Hearers of the Word
Text: James 1:19-21
Core Idea: We are called to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry for this is what it means to live a life that is fit for the Kingdom of God. This can be achieved when we put away our sins and humbly accept the Word as God refines and transforms us accordingly. Then let us immerse ourselves in the Word.
INTRODUCTION
We are going through the book of James – looking at different ways the gospel impacts our lives. And last Sunday, we learned that every trial is also a temptation because every trial is either an opportunity to grow or an occasion to sin. So, James invited us to fix our eyes on the Lord and learn to be satisfied in Him for this is how we guard ourselves from being dragged away by the desires of our hearts. Then with this in mind, let’s open up our Bibles to James 1:19-21. I’ll read it for us.
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the Word planted in you, which can save you.
Amen. This is the Word of God for you today.
Now, as we make our way through the book of James, it’s important for us to note how carefully and intentionally James arranges his materials. I admit – at first glance, it may seem like this whole book is a series of unrelated truths that were just randomly put together, but the exact opposite is true. If we would just slow down to think through his teachings a little more, it’ll become clear to us that each section is actually closely interconnected to one another. In fact, James is constantly building upon the things that he had previously taught in order to offer us the truths we need to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord in all circumstances. Then today’s text is no different – these are not miscellaneous thoughts James just added here because he didn’t know where else to put them. No, they have been placed here deliberately to instruct us so that we won’t waste our trials but grow in godliness and glorify God in the midst of our trials.
Then in order to make sense of the flow of his argument, let’s actually go back to verse 18. It says, “He chose to give us birth through the Word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created.” Remember that James was just talking about temptations in trials. Then this verse explains that the reason why we can overcome temptations and persevere through trials is because God gave us a new life in Christ – it’s the idea of being born again. Now, in the West, the term “born-again Christian” is often used to describe a type of Christian – they’re often considered to be theologically more conservative and radically passionate about their faith. But to be fair, we can’t blame the world for thinking this way (that there are many types of Christians) because unfortunately there are many people who profess to be Christians but believe and preach the gospel that is no gospel at all. But the Bible makes it clear that all believers are born again. Jesus said in John 3:3, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again.” In other words, you cannot be a Christian if you’re not born again. Then what does it mean to be born again? It simply means that in and through Christ, we have been cleansed from all our sins and given a new heart, a new life, a new attitude, a new appetite, a new ambition. This isn’t just rearranging, reordering of our old life – it’s the uprooting of our old life and implanting of a new one. In other words, when we are born again, we are not the same – there’s a transformation that takes place in our identity that impacts every aspect of our lives. We no longer see God the way we used to, we no longer see others or ourselves the way we used to, we no longer respond to suffering or temptations the way we used to, we no longer approach work or school the way we used to, we no longer approach marriage or parenting the way we used to, we no longer use our money or time the way we used to. All this to say, our lives are turned upside down.
Now, how does God achieve this in our lives? James says it’s through the Word of truth (v. 18). It’s the Word that awakens our souls to life, opens our eyes to see, gives our minds to understand, transforms our hearts to desire Christ, and instructs our lives to live in such a way that is pleasing to the Lord – no wonder the Word is absolutely vital to us as Christians. We cannot know God apart from the Word, ourselves apart from the Word, His salvation plan apart from the Word. We cannot have growth apart from the Word, transformation apart from the Word, direction apart from the Word. It is utterly impossible for a believer to maintain a healthy and growing faith in Christ apart from the Word. Then let me ask you, “Do you feel stagnant in your walk with God today? Do you feel like you’re not growing? If so, is it possible that it’s because you’re not immersing yourselves in the Word of God?” Now, you might say, “But Woohyun – I am reading the Bible, yet I still feel dry.” But notice that I didn’t say “reading” but “immersing” yourselves in the Word of God – and there’s a difference. Let me explain by quoting something from Pastor Tim Keller’s biography – who, by the way, as many of you know, went home to be with Jesus this past week. Although I am incredibly sad that he’s not with us anymore, I’m so thankful that he continues to minister to us through his books and sermons. If you’ve never read his books, I strongly encourage you to do so. Anyhow, here’s the quote, “Leading a Bible study, Barbara Boyd challenged students, including Keller, to observe 50 things from Mark 1:17 in 30 minutes. After 10 minutes, most of the students figured they’d found everything they could from the passage: ‘“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”’ But Boyd wasn’t satisfied. She demanded they dig deeper. After another 20 minutes, the students realized how such intense focus on one short verse could concentrate their powers of observation. When the time concluded, Boyd asked if anyone had discovered their most powerful takeaway during the opening 5 minutes of the exercise. Keller never forgot the answer. No one raised a hand. After all, no one finds the deepest veins of gold at the mouth of the cave. You find the greatest treasures after thorough exploration.” Brothers and sisters, are you investing your time in the Word today? When we went to the men’s retreat not too long ago, I was so encouraged to see the men dedicating their time to studying the Bible and working out its implications. Think about it – for those of you who were there, when was the last time your conversations with others were so saturated with the Word of God? We need more of this in our lives if we want to deepen our relationship with God and with one another. When we immerse ourselves in the Word, it will sustain our faith, transform our character, and produce the godly life that God so desires for all of us – it will make us into the people fit for the Kingdom of God. That’s how James concludes this section on trials and temptations.
