TOPIC: ACCURATE LIFE (PART 1)
(4th of a Series in the Book of James – A Life That Make a Difference Series)
Text: James 1:19-21
“19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to angry, 20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life 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.”
Introduction:
There is so much now in our world of inaccuracy and this inaccuracy comes from not being submissive to God and His Word, and as Christians we need to be aware why this things happen and how do we manifest an accurate life? James in chapter 1 verses 19-21 was talking to the brethren, not to the unbeliever. And he is giving them an important thing to take note, to ponder about the way their ways and walk. From this verse we can also see that God desires a righteous life from us. And what do we need to do to show it in this very inaccurate world? Gusto ko ang pagkakagamit sa Magandang Balita Bibliya sa unang bahagi ng mga talatang ito, “matuto kayong…” it means that we need to intentionally do it, learn it in God’s way. For our nature is not this. We have a “snake” anointing nature, that we at once do things without first of understanding everything. An accurate life should manifest in our:
1.) WAYS – “Everyone should…”
a. Our ways of thinking – “Quick (ready, all ear, wide) to listen…” It refers to our way of listening to God’s word, which sometimes like what happen to Jonah that he is quick to speak rather than quick to listen to what the Lord is saying. It is our duty rather to hear God’s word, and apply our minds to understand it, than to speak according to our own fancies or the opinions of men, and to run into heat and passion thereupon Understanding everything, hearing everything from God. Not just hearing it from another, or just knowing it without real facts. Our mind is the door to our action. Our way of thinking affects our way of action. Our ways of thinking determine our actions.
b. Our ways of talking – “Slow to speak…” That is, primarily, to hear God; to listen to the instructions of that truth by which we have been begotten, and brought into so near relation to him. Instead of censuring (criticize, show disapproval) God under our trials, let us open our ears and hearts to hear what he will say to us. At the same time, though this is the primary sense of the phrase here, it may be regarded as inculcating the general doctrine that we are to be more ready to hear than to speak; or that we are to be disposed to learn always, and from any source. Our appropriate condition is rather that of learners than instructors; and the attitude of mind which we should cultivate is that of a readiness to receive information from any quarter. (ILL. “Men have two ears, and but one tongue, that they should hear more than they speak.” “The ears are always open, ever ready to receive instruction; but the tongue is surrounded with a double row of teeth, to hedge it in, and to keep it within proper bounds.”) “Talk little and work much.” Proverbs 10:19, “The more you talk, the more likely you are to sin. If you are wise, you will keep quiet.” (GNB) Proverbs13:3, “He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life.” Proverbs 15:2, “The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright, but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.”
c. Our ways of doing – “Slow to anger...” Neither murmuring at God, nor angry at his neighbor. That is, we are to govern and restrain our temper; we are not to give indulgence to excited and angry passions. Proverbs16:32, “He that is slow to anger is greater than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” The particular point here is, however, not that we should be slow to wrath as a general habit of mind, which is indeed most true, but in reference particularly to the reception of the truth. We should lay aside all anger and wrath, and should come to the investigation of truth with a calm mind, and an in perturbed (troubled, disturbed) spirit. A state of wrath or anger is always unfavorable to the investigation of truth. Such an investigation demands a calm spirit, and he whose mind is excited and enraged is not in a condition to see the value of truth, or to weigh the evidence for it. Solomon says, “The words of the wise are heard in quiet, more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.” Ecc. 9:17. Dr. Manton here says of some assemblies, “That if we were as swift to hear as we are ready to speak there would be less of wrath, and more of profit, in our meetings.” 1Peter 2:1.
The order should be: Listen – speak – action. It is not the other way around. If we don’t start right then everything will not be right. So follow the order, quick to listen then speak slowly and then slow to anger.
Our ways or way of thinking will determine our walk.
2.) WALK – “therefore...get...”
a. Our walk within – “Get rid of all moral filth…” – this is the source of inaccuracy in life. This one is from within us, our old nature. In Colossians Paul said, “hubarin na ninyo ang inyong lumang pagkatao..”
b. Our walk without – “Get rid of evil that is prevalent…” – this is also another source of inaccuracy but this one is from without. The evil that is so prevalent in our society, surroundings, environment, even in the church. It is where we compromise to the world system.
I want you to notice that James command us to get rid of this two source of inaccuracy in our life, our old nature from within and the evil prevalent around us which is from without. James is telling us to empty ourselves from these things and wear the new nature that God gave us and it can be done by humbly accepting God’s Word.
c. Our walk in & out – “Humbly accepts the word…” – we must submit our way of thinking and our walk of living to God’s word. Every aspect of our life should be in accordance to what the Word of God says. We must let the Word of God rule our life. (ILL. Two Dogs – the one you fed gets stronger and wins) (ILL. Two natures beat within my chest. One is curse and the other is blessing; one is love and the other one is hate. But the one you fed dominates.) Let us fed our new nature with God’s Word by submitting our whole being to it. And let it be the standard of our living. Let not our way of thinking, neither the world’s thinking affect us but the Word of God in or out of our life. (ILL. The Israelites in the wilderness before they enter the promise land, God commanded them to throw away all their idols, otherwise it will be the sting that will bring them away from God.) But many of them didn’t heed God’s word and that is the reason why the Israel experience a lot of problem, and didn’t live according to God’s will and God’s Word because they didn’t humbly accepts God’s word in their life. That is, open the mind and heart to instruction, and to the fair influence of truth. Meekness, gentleness, docility, is everywhere required in receiving the instructions of religion, as they are in obtaining knowledge of any kind. Matthew 18:2-3
Conclusion:
If our ways and our walk is under God’s control and under His Word then v. 20, “It will bring about the righteous life that God desires.” Does not produce in the life that righteousness which God requires. Its tendency is not to incline us to keep the law, but to break it; not to induce us to embrace the truth, but the opposite. The meaning of this passage is not that our wrath will make God either more or less righteous; but that its tendency is not to produce that upright course of life, and love of truth, which God requires. A man is never sure of doing right under the influence of excited feelings; he may do that which is in the highest sense wrong, and which he will regret all his life. The particular meaning of this passage is, that wrath in the mind of man will not have any tendency to make him righteous. It is only that candid state of mind which will lead him to embrace the truth which can be hoped to have such an effect. And it is for us to choose it; again the key is in our own hand. “Our ways will determine our walk!”
