AM Bible Study Group; April 11, 2012
James 1:26-27
Theme: In order to gain the benefit of God’s word that God would want us to have, we must first prepare ourselves to rightly receive it.
In this new division of his letter, James begins to speak about how essential it is that we allow God’s word to impact our lives. In verses 22-27, he deals with the whole matter of “doing” God’s word and putting into practice what it says. But we can’t "do" what we have not first "received". And so, he begins by telling his readers how to properly “receive” the word of God so that it can transform them and they can put it into practice.
Many of us have an abundance of copies of the word of God. We also hear it taught in church, or on the radio or television. We have lots of tools and commentaries that enable us to understand what it is saying. We “hear” it in abundance. And yet, many of us still suffer the same old problems over and over; and it seems as if all our access to God’s word isn’t doing us any good. Why is this the case? James answers this for us in this passage. The problem is not with the word. Rather, the problem is with us. There’s a difference between “hearing” God’s word and truly “receiving” it; and few of us who have such abundant access to God’s word have set our hearts to properly “receive” it, so that it can have the impact God desires for it to have in our lives. In this passage, James gives us three principles for properly “receiving” the word.
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But first, a word about how this section begins. The King James Version translates it "Wherefore, my beloved brethren . . ."; and the New King James Version translates it "So then, my beloved brethren . . ."; as if what is about to be said is a consequence of what had preceded it. This is because some ancient texts begin this section with the word hoste ("therefore", "consequently"); and the King James and the New King James follow this textual tradition. Other translations, however, are based on a text that has the word iste; which is a form of the word oida ("to know"), along with the strong adversative de ("but"). That’s how the New American Standard Version translates it:—“This you know, my beloved brethren. But . . ." Literally, iste would be the form of a command—"Know this . . ." That’s how the English Standard Version translates it. The New International Version captures the same idea—"My dear brothers, take note of this . . ."
Is this introduction a statement of fact, or a command? A case can be made either way, because our trials certainly relates to our hearing of the word. The best textual support argues for iste . . . de; and the idea seems to be that James is affirming that his readers know what he said about trials in general, and about God’s relationship to tests in particular (vv. 17-18); but is calling them to set their hearts to hear God speak in the midst of those trials.
I. WE MUST GIVE PRIORITY TO “HEARING” GOD’S WORD.
A. James writes, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (vv. 19-20). This is a word to Christians—particularly suffering Christians. There may have been a strong temptation to lash out in anger because of the things they were suffering—perhaps even a temptation to take vengeance. But James warns that man’s anger does not accomplish God’s will. As Paul writes in Romans 12:19-21, ""Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (see also Proverbs 10:19; 25:28; 29:22). We are to be slow to speak, and slow to anger.
B. Instead, we are to be “quick” to hear. The giving of our opinion is not the important thing in a time of trial. The important thing is to hear from God at such times. If we would take the time to first hear what God says, we would be much more holy in the things we speak or the feelings we express in times of trial. It’s important in tough times—as some have said—to remember that we have only one mouth, but two ears; and that, according to that ratio, we ought to be twice as ready to hear from God as we are to speak.
II. WE MUST LAY ASIDE THE THINGS THAT “HINDER” GOD’S WORD.
A. James then goes on to say, “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness . . .” (v. 21a). This is like Jesus warned in His parable of the soils; "Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful" (Matthew 13:22). As any good gardener would be careful to prepare the soil by taking things out of the garden in order for it to grow, we must also take things out of our lives that will hinder the work of God’s word in us.
B. We can “hear” God’s word and fail to see it produce something in our lives because we still cling to the things of the old life. We fail to lay aside all filthiness, and the remaining overflow of wickedness within us. Peter writes, "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul" (1 Peter 2:11). We can also allow the word of God to be hindered by resentment and bitterness—perhaps a particular problem for these suffering Christians. In very similar words—also written to persecuted Christians—Peter writes, "Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:1-2).
III. WE MUST WITH “HUMILITY” RECEIVE GOD’S WORD.
A. James concludes, ". . . and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” (v. 21b). The first necessary quality for experiencing the growth of God’s word grow in our lives is that we be rich soil; the second involves being unhindered soil; and the third involves being soft soil. We must receive the word in “meekness” or “humility”.
B. There’s always a tendency in us to evaluate God’s word and decide whether or not we will obey it. Yet, God tells us that He looks to the one who trembles at His word (Isaiah 66:2). We must allow the Holy Spirit to cultivate in us the attitude of a willing learner when it comes to God’s word (see John 16:12-15; 6:61-65).