James mentions three challenges here – live out your faith, care for orphans and widows, and keep a tight rein on your tongue. All three are a huge challenge, but I constantly go back to having a hard time with my words. It is just so easy to lash out when we are frustrated. Words are so hard to control – James knows this, which is why later he says “the person who can control their tongue is faultless”. This doesn’t mean controlling your words makes you perfect, but only that keeping a rein on your tongue will be the last thing you will conquer. Knowing this, I need to work harder, and let God work deeper in me – to listen more, and speak less.
http://nlt.scripturetext.com/james/1-22.htm
