James: Where Faith and Life Meet
Hearer and Doer
3/4/12
Introduction –
I can’t think of anything more frustrating than trying to talk, or reason with a hotheaded and short tempered person. I know of certain people in my life that I tend to avoid controversial or divisive topics because I know that when we talk about them the conversation is going to end up going south.
What’s even more difficult is when you have been verbally beaten up by someone, and I mean really beaten up by someone who is just angry or bitter and they cannot be reasoned with? (An example of when someone came to me in anger – Jan or Jay). Unfortunately I have had many more encounters like this with both kinds of people in my life and I have found (after many years) my best defense or response is to not respond at all by adding fuel the fire by engaging in yelling back or saying hurtful things. Instead I try (and I emphasize the word try) to listen and respond in an appropriate manner. When I do I try to speak in calm and non-threatening ways. I may not always be successful in responding this way but I have found when I do it I have done so in a way the Bible tells us and I know I have done the right thing. Proverbs 15:1, 2 says, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.”
As one reads through the book of proverbs the writer speaks often about the wisdom a person has when he listens much and talks little. Those who have to use abusive words with yelling or screaming or even those who always have to get in the last word usually say a lot about themselves (which is not positive). Commentator Douglas Moo writes these words, “Uncontrolled anger leads to uncontrolled speech. How often do we find ourselves regretting the words spoken ‘In the heat of the moment’?”[1]
Quick to Listen and Slow to Speak
In today’s passage James reminds his readers the importance of being men and women with controlled tongues and attentive ears. He begins verse 19 by saying, “Understand this…” or “Before we go any farther it is important for you to take this truth to heart and understand what I am saying.” As humans (most especially believers) it is imperative that we be “quick to hear or listen, slow to speak and slow to anger.” This means we should always be ready and willing to listen first (no matter how a person speaks to you), keep our mouths shut until the right time and be emotionally controlled in our responses. Why does James tell his readers this? Because James reminds us that human anger does not produce the righteousness of God. Often human anger is a response in the flesh and usually causes more trouble. Contrary to what some people think he dismisses the idea that people justify their anger because they think they are doing what God wants them to do. They think they can bring about God’s justice. I know people rationalize their anger by spiritualizing it or by saying they are being angry for God and they like to use Jesus turning over the tables of the money changers as their example. Jesus’ anger was justified and reserved for him alone. He was acting on God’s behalf. His anger was a controlled and it involved him personally. Plain and simply human anger does not lead to behavior that is pleasing to God. As Christians, yes we are told to have a righteous anger toward sin among a community of believers. Never does the Bible encourage us to use anger, harsh words or condemning words towards the sinner.
We are reminded of this when we read stories about people who claim to be speaking or acting on God’s behalf to bring sinners to justice. They act in their own sinful flesh (because they don’t like what is going on) and often bring much damage, destruction and often create more damage than good.
Many have asked, “Does this mean that we should never get angry?” I don’t think this is the point James is trying to make. We are humans and we have emotions. I believe James is making a general statement about anger. I think he warns the believer that in most cases human anger is not something God blesses. Most of our anger stems from the flesh and leads to sin and as we have already talked about God does not bless one to sin. We will talk about the power and danger of our words in a later chapter.
Looking at the historical context of this passage I can only imagine what an early church service held in the home of a believer could have looked like back in the early first century. I am almost certain they had some good arguments as the faith they were talking about was still rather new. There were probably a lot of interruptions happening during the time of scripture and I could imagine some heated discussion, some yelling and probably even some raised tempers flying around. James isn’t saying that there shouldn’t be talk about what is being taught but instead the people should first and foremost quick to listen and let what has been said take time to process and sink in. After you have taken the time to let it sink in respond in an appropriate and controlled manner.
Doers and Hearers
In verse 23 James now moves onto his next topic of being active doers of the word of God and not just merely hearers. The mistake people make in reading this verse is thinking that James says be doers of the Word and not hearers. He speaks about being both. As Christians we are to know the Word of God, we are to read it, memorize it, and consume as much as we can. However we are not to stop there. The Word of God is alive and active thus we as Christians must be alive and active.
Unfortunately in my profession I have met a number of men and women who claim to be intellectuals concerning the Word of God and are usually the most pompous, self righteous and unChrist-like people I have ever met. Anyone who thinks that knowing the Word of God is enough for their Christian walk is only deceiving themselves. If one only intellectually knows the Word of God and thinks this is what makes him righteous before God and does not do the Word of God is essentially useless.
In James verses 23 – 24 he gives us an example of what a hearer only of the Word is like. He says he is like a man who stares intently at his reflection in a mirror and when he walks away forgets what he is like. Now, before we go too much farther we have to take into consideration that the mirrors James speaks of are not the same kind we have today. They were usually polished metal, bronze, gold or silver. They were unable to get a good full glance at themselves in the mirror like we have in the modern world. When people just consume the Word of God without taking into consideration what they should do with it they can get a distorted view of scripture and can think they are more righteous, intellectual and useful to the Kingdom because they have so much understanding of God’s Word. I mean these people can quote scripture to you as fast as a machine gun but when it comes to living the Word they are almost spiritually void. In fact the people I have met who are like this are generally (not always) think they are so spiritually minded that they don’t need anything or anyone. It’s just Jesus and me baby. Interestingly I have also found they can be individuals who are most harmful to others with their words and anger. Their mouths are unfiltered because they believe they are a spokes person for God and they just have to say what they say regardless of the trail of destruction they leave behind.
James warns it is not enough to just know the Word of God we must put into practice the Word of God. Can you imagine what Christianity would look like if we would practice loving God, loving others and making disciples? Our failure to practice what we preach is unfortunately is one of the biggest reasons why Christians are known as hypocrites. If we only preached love, grace, forgiveness, and mercy and not practiced it then we would be one sorry bunch of followers of Jesus. Unfortunately there are so many out in this world that does precisely this. God didn’t speak to Moses and the Prophets to write down His Words so we could have a nice book of rules to read and learn intellectually from. He did not send Jesus so we could reflect on his wisdom and tell people how they should live all the while not living the way the word tells us. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Do you hear those words? The Bible is LIVING and it is ACTIVE. This Bible we read, love and know is intended to be lived out.
I love how The NET Bible translates verse 25 specifically “But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out – he will be blessed in what he does.” I love how it reads… “The one who peers… and fixes his attention… does not become a forgetful listener BUT one who lives it out.” I believe this is precisely what God desires from his followers. The one who hears the Word of God, applies it to his life and lives his life according to it will be blessed in all he does.
Conclusion
So what is the practical application for today’s message? It is three fold. First, we are to be followers of Jesus who are good listeners and avoid using anger as a means to control, fight and manipulate others. Instead we are to be controlled in our emotions. Secondly, knowing the Word of God is important. God gave us his Word to be consumed. We are to read it, love it and memorize it so it can take root in our hearts. Lastly, we are to not only know God’s Word but we are to practice it and live it out. We are to do what the Word tells us to do for in doing so we will be blessed. So my friends let us be hearers of the Word AND doers of the Word. God has given us his Word for our benefit and His glory so let us live it our for our benefit and His glory.
[1] Moo, Douglas: The Letter of James. Grand Rapids, MI/Cambridge UK: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2000, p. 72, 73
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