It is better to learn some things sooner rather than later.  This is the case with the fact that we cannot tame our tongues.

James 3:7–8 (ESV)
⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 

We need to make sure we see the scope of what James says here.  He did not indicate that it is a rare thing to find someone who can tame the tongue, but rather that such a person does not exist.  No human being can tame the tongue.  It does not matter how much ability you think you have or how well you have been taught about the dangers of the tongue, when it is all said and done, you still cannot tame the tongue.  But what does James mean by this?

He is not saying that the tongue cannot be controlled, he is saying it cannot be completely subdued.  Never try to justify a misuse of the tongue by saying it is not your fault because no one can control their tongue.  There is a difference between taming and controlling.  We can all control, not just our tongues, but all the members of our bodies.  This is why Paul could give us the following exhortation.

Romans 6:13 (ESV)
¹³ Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

Would the tongue be included in the “members” that Paul referred to in this passage?  The answer is yes, and it proves that we have control over how we use our bodies—for righteousness or unrighteousness.  So, what is the point of not being able to tame the tongue?

Since the tongue cannot be completely subdued, we must be on guard at all times.  If we relax for just a moment, in an instant, we could say something to someone that can devastate them.  It only takes a few words to ruin personal relationships, divide local congregations, and thwart the cause of Christ in a certain area.  While we exercise good self-control when it comes to the tongue, in a moment’s time, we can cause a lot of damage when we forget that we cannot tame the tongue.  We have to be mindful of our words at all times.

This is the reason for the harsh description of the tongue that James gives, calling it “a world of unrighteousness,” and saying that it can stain the whole body and set on fire the entire course of life (James 3:6).  It reminds us of the words of the wise man in the book of Proverbs.

Proverbs 16:27 (ESV)
²⁷A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.

Because of the power of the spoken word, James 3 is one of the most important chapters in the Bible, at least so far as practical living is concerned.  Let us always be on guard when it comes to our tongues, taking the time to think before we speak and follow the advice of James.

James 1:19 (ESV)
¹⁹ Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.