James Week 4 - Hearers and Doers

James 1:19–27 ESV

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Hearers and Doers

Introduction

James 1:19 instructs us to be quick. Being quick is a great attribute to have, especially in sports. In football, basketball, and soccer, speed will give you a great advantage: it can help you get to the base first, make the tackle behind the line of scrimmage, cut off an advancing player, or blow passed someone on a fast break.

In the corporate world, it helps to be able to think quickly on your feet. Investors need to make quick decisions when they see a trend. Leaders need to be quick with decisions so that the organization can continue to be healthy and grow.

But there is a kind of quickness that honors God because it shows love and humility: it's quickness to listen. God wants his followers to have a knee-jerk response to listen well.

Why do you think that is?

It's because listening well equals loving. Think about it. When do you feel truly valued by someone? Oftentimes it happens when you are speaking and someone else is intently listening to you. Contrast this with a situation where you are trying to talk to someone and they are constantly looking at their phone, or looking over your shoulder at someone/something else more important. Does that make you feel loved? Of course not! Why? Because their unwillingness to listen communicates that they don’t value you or what you have to say.

It’s also because we tend to exhibit pride through our words. We are tempted to talk about ourselves all the time. Seeking to close our mouths and truly listen to someone else is a good way to increase our humility. God loves the humble but opposes the proud (1 Peter 5:5). Interesting…

From the checkout-line magazine rack to radio talk shows to the comments section of that controversial blog and political opinion TV show, our culture is obsessed with expressing the latest gripe. Everyone has an argumentative inner lawyer seated on the throne of their hearts. Whether the angry words are spoken or simmer under the surface, we all have fallen into the trap of sharing a loud-mouthed rant. James has a good word for us: listen up, quiet down, be calm, bite your tongue, and walk the talk. Otherwise, your religion is worthless.

In this passage, James gives 3 simple instructions for the Christians to follow when it comes to the Bible:

Receive the Word

Apply the Word

Practice the Word

He uses a preposterous illustration to help people see how unhelpful it is for them to just attend church and read the Bible without allowing the truths in it to change their lives.

The Bible teaches that salvation comes through faith alone.

However, Jesus did teach that there were ways that you could tell if a person's faith was authentic.

Jesus taught that real conversion is evident through obedience to the Word. Jesus taught that real converts would obey the Word (John 8:31, 43-47; 14:21-34; 15:7-14; 1 John 2:3-5; Matthew 7:24-27, 13:18-23).

John 8:31 ESV

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,

1 John 2:3–5 ESV

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:

Matthew 7:24–27 ESV

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Observation

James instructed Christians how to listen, speak, express anger constructively, to be pure and undefiled, and to practice healthy self-examination in order to avoid self-deception.

Clearly, James' blunt speech was not an effort to people-please. Though James may seem stern, he spoke the truth in love, a love that was no doubt stoked by having a front row seat to Jesus' ministry of love and service to others.

This great love for Jesus and the truth compelled James to have great passion for correcting self-consumed believers who were harsh in speech, and turning them away from self and toward loving service of their neighbor.

Interpretation

Notice how all of the previous verses are actually building on each other.

James instructs us on how to avoid turning trials into temptations with his wisdom regarding speech and obedience.

If we allow our anger to control us, we will not truly listen to people, and we will sin in our anger. As Proverbs 15:1 also tells us, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

As Christians, if we say we accept God's Word, that means we also need to live by it. Otherwise, we become hypocrites. If we only listen to or read his Word but don't meditate on it and allow it to change us, James says our "religion” is worthless.

God's Word should affect all areas of our lives if we are willing to humbly accept it.

Application

James' words are probably convicting to each of us in some way.

He is also encouraging us as he gives solutions, if we are willing to use them.

Getting rid of filth and wickedness is much like taking muddy, dirty clothes off and replacing them with clean ones.

1 Corinthians. 6:10-11

1 Corinthians 6:10–11 ESV

nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Who washes is?

Jesus does - He forgives us

So what do we do?

James 1:27 ESV

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Live a life that has our conduct and character in accordance with God’s Word

To care for those who are orphans and widows - the lower and forgotten peoples

And to keep one unstained from the world - fleeing sin

Questions

It's easy to tell people that you're a Christian and that you know Jesus, but how does your level of biblical obedience compare to your level of biblical knowledge? Rate both on a scale of 1-10.

James told the people that they needed to receive the Word. What are ways that you receive the Word today in your life?

How do you receive the Word?

By hearing it (19)

By putting away your sin (20-21)

By being teachable (21b).

Why is it important that you move from receiving the Word to applying it? What good is it to know the Bible if you never do anything about it?

James gives us an outline of how we can practice the Word. What do these things look like in your life today? How can we focus on getting better together with these things?

Controlling your tongue [attitude, actions, speech] (26)

By caring for those in need (27a)

Be dedicating your life to God (27b)

Do you know how to listen well or are you thinking about how you want to respond even before the person has finished speaking? Do you ask the Holy Spirit to give you words to speak, or do you just give your opinion quickly? According to this passage, what could you do differently?

What prevents you from being able to see God's Word clearly? What phrases in this passage reflect a sinful, prideful heart?

Many times in Scripture, the opposite of anger and haughtiness and a loss of self control are words like gentleness and meekness. Why do men in particular struggle with being gentle and meek? Are those words that you would like to be known for?