James 1:19-27
Series: The Letter of James (half-brother of Jesus)
19 Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to grow angry. 20 This is because an angry person doesn’t produce God’s righteousness. 21 Therefore, with humility, set aside all moral filth and the growth of wickedness, and welcome the word planted deep inside you—the very word that is able to save you.
22 You must be doers of the word and not only hearers who mislead themselves. 23 Those who hear but don’t do the word are like those who look at their faces in a mirror. 24 They look at themselves, walk away, and immediately forget what they were like. 25 But there are those who study the perfect law, the law of freedom, and continue to do it. They don’t listen and then forget, but they put it into practice in their lives. They will be blessed in whatever they do.
26 If those who claim devotion to God don’t control what they say, they mislead themselves. Their devotion is worthless. 27 True devotion, the kind that is pure and faultless before God the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their difficulties and to keep the world from contaminating us.
TO DO THE WORD MEANS TO LOVE GOD & OTHERS
Quick To Listen (v19)
Slow To Speak (v19)
Slow To Anger (v19)
Be Humble (V21)
Take Action = “Do The Word” or "Doers of The Word”
1. Quick To Listen
Recognize the healing power of Listening to God and Others
Pay Attention:
Nod & Smile
Don't mentally prepare a rebuttal!
Don’t make your shopping list in your mind
Perceive what is being fully communicated (beyond words)
2. Slow To Speak
A person who talks all of the time cannot hear what God or anyone else is saying.
Allow the speaker to finish each point before asking questions or chiming in
Don't interrupt with counter arguments
3. Slow to Anger
V20 This is because an angry person doesn’t produce God’s righteousness.
Anger closes Our minds to God's Word, & an argumentative attitude is NOT conducive to the humble reception of truth
Be candid, open and honest in your response
“Let your yes mean yes, and your no mean no. Anything more than this comes from the evil one.” — Matthew 5:37
Assert your opinions respectfully.
Treat the other person in a way that you think they would want to be treated.
4. Be Humble
A Humble spirit is needed to receive God's Word.
21 Therefore, with humility, set aside all moral filth and the growth of wickedness, and welcome the word planted deep inside you—the very word that is able to save you.
5. Take Action = Be A DO-er
22 You must be doers of the word and not only hearers who mislead themselves. 23 Those who hear but don’t do the word are like those who look at their faces in a mirror. 24 They look at themselves, walk away, and immediately forget what they were like.