Now, when we turn to verse 19, we encounter this set of commands that seem like an abrupt transition to a new theme – but again, that’s not true. We can be sure that he intentionally put this here – the only problem is that the scholars and pastors offer two ways of understanding this passage. So, because I think there’s value in both interpretations, I will share both – praying that the Spirit will help you apply this truth accordingly. Then let me share three things from this passage:
· SEEING THE COMMANDS IN RELATION TO OTHERS
· SEEING THE COMMANDS IN RELATION TO THE WORD
· HOW WE CAN ACHIEVE THIS IN OUR LIVES
1) SEEING THE COMMANDS IN RELATION TO OTHERS
Let’s start from the beginning of verse 19, “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this.” It’s clear that there’s a distinct mark of urgency and affection in his words. James was basically saying, “Because you are very dear to me, because I care for you, I’m urging all of you to do this.” Then what was it that he wanted us to do? “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” Then here’s the first way of applying this truth – to look at it in relation to the people God has placed in our lives. Now, these commands would’ve been incredibly relevant to his readers who were experiencing great trials because, in trials, as we know, we’re often tempted to do the very opposite of what James commands here. When we face trials of many kinds, we have the tendency to be slow to listen, quick to speak, and quick to become angry towards others in our lives. Then let’s think through each command and its application for our lives.
James begins by saying, “Everyone should be quick to listen.” He invites us to be good listeners. Now, if we’re honest with ourselves, this is not always easy. And here are some reasons why – we don’t really care about the person who’s speaking, we don’t really care about what they have to say, we think we already know what they have to say, we think we have something better to say, or we’re just busy thinking of the things that we want to say next. I’m not sure if you noticed but it’s clear that the ultimate reason why we struggle to be good listeners is because we make everything about us. We don’t listen because we want our agendas to be made known, we want our plans to be protected, we want our purposes to be fulfilled. So, unless people say things that affirm us or lift us, we’re quick to ignore them or cut them off. But James tells us that before we open our mouths, we must be careful to hear them first because this is how we express our love. Listen to what Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “The first service one owes to others in the community involves listening to them. Just as our love for God begins with listening to God’s word, the beginning of love for other Christians is learning to listen to them. God’s love for us is shown by the fact that God not only gives us God’s word, but also lends us God’s ear. We do God’s work for our brothers and sisters when we learn to listen to them. So often Christians, especially preachers, think that their only service is always to have to ‘offer’ something when they are together with other people. They forget that listening can be a greater service than speaking. Many people seek a sympathetic ear and do not find it among Christians, because these Christians are talking even when they should be listening.” Brothers and sisters, I invite you to love the people around you by learning to patiently listen to them. Let us demonstrate an earnest desire to listen genuinely.
