Skip to main content

James 1:22: Be Doers Of The Word, And Not Hearers Only, Deceiving Yourselves


James 1:22
[22] But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (ESV)

Perhaps you have heard the quote, "Wives, we will do the things you asked us to do, you don't have to keep reminding us every six months." There is a big difference between doing and hearing. James gives us very clear direction. We are to not just read the Word of God, we are to do what it says. You would think that James would not need to remind us, but we know different.

This concept of action following hearing reminds us again of the Great Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4). In that great passage that every Jew would have understood who heard James' words, it starts with "Hear, O Israel." The word for "hear" was more than a physical acknowledgment of what was said. Rather, the word meant, "hear with the intention to obey."

We need to hear the Word of God with the intention to obey. In the previous verses James talked about the one who responded to God's Word with anger, refusing to obey. That response does not produce the righteousness of God. He then talked about how we should get rid of the moral filth that would hinder us from hearing the Word of God, but now it is a call to action.

Don't just hear something, do there! The sad reality is that there are many people who come to church week after week, hearing the Word of God with no intention of changing the way that they live. If the church was full of doers of the Word there would be a radically different church. I believe that the world is desperately waiting for the church to rise up and do what they have heard in God's Word.

So, what are you going to do? You have heard the Word today. Are you going to obey? Your family, your community, your Church, and your Savior are waiting for you to rise up and do what the Word of God tells you.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 11:24: For If You Were Cut From What Is By Nature A Wild Olive Tree, And Grafted, Contrary To Nature, Into A Cultivated Olive Tree . . .

Romans 11:24 [24] For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (ESV) We continue looking at the illustration of an olive tree. The root of the tree is the covenant relationship relationship of God with Abraham. Abraham's faith is what this spiritual tree is built on. The first branches would have been the faithful people of Israel, who like Abraham, placed their faith in God. They believed God, just like Abraham, and it was credited to them as righteousness. There were branches of the people of Israel who never placed their faith in God. Because these branches were not true followers of God they were broken off of the tree. Faith in God was the essential element that made the branches true branches of this spiritual tree. Some branches remained. Others, the faithless unbelievers, were removed. After Jesu

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co