James 1:17-27
In the process of becoming mature and complete, not lacking anything, James tells us that we must successfully navigate through trials and temptations. Although God does not tempt us, He promises aid and strength for every situation. The basis for our faith relies on God’s faithful aid, support and strength. We gain this strength and aid by learning to respond in faith to God’s word.
James 1:17-18 NKJV Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first-fruits of His creatures.
God’s giving is represented by two separate words in the Greek. The first word represents the act of His giving and the second indicates His gift. It is important for our faith to know that God’s manner of giving and the gifts that He gives are perfect.
These things come directly from the Father of lights. The phrase “Father of lights” refers to God the Creator. It also refers to the nature of the One Who gives. The Lord our God is the God of all perfections. Nothing is hidden in the light.
Look at that phrase: “With Whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” The Lord our God is different from His creation. Everything that God has created is constantly changing. Our faith is established on the fact that God is eternally and essentially the same. God’s giving and gifts bear His essential nature and character. God gives good and perfect things.
On the basis of these principles, James heads into the next section. “Of His Own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first-fruits of His creatures.” We should hold on to this valuable word of truth. God has taken extreme action and has brought us forth by the word of truth. In sharp contrast to the evil and dark scene of sin and death, God brings us into new life through His word of truth. The Word of God is living and powerful, (Hebrews 4:12). His word of truth is full of His creative power. By that Word, we have been given birth so that we might be a kind of first-fruits of all He created. God wants to demonstrate through the redeemed His Own greatness and goodness. He makes us a kind of first-fruits of His creatures to demonstrate His righteousness, power, and wisdom. God is the source of this new life of faith that enables us to triumph over our circumstances and tendencies.
James introduces the remainder of his epistle in verse 19.
James 1:19 NKJV So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
During our life of faith, we should do these three things.
- Be swift to hear, 1:21-2:26.
- Be slow to speak, 3:1-18.
- Be slow to wrath, 4:1-5:18.
In this first section, “Be swift to hear,” we are encouraged to apply the Word of God to our life and character.
Three essential responses to the word of truth are necessary to mature and complete our life of faith.
- Be swift to hear the Word of God, verses 19-21
- Be quick to do the Word of God, verses 22-25
- Practically apply the Word, verse 26-27
First, be swift to hear the Word of God, verses 19-21.
James 1:19-21 NIV Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
One of our great temptations is to disregard God’s word and do what we want in life. There are eternal consequences if we ignore, neglect, or reject God and His Word. A negative response to God’s word of truth brings death. James lists several things that break down our reception of God’s Word. These things keep God’s Word from becoming a living and powerful force in our lives. This is why James tells us to be quick to listen, verse 19. Being “quick to listen” addresses the idea that, “what I think is more important than what God says.”
Have you heard the statement: “Don’t confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up!” Being quick to listen prepares us for God’s blessing and favor. If we have ears that refuse to hear what God says, we cannot enjoy the benefit of His power and blessings. Be quick to listen and slow to speak (verse 19).
Proverbs 13:3 NKJV He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
When God was first speaking to Samuel, he did not know it was the Lord. Eli the high priest recognized that God was speaking to him. His advice is good for all of us. He told him to respond to God with these words, “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.”
We must develop a hearing ear to God’s Word.
After he tells us to “be slow to speak,” he says, “be slow to anger,” (verse 19). Anger is mixed up with listening and speaking. When we receive God’s word into our mind and spirit, it changes the way we respond to life’s circumstances.
If you have a problem with uncontrolled anger, you are not living under God’s control. God’s Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our pathway. Over and over the psalmist talks about meditating on God and His word. His Word points out the error of our natural tendencies. God’s Word leads us down paths of life and righteousness. When God speaks, we must be quick to respond. Our response determines the outcome.
Our ability to listen and respond is hampered when we are quick to speak and quick to anger. Most people don’t listen when they are angry. Deep-seated anger and resentment will control our lives. We must be slow to speak and slow to get angry.
God is developing a specific attitude and character in those He has brought forth by His word of truth. The Spirit-filled life is always receptive to God’s word. The attitude of the first-fruit creature is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and self-control.
James 1:21 “get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent.” Literally, it means to “get rid of the excess or remainder of evil.” We are being encouraged to rid ourselves of any of the old nature that is still hanging around.
In Romans 6-8 the Apostle Paul dealt with this same issue. He recognized the power of God’s salvation in his life, but he struggled with his fleshly nature. If we are serious about being more like Jesus Christ, we will be quick to make necessary changes. Respond by taking off all the dirty and filthy things that remain and lay them aside.
Nothing is automatic in our spiritual life, it requires constant work. It takes effort to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. We must work at putting away moral filth and the residue of evil from the life we had before Christ. We must deal with those things if we want God’s best.
Hebrews 12:1 NIV Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.
The second essential response to the Word of truth is not only “Do we receive the Word?” but, “Do we do the Word?”
James 1:22 NIV “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
This is easier said than done. We should constantly be praying, “Let me be quick to hear you God.”
James 1:23-25 NIV84 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
Christianity is a life of action, not just hearing. Hearing without doing brings self-deception. Listening and knowing what God says does not make us acceptable to God.
We have to take action. We must become doers of the Word. This text tells us to “continue to do this” (verse 25). We cannot just start doing God’s will, we must continue doing this. We must have a vital and working knowledge of God’s Word, and we must do it. The Word of God is living and powerful. When we develop a lifestyle of responsiveness to God’s Word, it produces God’s intended blessings. We must do something with what we hear. The Word of God will lead us to life, love, joy, and peace.
The third essential response to the Word of truth is the practical application of the Word.
James 1:26 NIV84 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
First, if we do not control our own tongue, we are deceived. James spent 19 verses addressing various trials and temptations that attempt to destroy us. It is easy to erupt when we are under enough pressure. Later, James tells us “no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison,” (James 3:8). The “tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity,” (James 3:6). The only way to bridle a loose tongue is by presenting one’s whole mind and body to God. Our religion is vain if we do not bridle our tongue. We cannot live a victorious Christian life and conquer temptations or trials if we cannot control our tongue. One of the most effective ways to stop a fire is to starve it of oxygen. James said, “keep a tight rein on his tongue.” It reminds me of a bull rider, grabbing hold of the reins, hanging on, and not letting go. Get a tight grip and don’t let go.
Second, pure religion reaches out to meet the needs of others.
James 1:27 NIV84 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Real and pure religion before God involves these elements. These were two pressing issues in the early church. They had to find answers for helping large numbers of widows and children. They did not have social services that we have. The needy were going hungry and were without shelter. Pure religion reaches out to those who cannot help themselves. This is the message and commission of Jesus Christ.
Luke 4:18-19 NIV84 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
The Lord’s goal is to get people out of those situations. His Word causes us to reach beyond self-concerns and become focused on others. We must be involved in healing and helping others.
Matthew 25:36 I was sick and you came to Me. I was poor and you visited Me. I was hungry and you fed Me. I was naked and you clothed Me. You came to Me.
Third, James tells us to KEEP OURSELVES UNPOLLUTED FROM THE WORLD.
James 1:27 NIV84 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: … to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
We must develop personal purity in our lives. The pressure of tests and temptations can draw us into a life of sin and impure living. God calls us to a life of personal responsibility and purity. Many kinds of things corrupt the mind and spirit. In this polluted world, we are called to live morally pure and unpolluted lives. Sin is a very real thing that will separate us from God. God takes this very seriously. God considers this to be so serious that He sent His own Son into the world to die in our place. God has provided a way out from the eternal consequences of sin. He calls us to not just be challenged, but to be changed.
