James 3:9

James 3:9 says, Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.  Still speaking of the tongue, James said that we can both bless God and curse men with it. We cannot be a witness to God if we if we are always cursing people with our words at the same time.  As James said, all people are made in the likeness of God, even if they refuse to acknowledge Him, so we should be at work trying to present God's plan of salvation to them instead of cursing them. 

Verse ten adds, Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.  James said that out of the same mouth came blessings and cursings and this should not be true.  God has not changed His standards for us today.  We cannot speak of people out of hatred and profess the love of God at the same time. 

Verse eleven continues, Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?  James then uses the analogy of a fountain, asking if it can have both bitter and sweet water coming out of it.  Our words should be the same way.  We should not profess the love of God while at the same time professing hatred for other people.  Jesus Christ died for all people, and we should reach out to them with His love if we are His followers. 

Verse twelve concludes, Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.  James added to the question by asking if a fig tree could produce olives or if a vine could produce figs.  The answer was no, but that they could only bear the fruit that they were created to produce.  He then said that a fountain cannot produce both salt water and fresh water.  The lesson is that we cannot use our tongue to both glorify God and curse people if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.