James 1:18-27 - Don't Spin Your Wheels

In our last two weeks James has told us that God intends for you to have a strong faith that is tempered by trials and resists temptation. This week we find that your strong faith has both accelerators and decelerators (or for those who need it simple: a gas pedal and brakes).

With all our rock roads it may be appropriate to think of thick sidewalls & knobby tread, versus flats and getting buried to the axel

While a certain energy drink may “give you wings”, and a certain hot beverage may “open your eyes”, Obedience to the Spirit gives you wheels!

Transition: Having wings may be a good thing. Having wheels is surely a good thing. But having wheels without an engine to turn them does you or Christ’s kingdom no good.

The ignition of Listening (James 1:19a & 21b)

A week ago last night I had a moment of terror. While in Wisconsin, where it is common to not get above freezing for a month, I learned to go out and start my car every couple of hours and let it idle so the oil would lubricate and the alternator would top off the battery. Last Saturday toward the end of our drug-free watch party, one of our young men offered to go out and start vehicles so that they would be warm. I had prethought this predicament and reasoned I could walk home IF the car didn’t start, but I had failed to remember to go out at halftime to increase the likelihood that it would start.

Explanation

Faith is the ignition that starts the engine of discipleship. Some have summarized James’ book as “Faith that works” but faith that works is faith that is born from hearing. On this point both James (in this verse) and Paul (in Romans) agree:

Romans 10:17 ESV:2016

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Swift to hear – We live in an information age where we are bombarded with a deluge of facts, opinions and ideas. That was not the case during Bible times. Literacy was rare, traveling philosophers only occasionally came to town. So in James’ day the challenge was to be open to new information. Today the challenge is to fill your mind with good information--with truth.

Receive with meekness – what happens when first rain falls on soil that has been in drought? Drought causes a crust to form that is hard for the moisture to penetrate. Broken soil (meekness) allows the value of the rain to drive down and implant near the roots.

Illustration

Am I the only one who has to remind myself to listen to facts AND feelings, rather than just listen to respond?

When the Word spoken by God that begets creation and salvation soaks into your inner man, we become the firstfruits that reflect the purpose and intent of God (v.18). It is not enough to simply hear sermons or even quote Scripture, we have to allow it to permeate and transform us from the inside out. Runoff may be good for creaks, streams and ponds, but it doesn’t do the pasture as much good.

Application

Who needs to listen? James calls every person who wishes to have a saved soul to hear and receive! You and I need regular intake of God’s Word.

Transition: Listening is the fuel that generates motion, but motion uncontrolled is reckless.

How many of you remember the old time cars at Worlds of Fun? Once I figured out in upper elementary school that the rail would keep the car from going off course, the goal became to floor it until I rammed whichever family member was in front of me. Motion without restraint causes collision.

The brakes of Speaking (James 1:19b-21a)

Explanation

Sometimes stopping momentum is what we want. Sometimes it is not. 3 months ago my ministry assistant was in Wichita when her car was running, got into the middle of an intersection, and wouldn’t move forward. Sometimes we brake on purpose, and James gives us 3 times that we need to hit the brakes!

1. Human ideas – slow to speak

Better to remain silent and thought to be a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt!

I have learned that frequently silent students are a sign of deep thoughts! There are some (like me) who too quickly try to end awkward silence, but others who are slow to speak, that when their thoughts are drawn out they stun the group with their depth.

2. Human emotion – anger

This prohibition is necessary to avoid those who “seethe in silence”, those who are silent on the outside, but screaming on the inside.

You may be hearing, and you may be silent, but silence may not indicate the absence of this 3rd instruction!

3. Human motivation – filthiness & wickedness

There is an intentional contrast between surface evil and deep (implanted) righteousness.

Surface evil is often immediate, but implanted Word requires time.

Rather than living skin deep, the challenge is one of character. Allow the truth to sink deep into your personality so that when the soul is tapped pure, refreshing wisdom is what oozes out.

Illustration

How many have been told to count to 10 and then evaluate if what you planned to say needs to be said.

Any family member who has ever received “that look” because they were acting inappropriately knows exactly what I’m talking about. Am I right husbands?

What’s wrong? Nothing!!!!!!

3. Avoiding the filth and wickedness of immediacy may require extended times of silence. It won’t be long until our students begin track and field. Some train for sprints and others train for distance. These are complimentary skill sets and James wants us to learn to go the distance.

Application

Wisdom includes both quickness and slowness. The Holy Spirit is calling us to reevaluate which we do quickly and which we do slowly.

Transition: It is not enough to simply allow the car to idle. We have to put it in gear, move our foot from the brake of hastiness and give pressure toward action.

