James 1:19-20 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. English Standard Version (ESV)
Today's verses were part of our men's Bible study this week. Once again, as we read the verses it was easy to see and sobering to see how easily they can be applied to what is going on in our society after the recent elections. It is easy because we see "how quick to speak" everyone in the media is, and how slow to listen they have been not to have any clue as to what has happened. It is sobering because while we see that in the media and among politicians, if we are to look honestly at ourselves, we are likely to see the same traits.
The verses start out by saying "know this" or as some translations put it "you know this". Deep down, if we have been followers of Jesus, if we have read God's Word, if we look back to Jesus' sermon on the mount in Matthew 5-7, it should be all too familiar to us. It should be all too familiar to us to forget.
Quite often we see people (including ourselves) formulating a response to someone's statement before they have even finished talking. How can we possibly fully understand what they are saying if we won't even allow them to finish. We should listen and be slow, cautious with a response. Instead of answering in anger there should be grace, instead of slander there should be truth, instead of lashing out there should be patience, there should be at least be an attempt at understanding.
Now, take and apply this to how we respond to God's Word. Whether we are reading God's Word, are hearing it preached in a sermon, or reviewing it in a Bible study, we should let it speak to us. Let it soak in and to it's work in us. Then we can respond, to God in prayer and to others with grace, not in anger. John MacArthur notes that "slow to speak includes the idea of being careful not to be thinking of one's own thoughts and ideas while someone else is trying to express God's. We cannot really hear God's Word when our minds are on our own thoughts. We need to keep silent inside as well as outside."
It may go against our nature or our habit, but may we today be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.
Blessings,
Mike
James 1:19-21The Message (MSG)
Act on What You Hear
19-21 Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God's righteousness doesn't grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.
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