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James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: James 1:24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Okay first of all let me go ahead and apologize for using such a controversially worded title to this blog post.  Promise that I didn’t just do it for mouse clicks 🙂

James in 1:22 encourages Believers to be doers of the Word (Scripture) and not just hearers.  This is followed up by an illustration of the hearer in 1:23-24 as someone who takes a quick glance in the mirror, then walks away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  Obviously that won’t happen physically (I hope) so allow me to apply this illustration to my own life.+

My morning used to always start this way

1. Wake up to the smell of coffee brewing and after hitting snooze at least twice, roll out of bed
2. Pour a cup of coffee and with my eyes still half-closed grab my Bible for devotions
3. Read at least three chapters (trying to read the Bible in a year) and attempt to find one major thought through all of them
4. Often don’t find a major theme, and even if I do, have a hard time remembering it during the day

The frustration with this eventually led me to stop reading three chapters of the Bible for devotions.  Instead I will normally read one (maybe two) and really focus on the words in that passage editors note: Will give some tips about how to do this tomorrow

The truth is I still go through a Bible reading program that covers larger portions of Scripture, but that’s done during free moments outside of devotions.

My reason for doing this is simple

You can’t remember truths from three chapters of the Bible

Now it isn’t possible to remember all the truths shared in one chapter either (sometimes it gives ten ideas or more) but taking fifteen to twenty minutes on one chapter of the Bible gives time to actually meditate on what those verses are saying.

Far too often in life I find myself like the hearer in James 1:23-24 who rushes into the presence of God with thousands of different things on his mind (none of them Scripture) then asks God to bless him and quickly rushes out of the Lord’s presence…giving no time for the Holy Spirit to speak.

Of course our insanely busy world with the never-ending to do list means it’s not possible to think about, and seriously meditate on large passages of Scripture…and on a personal note trying to do this for all the thoughts in three-chapters would result in information overload anyways.

So we need to read less

On slower days this means two chapters

On other days one chapter

Or maybe twenty-verses

Or ten-verses

Or maybe even just one!

The important thing is that we set aside time to pray through, meditate on, and apply those verses to our lives.  That way the Holy Spirit can bring that truth back to us later in the day…and we won’t be forgetful hearers.

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

I’m probably a bit prejudiced, but as far as I am concerned, my brother and his wife are the best parents in the world (other than my mom and dad of course).  Their awesome parenting can be seen in many ways, but of course the clearest is the lives of my niece and nephew who (again in my opinion) are the greatest kids in the world…and yes having such an amazing uncle probably has something to do with it 🙂

In all seriousness I do admire the way they keep things under control with two young children in the house.  Interestingly enough they do use what’s today referred to as “corporal punishment”  but most of the time a simple phrase or name being called is enough to bring obedience.  One of their favorites to use when my niece or nephew act up is “listen and obey please.”

Now that small phrase seems unimportant at first but it includes three very important parts

1. Listen:  Stop what you are doing and pay attention to me (usually the child’s name is used to get their attention as well
2. And Obey:  Do what I am asking you to do right away (the idea of consequences coming if they disobey is implied)
3. Please:  The request is being made in a polite, gracious spirit instead of anger

James in 1:22 is basically echoing the words my brother uses “listen (be not just a hearer) and obey (but a doer) please.”  And he has the same reason for using that phrase as my brother and his wife.

Listening is not enough

We all as children went through the experience of our mind beginning to wander during a lecture from our parents till their voice eventually became that of Charlie Brown’s teacher (wah wah wah) till our parents “are you listening to me!” snaps us back to reality (of course we say yes).  And then if your parents are smart (and they usually are) the next question is “what did I just say?”  which will result in lots of a um’s and uh’s from us.

With the addition of the word “obey” things are changed because the emphasis isn’t on transfer of information but DOING SOMETHING WITH THE INFORMATION!  For instance my brother or sister-in-law will say the child’s name with something they want them to do followed by “listen and obey.” (________________ you need to finish your sandwich, listen and obey please).

As amazing as it may seem the word of God can sometimes become like Charlie Browns teacher, and among the wah wah’s we cannot hear the Holy Spirit saying “listen and obey.”  Which is why we need to focus less on listening to the word of God (reading, hearing, gathering info) and more about what we DO with it.

James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

As a teen I started looking for an anger release that wasn’t done in violence, or an overwhelming frustration like ὀργή in James 1:20.  After trying a few options (and finding they didn’t work) I decided on using a simple sigh.

Little did I know that sigh would become the thing that I’m most famous for (at least according to my family)

At the beginning my sigh was just a short burst of air from pent-up frustration (almost recognizable) however over the years it’s grown into what my niece calls an “Uncle John Sigh.”  It’s technically still a sigh, but has continued to grow louder, and stronger to the point where it’s pretty much a way to get attention.

The normal use of an Uncle John Sigh goes something like this

1. I’m having a bad day and getting annoyed so I sigh a little bit (so people will notice and I can tell them about the bad day I had)
2. Nobody notices so I give a slightly stronger sigh
3. This continues till I give out a sigh so loud and powerful it sounds (and feels) like a train is passing through the room
4. At this point somebody would ask “is anything wrong?” to which I of course respond “no I’m fine” and then sigh even louder

The Uncle John Sigh began as something simple, and even good because it was originally meant to be a HEALTHY response to frustration.  But once it became about attention instead of actually relieving stress the good thing basically became a “song and dance routine.  Today my family knows the Uncle John Sigh is coming when my brother gives me an especially hard time, and actually look forward to hearing it.  So any kind of air escaping my lips is met with “is that an Uncle John sigh?”

James in 1:21 warns the Christians about “superfluity of naughtiness” which is an abundance of wickedness, or a response to suffering that involves uncontrolled anger.  This makes sense to us, but James also warns them about “filthiness” or smaller sins.  The reason why is that small filthiness that most people cannot see will eventually become an abundance of wickedness.

Of course in the case of my Uncle John Sigh what began as a small form of rebellion continued to grow until it became something that obviously didn’t bring honor to God.

James point is simple

Be very careful about even the smallest way that you respond in anger or hostility towards God…because before you know it….that small thing will have grown out of control.