Being A Doer Series

Being and Doing

James 1:19-27

August 26, 2001

Has someone ever told you a story and you have absolutely no clue where they’re going with it? One time, I was talking to someone who actually said, “to make a long story, longer...” Ugh! Make it shorter ... please, especially when I don’t know what the point is.

I mean have you ever asked someone in the middle of their story, “what’s the point?” I have! It’s not always a good thing to do to your spouse!

Well, we’re in our 3rd sermon as we look at the book of James. James begins by writing about our listening skills and anger. This leads him to tell us we should accept the word of God — and ultimately be doers of the Word.

And it may seem like James is taking us on a wild goose chase, yet there’s a method to the points he’s making and a very definite plan. So, let’s take a look at what James is trying to teach us and how we can apply God’s Word to become more authentic, real Christians.

For the past 2 weeks, we’ve been talking about trials, testings and temptations. Fun stuff. Now James wants us to be better listeners and not get quite so angry. Remember, God may test us, but He will never, never tempt us.

James wrote - - - -

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

23 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.

24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.

25 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.

26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.

27 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. - James 1

Those first words from James speak volumes to us. They are so relevant!

Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. When I meet with couples for premarital counseling, I always talk about those verses. When we follow this prescription we have the opportunity not only to live in harmony with others, but to be a doer of the Word.

Usually when we’re having a disagreement with someone, we do the opposite of what James is prescribing — we’re quick to become angry, quick to speak and slow to listen. Remember those old sayings, “God gave you 2 ears and 1 mouth so you could listen more than you speak,”or “silence is golden, speech is silver.”

Firstly, we are to be listeners. Remember the difference between hearing and listening — you all hear me speak, but when you listen you’re absorbing what’s being said. You’re not thinking about your grocery list, or what your going to eat for lunch. Listening is an art. It’s not always easy to listen to a sermon that lasts more than five minutes. We easily become distracted, that’s why some people say, they become tired from listening. Not tired of listening. Listening takes concentration and what teachers always asked for in school, ‘giving your undivided attention.’

I used to listen to some really raunchy music when I worked out. It had a great beat and was kind of loud. One day I was lifting weights with Zachary and he incredulously asked me, ‘what I was listening to?’ I proudly told him the name of the group, thinking I was pretty hip, then he asked me “do you know what the lyrics are?”

I said “NOPE!” He told me and I didn’t listen to them again. I was hearing the words, but I wasn’t listening, and in the process my potential witness was not good and words and themes were filtering in which weren’t good.

A benefit of listening well is we become slower to speak. Think about most disagreements, especially arguments . . . we don’t listen well . . . . we’re thinking about our comeback. How many times have you been asked - - - did you hear what I said? That’s when you know you’re not listening.