Blessed Hearers
James 1:19-25
5-11-08
This morning I’m reading our text from the New International Version.
“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 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. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does.”
How can we enjoy the blessing of God on our lives? Is it possible for a person to go to church every week and still not enjoy God’s blessing? According to James, it is. What is needed on our part for the blessing God has for us to be fully realized and enjoyed?
This morning we will address those questions as they relate to our attitude toward the Word of God. James has given his readers some instruction. But how will they respond to that instruction? Will it make a difference in their lives? We they receive the blessing God intends or will they miss it?
How to Be a Blessed Hearer of the Word? That subject implies a possibility that we can sit under the Word and not be blessed—not experience the benefit from that Word. Wouldn’t that be a sad outcome for a person’s life? We’re here because we not only want to hear what God has to say to us; but we also want to enjoy the benefits of that Word in our lives.
How should I interact with the Word of God so that the end result is blessing?
I. Hear Instruction.
That theme runs through much of the wisdom literature in the Old Testament. It is especially prominent in the book of Proverbs. Let me give you a few examples:
Prov 1:8 “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”
Prov 4:1 “Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.”
Prov 19:20 “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.”
Listening is a skill most of us have to learn. We have to discipline ourselves to pay attention to what someone else is saying. If we’re not careful, instead of listening, we’re thinking about what we want to say. As a professional mediator , I deal with this all the time. If we can just get people to listen to each other—really listen—really understand what the other person is trying to say, we are half way toward a resolution of the conflict. Listening well is a key to success in life. Dale Carnegie says you can make more friends in two weeks by becoming a good listener than you can in two years trying to get other people interested in you.” The wise person will be eager to hear what others have to say—especially those who are more experienced and have led godly lives. A wise person is eager to learn—does not have to learn everything the hard way—will hear wisdom from God’s Word.
James quotes a common proverb in James 1:19. He introduces it by saying, “Take note of this”; make sure you pay attention to this—because everyone (without exception) needs this reminder. “...Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” Our human tendency is to be quick to speak and slow to listen. It takes discipline to turn that around.
So how am I going to benefit from the Word of God if I don’t listen? If my mind is not focused on what is being said, the Words will tend to go in one ear and out the other.
“Quick to listen” is accompanied by the added instruction to be “slow to speak.” James is introducing a subject that he will talk about in much more depth in chapter 3. But the problem of unruly tongues is already on his mind. Listen to what James says about that in James 1:26 “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” In other words, a person can go to church every Sunday; but if that person leaves here and starts wagging his or her tongue and gossiping and criticizing other people, it just kind of negates the whole endeavor. What we say really matters to God. Jesus said the mouth is simply an overflow of what is in the heart (Matt. 12:34). Our words reflect what’s going on in our hearts.
Prov 15:28 says, “The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.”
Prov 21:23 “He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.”
Anybody that’s lived very long at all knows the trouble ill-advised words can bring into our lives. I came across saying years ago that I think says it well. Somebody wrote, “I’m carful of the words I say, to keep them soft and sweet. I never know from day to day, which ones I’ll have to eat.”
Have you heard the phrase “a man of few words”? That’s how I would describe the boy in a story I read this week. A backwoods preacher found this young boy all alone, playing in the dirt. “Where’s your father?” the preacher asked. The boy said, “He was hanged last week.” “Then, where’s your mother?” “She ran off.” “Do you have a sister”? Yup. “Where’s she?” “She’s in jail.” “Is there anybody else in your family?” “Yup, I’ve got a brother.” “Where is he?” “At Harvard University.” “Well, at least one member of your family is doing well. What is he studying?” “Nothin’. They’re studying him.”
James says, “Be quick to hear; slow to speak; slow to anger.” Anger has a way of affecting our speech. When we’re angry it is easy to say things we wish we hadn’t said. Anger has a way of provoking more anger. It does not inspire us to do the right thing. It almost always pushes us in the wrong direction. James says in the next verse (20), “ for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” Don’t make important choices while you’re angry. When we’re motivated by anger we’ll usually make the wrong choice. We can easily do or say something we will regret.
So James uses this proverb to introduce the subject of listening. “...Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
Be a good listener; listen to instruction—especially from the Word.
II. Lay aside obstructions and distractions.
James 1:21 “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent...”
Wickedness was prevalent in the world in James’ day. And guess what, it’s prevalent in the world today. It is something that can get on us as we live in this world, if we’re not careful. We have to continually rid ourselves of offensive attitudes and behaviors.
