Introductory Considerations
1. Today in just a few words James teaches us one of the most important lessons we can ever learn. Not only practical but key to becoming mature Christians. To be mature is to have the righteousness that God desires, and according to James oneof biggest obstacles to righteousness is anger.
2. Whether it is the expression or the suppression of anger, anger prevents us from living in holiness and love and joy and peace.
3. James offers to us three gems of wisdom. Only the last has to do with anger but I believe that if we follow the first two the third will be much easier.
Teaching
1. First - we are to be quick to listen.
a. This is not easy for us. Once a young man came to the great philosopher Socrates to be instructed in public speaking. The moment the young man was introduced he began to talk without sopping. This went on for some time. When Socrates could get in a word, he said, "Toung man, I will have to charge you a double fee." The young man looked puzzled "A double fee, why is that?" Socrates answered "I will have to teach you two sciences. First, how to hold your tongue, and then, how to use it.".
b. We are much quicker tp speak than we are to listen.
2. We must learn to listen to God and to listen to others.
a. The context of this verse indicates James is mainly telling us to listen to God. In ves. 19, "take note of this’ could be translated as "therefore", which of course connects us with what was previously said. In vs. 18 James said that wehave been chosen to new life through the word of truth. vs. 21 contains a call to receive the word and vs. 22-25 stresses the doing of the word
b. James is stressing the content of what we listen to. Solomon once wrote "Of making many books there is no end." How much more are these words true today. We are bombarded by books and sounds and sights. Everyone is trying to get our attention. God wants us to listen to Him, for He is the primary source of all knowledge and wisdom.
c. His word is a word of life. We must listen to God in order to know Him and to know how to live.
Prov 1:8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
Prov 1:33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm."
Prov 2:1-5 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
- 2 Tim 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
d. When we listen to God and become equipped and remember what He has done for us we are humbles and less prone to anger.
3. But I believe the call is also a call to listen to one another. Even in our ministry we must hear what people are saying. Then we can apply God’s word to where they were at. Jesus asked many questions to the woman at the well. He listened to her. It also showed that he cared for her.
a. Often those who are sick, lonely or dying don’t need someone to tell them anything. They know already that their hope is in Christ. They simply need someone to lisetn to them - to let them know they are still alive. I remember one man who was dying. He felt like people were trying to help so much they weren’t listening to him. He felt that he was already gone or treated like he had already died.
b. In our relationships it is so importnat to listen. A bad habit I have and others do is that we think we know what other is going to say and we cut them off. Instead of listening we are formulating our answer
c. We must listen carefully to the other person, but we must also listen with more than our ears. We must listen to the body language, to what person is not saying. In fact if we are able to listen better then we will understand better and will not be so prone to anger.
d. I remember a time when person seemed very upset with me. His words were loud - I could hear them clearly. But I heard more than words. I heard the unspoken pain and frustration deep within the perons and so I asked "Are you angry with me or just frustrated?" The person stopped speaking for a moment and then clamly said "I’m sorry, I’m just frustrated." My natural inclination was to get angry and yell back but thank God He did not let me do that. I heard more than his words or even his anger.
4. And that brings us to James second teaching. We must be slow to speak. Remember that the context is the word of God. James says we must be careful before we share the word of God
a. James 3:1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
b. When we teach or preach we better think through what we are teaching, Have we listened to God to clearly understand what we are teaching? Are we sure that what we say will not be misleading or leave a false impression?
c. Now, I want to be careful here. Some of us are hesitatnt about tecahing or even sharing with another person what we believe. - you may take this passage to give you an excuse to keep silent about your faith. That is not what is intended. We are to share word but when we speak we must know what we are saying.
d. There is a well known, flamboyant football player named Deon Sanders. Even played professional baseball. Very colourful person. Recently he has been born again. He has decided to live for Christ and he says that he has become an evangelist. I even saw him on television. Very effective preaching - in regards to style. And he seemed to be very sincere. But some of the things he said could have been thought out a little more. I hope he spends much time studying word and listening to God.
e. We see it in Paul who spent time after conversion being taught before he taught others. Some say seminary not needed - wrong - we need to be taught.
f. And even then we must be careful how we share God’s word. To be sensitive to where other person is at. Not give them more than they can handle. Eph 4:15 "Instead, speaking the truth in love,"
g. Have you be slow to speak? Can you think of something in this past week that you wish you had not said? Something you should have given more thought to? We cannot take back our words. Once they are out there they are gone - words spoken in anger at someone or about someone.
h. Words are the greatest building tools we have. They build up walls that are sturdy and strong and not easily broken down. Walls between ourselves and others.
i. Friends - if any advise I have for you and for me it is this - be slow to speak.
5. The third piece of wisdom is that wemust be slow to become angry.
a. If we would be quick to listen and slow to speak, much of the anger we and others ahve would disappear.
b. The Greek word for anger, orge is used here. It means "indignation that has arisen gradually and become more settled". It is a sttled or abiding condition of mind, frequently with a view of taking revenge. A lingering seething emotion.
c. Sometimes we may even be able to hide this deep anger from ourselves.
d. One of things I have had in past few years is anger at some people - perhaps one in particular. Not anyone who is here. I have had to deal with this anger and there were times that I thought I had, but I found that at times I would easily be angry at people or situations. Angry over small things. And I realized that the anger I had toward one person was affecting me and making meangry at others.
e. Anger is very potent and dangerous. It can control our entire lives. It can take joy out of faith. It can make us poor witnesses of the love of God. It can break up homes and churches.
f. Anger is a normal human emotion- but it must be kept in check and dealt with appropriately. Anger does not need to be sin. Eph 4:26-27 "In your anger do not sin" : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
g. God’s anger or wrath is against sin, against evil. Jesus angry when His Father dishonoured, not when against Him but against God.
6. Anger is sin when:
a. We allow anger to turn to bitterness.
Eph 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Prov 19:19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.
b. We are quick-tempered.
Titus 1:7 Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless--not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.
Prov 29:22 An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.
7. How can we be righteous? How control anger? Be quick to listen and be slow to speak. To be slow to become angry.
Prov 16:32 Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city. A high gate invites destruction.
Prov 17:27-8 A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.
Prov 19:11 A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.
8. How are you doing in living ar ighteous life? Are you quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to becom angry?
9 Read poem, Gene Getz, "The Measure of A Christian" James 1 - pg. 98.
