Untame Your Tongue

JAMES 3:1-13
I’ve always heard James 3:1-13 being preached or taught as taming the tongue. Most of the people that I’ve talked to seem to agree with this stand. Even the heading of this passage in my bible states "Taming the Tongue".

I was just meditating on the words during a teaching session. While reading the passage, it began to dawn on me. Where does it actually say to 'tame the tongue'? James doesn't ever use the words 'taming the tongue'. In fact, in verse 8, he states that "...no human being can tame the tongue."

People would then reply, "no man can, but God can!"
My question is then, why would He want to? When God created man in the beginning, He gave Himself a pat on the back! The whole man was good.
"And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good." Genesis 1:31

So why does James say such negative things about the tongue? Is he really speaking negatives about the tongue? In verse 2, he says that the Perfect (mature) Man does not stumble in what He says and is also able to bridle His whole body. To me, this is a picture of Jesus. Only Jesus was faultless with His words. James seems to be setting the benchmark here in his half-brother, Jesus.
"Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ," Ephesians 4:15
Paul also seems to agree with James that the tongue should be used to speak the truth in love and thus result in us becoming more like Christ.

In verse 3-5, James is making the point that the size of the tongue in relation to the rest of the body does not determine the power which it holds. He does say that bits and rudders do direct the power.

Lets jump to verse 9-11. James says that a 2 different things cannot come from one source. Fresh water and bitter water can come from the same source. Fig trees cannot bear olives, grapevines cannot bear figs. What does this mean? Get rid of the bitter water! Bear the fruit which you were meant to bear! Do what you were meant to do.

Lets look through the passage again. This time taking out the negatives of the tongue and using it to do what it was meant to.

So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire and no one can tame the tongue. With it we bless our Lord and Father. From the mouth comes blessing.

No one can tame the tongue. It remains wild and powerful. Its power cannot be lost but it can be directed. By speaking forth the Word, the tongue remains powerful and achieves something. It remains wild for His use. The great things in verse 5 refer to grand things, things that are done on a grand scale. It also refers to God's preeminent blessings.

Let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Ephesians 4:25,29

The Truth, with love builds up.