Get rid of ALL moral filth.
On the overhead screen is a representation of the tabernacle where Israel worshipped in the wilderness. Everything about this tabernacle instructs us about how to approach God in worship. For example, the first thing you encounter when you enter the outer court is the brazen altar. That is where the sacrificial animals were slain. Their blood poured out there in abundance as a foreshadow of Calvary where Jesus would be the ultimate sacrifice. That brazen altar says something crucial about worshipping God. Heb 9:22 “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” We don’t have time this morning to explain that fully. But Christ’s death on the cross is absolutely essential to us receiving forgiveness of sin. It’s not enough to just say, God is merciful and understanding and therefore He forgives my sins. No, your forgiveness was paid for by the suffering and death of Christ. There is a certain way your salvation had to come about. Someone had to pay the price and Jesus did that. God made a way for you to be forgiven; and He did it at great cost to Himself. So never take sin lightly. It cost the precious Son of God His life to deal with it. The brazen altar illustrates and teaches the necessity of blood sacrifice—in order to approach God.
The brazen laver was also necessary before the priests could enter the Holy Place. At the brazen laver the priests washed the sacrifice and themselves before approaching God. As a side note, the brazen laver was made from the women’s mirrors. Of course, mirrors then were made from polished metal. Here is a picture of a couple of them from Egyptian Dynasty 18 (1559-1320 B.C.E.). From this laver we learn something about approaching God. The priests had to wash themselves before entering the Holy Place—before approaching the presence of God. That is a truth that seems to be forgotten in our generation.
There is a right way to approach God. James puts it this way in James 4:8 “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands , you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” Drawing near to God involves purifying our hearts—putting some things away. There are preparations for enjoying God’s fellowship. People in churches all over America wonder why God’s presence is not more evident in their gatherings. This might be a good place to start in answering that question. Have we washed (so to speak)? Have we put away “of all moral filth and the evil”?
What was the most prominent attribute of God revealed in the Old Testament? God is holy. You can’t live in sin and live in God’s presence at the same time. To enjoy fellowship with God we have to put some things out of our lives. Peter tells his readers almost the same thing James is saying here in our text. 1 Peter 1:14-16 “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”
Is anybody here trying to live a double life? On the one hand, you want to serve God and enjoy His favor and blessing. But, on the other hand, there are sins you just don’t want to give up. So you indulge yourself and then say a quick prayer asking for forgiveness. But in reality you have not turned from that sin. You have not gotten rid of that moral filth and evil. Then you wonder, why doesn’t God meet with me and speak to me when I pray? Why do the heavens seem like brass? God is wanting you to do something. “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent...”
Here is an essential aspect of being a blessed hearer of the Word. We have to decisively get rid of all moral filth and evil. “All” means “all” and James is referring to anything in our lives that grieve the Holy Spirit. However, the context might indicate that he is particularly interested in sins like gossip and malice. The word translated “evil” is translated “malice” in 1 Peter 2:1 and several other places in the N.T. Is there any malice in your heart against another person? That has to be dealt with. Is there anybody you’ve been talking about? That has to be dealt with. We deal with these things so that they do not obstruct our communion with God or our ability to hear Him.
The word translated “moral filth” was once used as a medical term to refer to earwax that had to be removed so that it wouldn’t obstruct hearing. James is probably not using the word that way. But junk in our lives does obstruct our ability to hear God. Everything that would hinder our ability to hear God needs to be removed. Sometimes people are so caught up in making money or having fun that when the Word is offered to them, they don’t even hear it because their mind is preoccupied with other things. Attention must be given to what God is saying if we are to hear profitably.
III. Receive the God-given instruction God into your heart.
Someone once said, “The greatest distance truth has to travel is the eighteen inches between a person’s mind and that person’s heart.” In verse 21 James describes the word that we are to receive as “implanted” . The Word is to become a part of who we are. There is a certain kind of receptivity that is necessary if the Word is to bring blessing into our lives. Jesus spoke the Word of God to the Pharisees of His day. But that Word did not profit them because they did not receive it for what it was—truth sent from God. They set themselves up as judges over that Word, rather than allowing that Word to judge their lives.
The Word must be received “meekly.” The Pharisees were prideful rather than meek. They were arrogant and critical rather than humble and teachable. When we respect the Word as authoritative over our lives; then we approach it with a humble willingness to let it speak correction to us. Your eternal wellbeing and my eternal wellbeing depend significantly upon our attitudes toward the revelation we have been given in Scripture.