The accelerator of Action (James 1:22-25)

To hear, but not act, is a deceptive error that befalls people of every denomination and, yes, non-denominational Bible or Community Churches as well!

Explanation

1. Checking your image in a mirror

Ancient homes would only have a mirror if the family had extraordinary wealth. It was not like our day where every lavatory has a mirror. The mirrors that did exist would have been made of highly polished brass.

Much more common would be to see a reflection in a pool of water.

The contrast in 23-24 is a person who gets a glimpse of who he is in Christ, a new creation, but when he walks away he doesn’t live consistently with the image he saw.

2. Reflecting on substance in the perfect law.

a. The law of Moses

i. Even AFTER the dawning of the new Covenant on the Day of Pentecost, when the Spirit indwelled Believers, Paul (the same one who wrote in Galatians 3:12 that law and faith are not the same) told Timothy…

1 Timothy 1:8 ESV:2016

8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully,

ii. A wrong use of law is to allow it to bind or have some merit toward salvation. Law NEVER gave salvation, it always pointed forward to a NEED for grace and mercy.

b. The law of Christ

i. At least 7 times in Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount He uses the phrase “But I say”

ii. Jesus had to correct what religious people had turned the law into, back to what the law-giver intended.

c. The law of Liberty

When Moses’ law is viewed correctly (as explained by The law of Christ) it is not bondage, rather it liberates (John 8:31-32)

John 8:31–32 ESV:2016

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Application

This liberating truth is what Jesus promised, Paul honored and James is highlighting in v.21

Let me be clear, obedience NEVER justifies because it always comes short! But the law of Moses AND the law of Christ indicate the obedience that increases fellowship between the Redeemer and the redeemed.

Transition: All of us who have driven on ice know that going and stopping is not the whole scenario—you must control the direction of your motion.

The steering wheel of Discretion (James 1:26-27)

Explanation

Bridle oneself – a bridle is different than a tether. A tether, a fence, or the chain on a pet are intended to set a boundary. A Bridle is used by another to control direction and pace. A tongue unbridled pours forth what it in the heart and all of us start with an evil heart that is in process of being renewed. If anyone thinks he is religious, he must intentionally make sure that the tongue is obeying the reformed part the heart and not the natural nature of our hearts.

Matthew 15:18 ESV:2016

18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.

2. Visit orphans & widows – Almost everything up to this point in James’ letter has been dealing with self. In v. 27 he begins to describe the otherness of being a disciple of Jesus. If JOY comes when others come after Jesus but before you, visiting the vulnerable and afflicted takes on new priority.

a. Religion (expression of devotion to transcendent beings[i]) is not about you getting to Heaven or having a happy life. Devotion to anytranscendent being, in this case the triune God of the Bible, demonstrates concern for the afflicted and vulnerable.

b. Orphans and widows is shorthand for those who are vulnerable. There was no Social Security Department in the first century, it fell on families. Those without husbands or parents were especially vulnerable. As early as Psalm 68:5 God’s care for widows is declared.

c. Affliction – not all widows (1 Tim 5:3) need visitation. Some have families who care for them directly, and not only widows and orphans face affliction. But there is a sense in which we ARE our brother’s keeper if we are devoted to our transcendent God!

3. Keep oneself unstained – few things will total one’s life faster than impurities. Impurities can clog up a carburetor or fuel injectors. A dirty fuel filter can prevent you from getting ignition. Contaminants cause a transmission to slip or an engine to seize. James is saying here what Paul would later write in Rom 12:2.

Romans 12:2 ESV:2016

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Application

Bridling the tongue is just one way of renewing your mind, not following your heart. Only when one is aware of how evil the selfish human heart really is, will he realize the need to shorten the reins!

I could get really political right now and focus on “who are the vulnerable, the orphans and widows, in our world?” But instead I will let you wrestle with that question and your participation with God in looking after them.

Someone has accurately described 21st century America as being catechized by politicians and discipled by the media.

3. James says that undefiled devotion to God is involved in the lives of others and avoids the world’s stains (either blue, red or green). We must be defined by God’s description and not anyone in the world.

Conclusion:

I’ve given applications throughout this sermon for each point. Charles Swindoll, radio preacher and local church pastor summarizes this message with 3 pieces of advice to avoid gaps between head and heart, and breaks between heart and hands:

First, don’t divorce the truth and your speech.

Second, don’t divorce the truth and the needs of others.

Finally, don’t divorce the truth and your moral purity.[ii]

Song of Response #381....... “Open My Eyes, That I May See”

Benediction: Ephesians 6:23–24 (ESV) — Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

[i] Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. 2000. In A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed., 459. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. [ii] Swindoll, Charles R. 2014. Insights on James, 1 & 2 Peter. Vol. 13. Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.