Now, it’s important to note that James never says, “Be quick to listen but never speak.” No, he says, “Be slow to speak.” What does this mean? Does this mean that as long as I was patiently listening, I have the license to say whatever I want? Of course not. We ought to be slow to speak because this too is how we love the person we’re talking to. By slowing down, it becomes possible for us to choose our words carefully so that what comes out of our mouths brings encouragement, restoration, and grace to those who listen. By slowing down, we make sure that our words are spoken from a heart of love and in a language they can understand. I find this difficult at times because I’m so eager to share what’s on my mind – which is why God is training me to be slow to speak through my son, Eli. Recently, he’s been asking a lot of questions. “Why is it like this? Why is this bad? Why can’t I have this now? Why does it work like this? Why can’t I say this? Why? Why? Why?” And a lot of times, I just want to say, “I don’t know,” or, “Because I said so,” or, “Just because,” or, “Ask God.” But because I love him, I’m very careful to answer him. I make sure that I speak in a way that he understands. And just when I thought he finally understood, he was ready for more questions. Like I said, God is training me. But there’s another reason why we ought to be slow to speak – it’s because as 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, “We are Christ’s ambassadors.” In other words, we ought to be slow to speak because if we truly represent Christ, the implication is that our words could either draw people closer to Christ or away from Christ. Do you see the weightiness of this truth? The stake is absolutely high – your daily conversations with your spouse, your children, your friends, your co-workers, your neighbors, and even strangers can draw them closer to Christ or away from Christ. Your words can breathe life in them or crush them. Brothers and sisters, we don’t represent ourselves anymore – we represent the King who now rules over us. So, everything we do and everything we say should reflect Him – His message, His purpose, His character, and His grace. We shouldn’t speak so that we could win – we speak so that we could win people to Christ. May our words bring glory to Him. But there’s one more thing.
James also says, “Be slow to become angry.” Now, this immediately reminded me of Exodus 34:6 where God is described as “the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” Consider the context of this verse. Israel had just left slavery – redeemed by God’s mighty hand. They had watched the Red Sea open up so that they could cross over but swallow the Egyptian army. They had seen the pillars of cloud and fire guide their way. They were standing before Mount Sinai as the glory of God filled the place. They had been sprinkled by the blood of the covenant – committing themselves to be the people of God. And then, in their freedom, they exchanged the glory of the living God for a golden cow. So, God brought down His judgment against them, but He restrained Himself because of His mercy. Even though He could have, He didn’t destroy them or forsake them. He embraced them again and remained faithful to them to the end. And in that context, God says that He is slow to anger. What’s incredible about this story is that God remained patient even when they sinned against Him. Then when James calls us to be slow to become angry, he’s simply inviting us to follow the example of God. Brothers and sisters, just as God remained patient with us, sinners, we ought to remain patient not only toward those who love us but also those who hate and oppose us. This is a high calling, but we strive toward this because we desire to become more like Him. And we can do this confidently knowing that the Spirit inside us will empower us. All this to say, we must be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry toward others.
Then why? Why should we obey these commands? Verse 20, “Because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” The word “righteousness” can mean many things but here, it’s used to mean a righteous life that is pleasing to God. In other words, James is telling us, “When we give ourselves to anger, we are acting in opposition to God’s righteous plan for us – we are choosing to displease the Lord.” Anger does not produce a life of righteousness – but do you know what it does produce? James actually told us in verse 15 – “Sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” Brothers and sisters, our sinful anger produces death. Our sinful anger always produces death. When I look back on my life, there was never a situation when my sinful anger actually helped someone – not once. It never helped me to love people better or serve others with humility. It never helped me, or others draw closer to God. My anger toward Alicia, toward my children, toward strangers on the road, toward those who hurt me and disrespected me – no matter to whom my anger was directed, it always resulted in sorrow, guilt, despair, bitterness, discontentment, hatred, and even more rage. Not once did it produce the righteousness that God desired. Then let me ask you, “Are you struggling with anger today? Do you find yourself being quick to become angry at those around you?” If so, confess it to the Lord today. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Don’t forget that we have a wonderful Savior in Jesus Christ. So, come to Him today, confess your sins, and repent because He will cleanse you and forgive you. But don’t just stop there – seek forgiveness from the people you have hurt in your anger. Now, don’t go to them with some kind of excuse – saying something like, “I was tired,” or, “You provoked me.” No, just say, “I’m sorry for hurting you. Please forgive me.” Let down your pride. Brothers and sisters, we must remember that we have been born again to live a new kind of life. We no longer live to please ourselves – we live to please King Jesus. Then let us faithfully work out these commands in our lives so that He will be glorified in and through us. That’s the first interpretation.
2) SEEING THE COMMANDS IN RELATION TO THE WORD
The second way of applying this truth is to look at these commands in relation to the Word of God. Now, if you’re wondering, “How did he get that?” let me explain. If you look at verse 18, James shares that we received birth through the Word of truth. Then in verses 19-20, he talks about listening and speaking. Then in verse 21, he challenges us to humbly accept the Word planted in us. Then in verses 22-25, he instructs us to become doers of the Word. This whole passage is all about the Word of God. Then let me rephrase verse 19 like this: Everyone should be quick to listen to the Word, slow to speak the Word, and slow to become angry when the Word contradicts or challenges us.