People liked Ezekiel’s preaching for all the wrong reasons. They came to church and listened to him preach. But they did not necessarily receive the Word as instructive for their lives. They responded to it more like a form of entertainment. Listen to what God said to Ezekiel about that. Ezek 33:31-32 “My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.” When Christianity becomes nothing more than a wholesome form of entertainment we are in big, big trouble—just like Israel was in Ezekiel’s day.
But if we meekly and submissively receive God’s Word into our hearts, James says, that Word is able to save our souls. He’s not necessarily talking about being born again. The people James is writing to are already Christians. But he’s saying, when the Word is received in the right spirit it can work wonderful transformation in our lives; it can deliver us from stuff; it can heal our broken hearts; it can bring wholeness and joy and hope. The Word is God’s agent for our full salvation. So receive it in faith and anticipation as to what God will work in your behalf.
The final imperative for us to enjoy the blessing and benefits of God’s Word is this:
IV. We must put into practice what we hear.
We must apply it to our daily lives. We must be doers of the Word rather than hearers only. Jesus told the story in Matthew 7 of two builders. One wisely built his house on a rock solid foundation. The other foolishly built his house on sand. Both houses experienced trials. The winds and rains came beating down on both houses. (Baby, the rain must fall. Every life will experience some storms). But the end result for the two builders was altogether different. The house built upon sand collapsed under the pressures of the storm. The house built upon the rock endured the storm and was still standing when it was all over. In Matt 7:24 Jesus gives this interpretation of his story. "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” In other words, if I am a doer of the Word and not a hearer only I will be just fine “come what may”. Amen?
So James is contrasting two kinds of hearers. One is a foolish, forgetful hearer. The other is a wise hearer who puts what he or she hears into practice. James illustrates his point by comparing a person who looks in a mirror and perhaps sees that he needs to wash his face, sees that he needs a shave, maybe even accents to that reality. But then walks away and does nothing about what he sees in that mirror. He saw something he needed to see. But it did him no good because he did nothing about it. He immediately goes his way and does not give it another thought.
James says the person who operates this way is susceptible to something very serious—self-deception. Instead of dealing with what has been shown to him through the Word, he convinces himself that he is just fine despite what he has seen in the mirror of the Word. There are a lot of Christians living in self-deception. They look into the Word; they realize they’re not living the way God intends them to live; yet they convince themselves that it’s alright to ignore that and continue as is. And if they tell themselves that long enough they believe it. Only problem, they have not convinced God to change His standard.
James contrasts that with the person looks into that same mirror—the Word of God. He sees that Word as the “perfect law of liberty.” Instead of seeing obedience to God’s commands as bondage or oppression, he sees obedience to God’s Word as an avenue to freedom—freedom from bondage to sin, freedom from bondage to selfishness, fear, and all kinds of other things. He looks into God’s Word and finds freedom to know God and live above the beggarly elements of this world. So he not only hears God’s instruction for his life; but he takes that instruction to heart and starts doing it as best he can in dependence upon God grace and help. He continues in that. He keeps on looking into God’s Word. He keeps on applying it to his life. He doesn’t do everything perfect. But he takes that Word as authoritative for how he is to live. He receives any correction the Word may give him. He receives any encouragement the Word may give him. His life revolves around the wisdom found in God’s Word.
Is there work involved? Will the Word instruct us to turn from our selfishness and serve other people? Yes. Notice the words of James in verse 25, “...is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the” what? “work”. If you find a Christianity that involves no work, you have not found the real thing. Serving God requires personal sacrifice and some rolling up the sleeves and work.
Where does the blessing come in? It comes when we apply all these principles. The promise at the end of verse 25 is this: “this one will be blessed in what he does.” Not blessed in what he hears, no matter how well the sermon is crafted or how entertaining the speaker may be. The blessing occurs in the doing! If we abort the process prior to that, we come short of the blessing.
I want a blessed life, don’t you? I struggle with some of the things God calls upon me to do. There are things my flesh wants to do that I have to say no to. There are things God tells me to do that my flesh does not want to do. But obedience is where the blessing resides. It is not always experienced immediately; but it is promised by God Himself.
Invitation
For Footnotes/Sources go to www.crossroadsnixa.org
Richard Tow
Gateway Foursquare Church
Nixa, Missouri
www.GatewayNixa.org
