Our Reaction To The Circumstances Of Life

James 1:19-25

I. Introduction:

A. James 1:19, Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: - This scripture is not talking about speaking in general, though it is good to apply like that. This scripture is talking about speaking evil of those things God has done to help us grow.

B. WHY should we be careful in speaking? (Note the word "wherefore".)

1. 1:2 - It's supposed to be a joy to fall into many temptations. (verse 12 - The crown of life for overcomers.)

2. V. 13-15 - Learn the difference between God testing us in order to give us the crown of life and receiving death because of our temptations.

3. Verse 17 - These testing and temptations are good for us because we learn to trust God when we can't "see" Him. (The sun is hidden by the clouds, and we learn to walk by faith.)

4. Verse 18 - Because God is planning on setting us on display (as firstfruits) (see comments on verse 18.)

II. Verse 19,20, Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: {20} For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. - Things to do.

A. Verse 19 - Be swift to hear. Listen to God, He's talking. Mark 4:24 - take heed to what we hear.

1. Through the scriptures - saved people should daily read their Bibles.

a. Is there a lesson to learn?

b. Is there a blessing to enjoy?

c. Is there a command to obey?

d. Is there a sin to avoid?

e. Is there a new truth to carry with me?

2. Through the sermon.

a. How shall they hear without a preacher?

b. Hear the message, and forget the personality of the preacher.

3. Through the spirit.

a. Rev. 2 & 3 - Hear what the spirit says to the churches.

b. Be quiet and listen to the Spirit of God. Turn off the radio and T. V.

c. "amuse" means to not think, or be entertained. Let somebody else do your thinking.

B. Slow to speak. We have two ears and one mouth. The two ears always stay open, but the mouth can be shut. The tongue is locked away behind two lips and a set of teeth.

1. Prov. 10:19 - In a multitude of words, there lacketh not sin.

2. Prov. 17:27 - Keepeth mouth, keepeth soul from trouble.

3. Eccl. 5:3 - Fools voice known by multitude of words.

4. Matt. 12:16 - Every idle (non-productive) word shall be judged. Not talking about joking, as long as it isn't harmful.

5. Ps. 141:3 - Set a watch on my mouth.

C. Slow to wrath.

1. Eph. 4:26 - Be angry and sin not. There is a difference between wrath and being "mad".

a. Being "mad" is losing control of oneself and generally showing you are a fool. There is no correcting of the wrong.

b. Having wrath is seeing a wrong situation which stirs up a violent, controlled, excitement in the mind, driving the individual to a righteous indignation to correct the wrong.

2. Mark 3:5 - Jesus showed wrath. How to be good and angry. (mad and good at the same time.)

a. Right reason - not because we are hurt. Jesus never was angry when people hurt him.

b. Right thing - not with people, but with sin, institutions. Hate the sin, but love the people.

c. Right way - Anger became a part of the solution, not a part of the problem.

3. Eccl. 7:9 - Anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

a. Prov. 16:32 - Slow to anger, greater than the mighty. Hold anger, greater than he that takes a city.

b. Prov. 29:22 - Angry man stirs strife, furious man aboundeth in transgressions.

c. Prov. 15:1 - Grievous words stir up anger.

D. Verse 20

1. Note word "for" means "because of".

2. Our wrath doesn't work for our good.

a. If we want every situation to work God's righteousness in us, we must wait patiently (verse 3) for the results God intends.

b. If we don't wait patiently, we'll fall to our lusts and wind up dead. (verse 13-15)

c. Our trials won't have helped. Our wrong attitude has killed us.

III. Verse 21-25, Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. {22} But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. {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: {24} For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. {25} But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. - Welcoming the word. We must apply what we know. (Example: knowing salvation, but haven't received salvation.)

A. How not to receive the Word of God.

1. Not by education, but by accepting.

2. Not by ones self (a learning by mental study, like we learn math or English)

3. means: welcome, open, and receive.

B. How to receive the Word of God.

1. Verse 21 - "Lay apart" (with repentance). Know that we are sinners and need these troubles to learn to trust God. Believing that God knows the best for us. Know we need to be straightened out.

a. "filthiness" - Greek word refers to wax in the ear. Therefore, we can't hear.

b. "Superfluity of naughtiness" - that which is left over. The sins a saved person has that are left over from their lost life.

1) Lazarus wrapped in grave clothes.

2) A saved person learning not to curse like he did when he was lost.

2. Verse 21 - Receive with readiness.

a. "Meekness", a ready spirit. Meekness is not weakness, but teachability, or trainability. Moses was a meek man, but also a great forceful leader.

b. Receive the "engrafted" Word. "Engrafted" means the "implanted" Word. When a person is saved, he receives the Holy Spirit, which reveals all truth. When a saved person hears the truth, the Holy Spirit bears witness with the saved persons spirit that it is the truth. John 14:26, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

c. Receive the Word, not by judging the Word, (trying to make it fit ourselves, but make ourselves fit the Word).

3. Verse 21 - "save our souls" - Three tenses of salvation.

a. have been saved; spirit; from penalty of sin; past tense

b. am being saved; soul; from power of sin; present tense

c. shall be saved; body; from present sin; future tense

4. Verse 22 - With responsiveness (be doers, not just hearers).

a. Don't fool yourselves - you'll be the fool.

1) Matt. 7:26 - A foolish man hears and won't do, like this man who built his house upon the sand.

2) Do more than hear - collect sermons, and tapes and books. But do what the Bible says.

b. Our religion is what we live, not what we know and don't live by.

C. Verse 23-25 - How do we respond?

1. Compare verse 23 - "behold" - a casual glance and verse 25 - "looking into", a careful gaze, like John looking into the empty tomb of Christ.

2. Are we able to judge ourselves by the Word of God? This is a most difficult job.

3. The "test" is what we do with the Word of God.

a. There is a "natural" looking into the Word of God which reveals only an outward view of oneself. This view is immediately forgotten, and produces no continuing fruits of this look.

b. There is a "spiritual" looking (described as "looketh into the perfect law of liberty") which reveals an inward view of oneself. This view cannot be easily forgotten, for the Holy Spirit won't let it be forgotten. This look causes the person to be a doer of the work, and receive blessings in his deeds (not in his talking).