Receiving the Word

James 1:19-27

Introduction

The first chapter of James offers us the most fodder for considering the book as a book of Proverbs.

So many verses in this first chapter lend themselves to taking them on their own and finding value in that verse even without any context.

In one sense, there is no harm in this. The sayings are no less true taken by themselves.

But we do miss out on the value of seeing them in the course of the arguments built throughout this letter.

We miss out perhaps on specific applications being made in the context and connections not only from one verse to another but also from one chapter to another.

Lots of familiar territory in this first chapter and in our section today.

Hopefully we can set aside our familiarity with proverbial usage here and follow the course we have been laying out and see how this passage continues to advance the points James is making to his audience and by extension, to us.

Hearing The Word

Be quick to hear (Jas. 1:19).

The idea is to do this specifically concerning the word of truth.

And this is necessary in response to the very things we have been talking about up to this point. Trials and temptations.

The idea of quick carries an idea of urgency. Go quickly to the word (Acts 17:15).

What do you have a sense of urgency to get in front of?

We must develop a longing hunger for the word (Psa. 119:97, 18).

Be slow to speak (Jas. 1:19).

Again, apply this to the word and as a means of how to receive it.

This is expounded on just a little later in Jas. 3:1.

If you ever develop a greater taste for teaching than for learning, you’re in big trouble.

If presentation is more appealing than preparation, then just sit down.

What you are learning should far outweigh what you are telling.

Be slow to anger (Jas. 1:19).

I have experienced on both sides how the hearing of truth produces anger.

I know it because I have felt it, and I know it because I have heard it from others when I have preached.

It is almost instinctive that when we hear a convicting word, we can feel that defensive anger begin to swell up.

We have to slow down that reaction and make room for the hearing. Slow down our speaking, and slow down our reactionary mindset and just listen. Think about it.

That means that v. 20 isn’t necessarily saying that the anger of men can’t be righteous. But rather, anger is not the attitude that is conducive to reception of the word which means the righteousness of God won’t be produced.

It is good to be slow to anger in general, but it is especially important here to be slow to anger in hearing the word.

Set aside sin (Jas. 1:21).

Now, here is a problem that we run into. Have you got to put away sin to receive the word?

If so, does that mean you can’t receive it until you already have done it?

I think the idea is to put away what you already know about so that you can receive more instruction.

Sometimes, people aren’t willing to deal with the sins they know how to deal with and so they go looking for some that they are more willing to do something about. Better yet, maybe I can find some that I already have a handle on.

In at least a couple of instances, Greek writers use this word filthiness to describe built up ear wax.

Sin embraced will always get in the way of truth and very often without you realizing it (Pharisees).

Be humble

Clinging to sin and arrogance go hand in hand.

There is an implicit sense that I can handle this.

When the word says put that down, you don’t think whether the Bible knows its business. You put the thing down.

You humbly recognize that the salvation of your soul is there in that book and not in you. You will not figure this out on your own.

So we are not talking about you going along and doing your best and running over here when you have a problem.

We are talking about coming here first middle and last.

Hear, hear, hear the word.

Let it inform you about what needs to be done, what needs to be removed and have the humble sense that you are clueless without this…because you are.

All of that is hard enough, but...

Doing the Word

Make application (Jas. 1:22-25).

It is all too easy to accurately hear what is being said but not see how it applies to me.

To immediate see how everyone around me needs this sermon and not even look in the mirror, much less actually make adjustments.

Marshall is great about pointedly saying what we should do “this week” with something he is preaching.

It is a question we need to be asking. What am I supposed to do with this. The answer is not always readily obvious but it is there for you to do something with.

It takes an intensity to do this well.

Change the way you talk (Jas. 1:26).

Now we aren’t going to spend a lot of time here because in chapter 3 we will spend a whole lesson here.

But James is giving two areas here where our reception of the word or lack there of is evident.

The first is, how do you talk.

Do you keep control of the way you talk or does it have a hold of you.

The word of God should affect your speech in so very many ways.

Now, this seems like a small thing in comparison perhaps to great acts of evil but I think that is part of the problem. We don’t think in terms of controlling the small things. But here is a thing you have the MOST chance of controlling.

If you don’t control that which is COMPLETELY yours, how can you say you are changed.

Change the way you treat needy brethren (Jas. 1:27).

Again, he is about to go into a lot of detail about this very topic.

But as a point of summary he points to those who are defenseless and helpless and says what you do about these is a point of proof.

Just as Paul says not taking care of your own is a thing that makes you worse than an infidel.

You might say yes but look at all of this good I do over here.

But if this is undone, none of that means anything.

A heart of compassion and generosity is a fundamental evidence of receiving the word.

Change the way you interact with the world (Jas. 1:27).

This is perhaps what we think of more generally when we think of reception of the word.

It is not left out and it is not unimportant.

Sexual morality is by no means an afterthought or simply preferable.

The world is a constant source of pull on us, James says we need to be unaffected by it.

If you say your are a Christian but then act like the world, then this is just as much a proof against your proclamation as an unbridled tongue or a calloused heart.

Conclusion

James starts the book off by dealing with the very sorts of things people so often want help with.

He addresses those things by calling on us to adjust the way we think about them.

Trials as opportunity for growth and perfection.

Temptation as a call look to our own hearts and not blame God or external forces for our own desires.

Now he points to the path to gain the wisdom you need for both of those difficulties.

Open up the word with an eager ear to take in what it says.

Then put it to work in your life.

Test it. Is there evidence of that work or is our Bible reading just moving the bookmark forward?