘spiritual cleverness’ within the believer, there should be evidence within their lives. The word “conversation” here is: lifestyle. There should be a lifestyle of wisdom coming from the children of wisdom, shouldn’t there?
Proverbs 12.18 states—“There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.” Our lifestyle comes from our heart, and our heart pours out words from it, through our mouths and through our very lives. What is the opposite of a wise man? A fool. Wise people will speak health to you; but a fool will not. In fact, it is a damaging, piercing sword, that they use.
From those hearts, there is either: loving, careful, prepared, connective words; or there will be hurtful, painful words. James continues with— “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth” (14). A test of our maturity in Christ will be from the heart. It can happen to the best… even with the disciples of Jesus. “And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.” (Luke 22.24) They, as the British would say, are not so clever.
This issue of carnal envy and strife is a big topic in the New Testament. In Romans 13.13 it says it is dishonest and of the darkness… “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.” In 1 Corinthians 3.3 it explains it as a sign of carnality… “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” Paul flat-out says it is sin in 2 Corinthians 12.20… “For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:” Paul even warned of false leaders who would speak to cause this… “Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:” (Philippians 1.15)
Frankly, there are people who simply will not grow up. They have a smart mouth and want it heard. Paul told younger pastor Timothy, that this kind of believer is of a proud heart… “He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings.” (1 Timothy 6.4). It’s almost like they just love to hear themselves talk. All the while, they pretend it is for the benefit of others, and of course, from a pure heart. Well, if it is self seeking and agenda-driven, then it isn’t. Have you ever heard someone say something like— ‘I will get involved as long as it is…’ (fill in the blank)? Someone may even say— ‘I didn’t come to that activity because I don’t like that kind of food.’ Why be self-serving? Why be so brash with opinions? Why stir others up with either? Why not live in and with peace? As stated by James— it’s a heart problem. I take comfort however, in the fact that they struggled with this in their churches then too. We are not alone in this, and there are answers.
This a sad commentary of some believers, in some churches today, as well. I emphasize the ‘some’ part. I know many focused believes who have bouts of unrest and speculation too. Really, who doesn’t? They turn it over to God, seek His face, pray like there is no tomorrow, and move on. They have found how imperative it is to dismiss the negative thought, the carnally driven moment of weakness, and give it to God immediately. They have accepted that they will be plagued the rest of their days with their own flesh, so they focus on not letting it get the upper hand.
For the ones who seem to give-in though, they think differently. They are consumed with negativity and agendas. They are trapped in their mind and tormented by the thoughts of other people. As if we could know the thoughts of others, they maneuver their lives as such. They haven’t discovered, or won’t listen to, the truth. What truth? You are your own worst enemy!
Remember the Toys-R-Us jingle? “I wanna grow up and be a Toys-R-Us kid”. As a disciple of Jesus Christ— Do you or do you not want to grow up and be one of His kids? If you trusted Christ as your Savior then you are indeed in the family, but are you acting like it? That is the question.