The Life That God Desires

GETTING STARTED

One of my favorite mentors used to advise that God gave me two ears and one tongue on purpose, to use in that proportion, so that I should listen twice as much as I speak. His wise counsel has been both convicting and helpful in so many circumstances in my life, especially when dealing with a difficult relationship or situation, or when selfishness and pride have led me to anger. That counsel—to hear the other side of a circumstance first, before voicing an opinion—can help change a regretful reaction into a thoughtful, wise response.

  • What is your temperament like in difficult situations: short-fused or long-fused?

READ THE WORD: JAMES 1:19-27 (ESV)

19 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. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

(Today’s questions focus on verses 19-21.)

  1. What should all believers be quick to do (vs. 19)?
  2. In what order do the words “hear” and “speak” appear in the description of righteous living? Does that order matter? How do the words “quick” and “slow” apply to our actions?
  3. What does the “righteousness of God” (vs. 20) look like in our lives? What is its opposite, according to verses 19-21? How is righteousness produced?
  4. How does James tell us to receive the implanted Word of God, the gospel (vs. 21)?
  5. Meekness means strength that has been tamed or is under control. What does this look like in your own life?

RESPOND TO GOD

James’ emphasis on the ethical behavior of believers—how faith is lived out daily—is not to say that our external behavior is what saves us or makes us righteous before God; rather, our outward behavior is the evidence of our inner faith. Our faith and righteousness grow when we act on and abide in his Word. This leads to wisdom in how we use, or refrain from using, our tongues. When we endure undesirable circumstances with patience and hope, we may seem externally vulnerable and weak to the world, but our inward resilience and strength are signs of God’s righteousness in us.

  • Thank the Lord for his willingness to impart and grow righteousness in you through his Word; humbly ask for meekness to receive it.
  • Pray for one of your most difficult relationships or circumstances: that the Holy Spirit would help you to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; and that patience and meekness would replace anger and pride.