Now, for the sake of time, let me just share something about the last command. It’s so easy for us to become angry at the Word when it goes against our thoughts and desires. Has this ever happened to you? Did the Word ever make you angry? When Alicia and I experienced our first miscarriage, I remember reading Proverbs 3:5-6, which says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” But at first, I was really frustrated. “How can I trust God when He’s making it so hard to trust Him?” But in hindsight, I realized that I was angry because it contradicted with what I desired and what I thought was good. God says in Isaiah 55:9, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways” – which means that sometimes, the Word will offend us or make us uncomfortable. Let’s be honest – it’s not easy to obey commands like, “Love your enemies” (Matt. 5:44), “Give cheerfully” (2 Cor. 9:7), or “Consider all trials pure joy” (Jam. 1:2). But we must approach the Word with humble submissiveness. Tim Keller said, “Before the change [before he became a born-again Christian], I pored over the Bible, questioning and analyzing it. But after the change, it was as if the Bible, or maybe Someone through the Bible, began poring over me, questioning and analyzing me.” We must learn to do this – let’s invite the Spirit to challenge us, encourage us, and transform us through the Word of God. Let us be quick to listen to the Word, slow to speak the Word, and slow to become angry against the Word for this is the call that God has for all born-again Christians.
3) HOW WE CAN ACHIEVE THIS IN OUR LIVES
Whether it’s in relation to others or the Word, how can we faithfully live out the commands from verse 19 in our lives? James gives us a two-part answer in verse 21, “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the Word planted in you, which can save you.” First, we must get rid of all evil. James calls us to put away the sins that can prevent us from being obedient to this call. Now, if you’re a Christian, this is nothing new – we know we should do this. Then why is it that we continue to fail? Why is it that we still continue to struggle with sin? There could be many reasons, but I think one of the biggest reasons is because we give up too fast. Pastor Andrew Davis said, “The life of genuine repentance is costly, and it involves drastic actions… After a Christian has sinned, they should study what happened, how they reacted, what temptations the devil used to deceive them, and what actions led to the sin. Then the Christian should be doubly vigilant about that sin in the future, knowing that a pattern of sin can be established quickly… Without this kind of vigilance toward sin, we have learned nothing from the experience and may soon be repeating it regularly.” Brothers and sisters, in other words, we must be meticulous in planning and executing to eradicate sin from our lives. Just as we are thorough in planning for many things in life (like buying a house, choosing a job, losing weight, or raising children), we should do the same in our battle against sin – knowing that sin always gives birth to death. So, that’s the first part.
Second, we must also humbly accept the Word planted in us. What does that even mean? I think Pastor Eugene Peterson helps us make sense of this when he interpreted verse 21 this way in the Message, “So, throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.” In other words, to humbly accept the Word planted in us is to now invite God, our gardener, to prune us, refine us, discipline us through the Word. It means that we are humbly inviting God to search us, surprise us, contradict us, and even offend us because that’s what it means to be in a relationship with Him. We want Him to shape us to be more like His Son. Then brothers and sisters, let’s not approach the Word with our minds already made up but let’s come humbly, with great expectancy knowing that there’s life in the Word of God. This Word can save us from our sins and sanctify us – make us holy. Now, today, we talked a lot about the things that we must do – and it could feel incredibly heavy on us. The task seems daunting – and frankly it should if we’re trying to do it on our own. But the good news is that God hasn’t left us alone to do this on our own – He wants to empower us through the Word of God, through His Spirit. Then let us turn to that source of power. Let us humbly ask that He will work in and through us.
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, we are called to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry for this is what it means to live a life that is fit for the Kingdom of God. And this can be achieved when we put away our sins and humbly accept the Word planted in us as God refines and transforms us accordingly. Then let us immerse ourselves in the Word knowing that through it, God will save us.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) We are to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. Why? What do you struggle with the most today? How can we grow in each of these calls?
2) We are to be quick to listen to the Word, slow to speak the Word, and slow to become angry against the Word. How do you respond when the Word offends you or makes you uncomfortable? How can we approach the Word with humble submissiveness?
3) How can we grow to hate sin and be vigilant over sin? What would it mean for you to be meticulous in planning and executing to eradicate certain sins from your life?
4) Was there an area of your life that has been challenged or transformed by the Word recently? Pray for the work of God’s Spirit to enable you to submit to what the Bible clearly says, and to help you to change.