The title of our study comes from James 1:22. In the first five articles we focused on what the Apostle Paul wrote to Titus. The purpose was to show that Paul and James, being inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote out of the same mindset. James says, “…prove yourselves doers of the word….”(v. 22). Paul urged being involved in doling “good deeds." He said that in six different ways: Titus 1:18; 2:7, 14; 3:1, 8, 14. All of those exhortations apply to you and me just as they did to those in the churches in Crete (1:5). In this article we begin to unpack James 1:19-27. As you read this, it would be so much better if you will open your Bible and read these verses to make sure I am representing truthfully what James wrote. All of James needs to be studied, but we are going to take a special look at the context of 1:19-27.
I see three things in this section which needs to be emphasized: 1. Receive the Word, verses 19-21; 2. Practice the Word, verses 22-25; and 3. Share the Word, verses 26-27. Let’s begin with Receiving the Word. James says, “…let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God” (vs. 19, 20). That is great advice for all of life. Most of us have been in situations where we were not slow to speak and slow to anger. We may have been quick to hear and what was heard made us angry and we said some words we should not have said. But it was too late. Those hurtful, angry words were out there and we could not un-speak them.
You know that little “ditty” about “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” is not always true. I know the intent. And I agree with it, but the fact remains: words said without thinking and in anger are often very hurtful. James places special emphasis on the use of the tongue in this letter. We see it in this context and in chapter 3, verses 1-12. Note verses 9-12 of that chapter as he writes about the use of the tongue: “With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth comes blessings and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Neither can salt water produce fresh.” The use of the tongue defines us. As a believer, am I, are you, quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger?
Let’s consider anger for a moment. James is very definite about what anger will not do. Note verse 20 again: “for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” In my opinion here is why that is true: When your speak while angry, you say things you ought not to say. Read verses 9-12 of chapter 3 again. As we think about anger, let’s also consider what Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:26: “BE ANGRY, AND YET DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger.” Anger in and of itself is not sin. The sin comes when we let anger control us and we say and do things which are hurtful. When Satan has his way, or when an injustice happens, it ought to make us angry, but not to the point of sinning. An angry sin response makes me no better than the one who has wronged me. An angry sin response does not achieve the righteousness of God. Happy is the person who can release anger before he/she goes to sleep at night. If you go to bed angry and ultimately to sleep, you wake up with a bad taste in your mouth. And then how do you face the day? The psalmist said this: “This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). That is hard to do when holding on to unresolved anger. No, it is much better to follow Paul’s exhortation to “…do not let the sun go down on your anger.”
We have looked at the first part of “Receiving the Word” from James 1:19, 20. In next week’s article we will look at the second part seen in verse 21. In the meantime I challenge you to take an inward look at yourself. Am I quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger?
— Les Ferguson Sr., South Huntington Church of Christ
