Be Quick to Listen and Then Do Something

I have been thinking about the book of James due to our study at Bethel in Greeley, Colorado on Thursday mornings but also because it has some scriptures that ring so true in my life.  The ones we have been studying this week include speaking, hearing, and doing.  After reading the Spiritual Disciplines book on prayer and meditation these are especially good.  James 1:19 "My dear brothers, take note of this: 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."  James 1:22 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  do what it says."

The reason I am writing on this is that it is so easy to read the word, hear the word, go on and forget the word.  It is also easy when talking with others to be quick to cut them off in order to give them our wisdom or excuses on a subject.  So much can be discovered if we learn to wait and learn to think on something before we open our mouths.  God knows this and speaks to even little habits such as this that can have BIG consequences.

When we listen before we speak we can learn the heart and mind of the person or the matter at hand.  This includes our husband, children, friends, and co-workers.  It may totally change how we respond.  While we are listening and thinking we can use verse 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously without finding fault, and it will be given to him."  I guarantee this will change your response and the words coming out of your mouth!

This waiting and meditating IS part of the doing of God's word.  Of course, there are many other things that James and Christ are teaching us about doing but we can at least start there.  How many bible studies, sermons, books, podcasts do we hear without changing anything we do?  It could be hundreds.  I included myself in that.  Let's not be crushed with guilt but really contemplate whether or not we can do something with what we have learned.

Mark Dever is now teaching in his sermons through the book of James.  You can download those from the Capitol Hill Baptist Church website.  Under his sermon on 1:19 he brings in Ephesians 4:29-30 and how we can grieve the Holy Spirit with our conversations.  Apparently this is very important to God.  Our mouths reflect our hearts and we are supposed to reflect our Savior Jesus Christ.  Let's do something about our hearts and our mouths.  In God's power He is changing us for the good when He teaches us these things.  He tells us we will be blessed when we do what He says and what He does.