Responding to the Word of God: Part 1 - James Lesson 9

 As we return to James today we are ready for the next section of chapter 1 which goes from verse 19 through the end of the chapter. The topic of this next section is responding to the word of God. James is giving us tests of genuine faith. We have seen the test of trials in verses 1-12, the test of temptations in verses 13-18, and now we will look at the test of our response to the word of God. All these are tests of genuine faith. These are the things that mark the true follower of Christ. Let’s read this passage.

 James is making a point here that is strongly emphasized in the rest of the Bible. Responding to the word of God with a humble heart that longs to obey what God has told us is the mark of the one who has been truly regenerated by the Spirit of God. Any response other than hunger for and humble submission to the word of God leaves room for doubt concerning one’s spiritual condition. There is no such thing as a true Christian who does not love the word of God, hunger for the word of God, long to hear the word of God, and have an intense desire to obey what is revealed in the word of God. True saving faith involves a spiritual birth, bringing spiritual life, which must be nourished by spiritual food. The spiritual food is the word of God. Jesus said it clearly as He prayed to His Father in John 17:17, “Sanctify them in the truth, Your word is truth.”

 We saw last week in verse 18 that God, in the exercise of His will, brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures. God uses His word, energized and empowered by the Holy Spirit, to awaken us from spiritual death and to open our blind eyes and to cause us to be born again. Our spiritual nature requires spiritual nourishment of the milk and then the meat of God’s word so that we may grow in respect to salvation (1 Peter 2:3). If we have no appetite for God’s word, if there is no hunger for the truth that transforms, then there isn’t any evidence of having been brought forth by the word of truth. There should be no reason to believe that one without this hunger and desire is truly a child of God.

 This is one of the predominant themes of the Bible and especially of the teaching of Jesus. Way back in the early times of God’s dealing with His people, He gave the people of Israel His word so that they would know how to walk in His ways. He didn’t give them the Law and the Prophets so that they would simply know about Him and His ways. God intended for His word to be taken to heart and lived as a matter of daily life. He promised blessing to those who walked in His word and cursing for those who do not. We could look at many passages but Psalm 1 is an appropriate summary of the two alternatives. Read Psalm 1.

 The message of the prophets was always a rebuke from God for departing from the word of God. The prophets warned of the consequences of judgment. They always explained that God would punish those who refused His word and He would bless those responded to His word with humble obedience. David is called a man after God’s heart, not because he walked a perfect life, but because he demonstrated a genuine love for and devotion to the word of God. Read Psalm 119 if you don’t believe me.

 When we come to the teaching of Jesus there is abundant emphasis on the connection between our relationship to Him and His Father in salvation and our humble obedience to the word of God. Turn to John 14:21-24. 

 Turn back to John 8:30. Many came to believe in Him because He spoke the words He had just spoken. The words He was speaking were concerning His being lifted up. (v.28) He spoke of always doing the things pleasing to His Father. It doesn’t make sense that they understood His being lifted up as a reference to the Cross. The Cross was a stumbling block to the Jews. I think they believe that His reference to being lifted up is a reference to His being lifted to the throne of Israel. They believe in Him as the Messiah, without an understanding of a suffering Messiah predicted by Isaiah.

 So Jesus continues with verse 31. Read down through verse 37. Verse 37 reveals the truth about these “believers.” His word had no place in them. This exposure of the fallacy of their “belief” continues until verse 47. “He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.”

 These “believers” were not truly regenerated. If they had been truly converted, their desire would have been to hear the words of God and keep the words of Jesus. Why do we need to point this out? How many of you recently heard the gospel according to Toby Keith? There was a one hour special on Channel 6 recently commemorating Toby Keith’s life and career. He died after a three year battle with stomach cancer. The content of the interview focused heavily on his faith and the strength he drew from his belief in the creator.

 The extent of his understanding of the gospel was John 3:16. He defended his lifestyle, and his response to the critics who challenged his faith because he did not attend church and do the things that “Christians” do, was that all God tells us to do is “believe.” He was convinced that this was the only requirement for eternal life. 

 Now listen, I am not Toby Keith’s judge. I don’t know whether he is in heaven or hell. I do know he is one place or the other. I will tell you that I don’t want to take my chances on a belief in the gospel according to Toby Keith. True believers will be those who hear all the words of God, not just John 3:16.

 We should not tackle the truth of James 1:19-21 without an understanding of the parable of the soils. We are so familiar with this parable and it is so foundational to understanding the truth of work of God’s word. The seed is the word of God. It is “believed” by the shallow soil hearer and the contaminated soil hearer and the good soil hearer. But the seed only bears fruit in the good soil heart. In John 15:7-8 tell us, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” We bear much fruit and live for God’s glory when we abide in Christ and His words abide in us. For His word to abide in us we must be hearing and humbly obeying what He has commanded us to do.

 James is explaining for us the importance of proving the value and validity of our relationship to Christ by a proper response to His word. In verses 19-21 we have the instructions regarding receiving the word of God. In verses 22-27 we have James’ instructions regarding the doing of the word of God. It begins with hearing and receiving the word of God and this does not happen just because someone is reading it to us, preaching it to us, or we are simply opening our Bibles and reading it for ourselves. Unless our hearts are ready to receive the word, it will likely fall on hard soil, or shallow soil, or contaminated soil. 

 It is important to make sure the seed of God’s word is falling on good soil. There are three things that must be true of us if we are to receive the word of God. The idea of receiving the seed of the word implanted is found in verse 21. In fact, the verb for “receive” is the main verb in these verses. If the seed of God’s word is to do its work in our hearts, we must receive the word of God with hearts that are receptive, pure, and humble. These are the points of this message. Good soil hearts are hearts that are receptive to the word of God, pure, and humble.

 Verses 19-20 speak to the need to be receptive to the word of God. Look at these verses. “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” These verses teach an important principle that applies to life in general, but the context demands that we apply it specifically to our hearing of the word of God. It is true that God gave us two ears and only one mouth, and that He put our tongue behind a cage of teeth to help us control it. We all must be careful how much we talk. Too many of us are prone to have a bad case of logorrhea. Proverbs 29:20 does warn, “Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”

 The context here demands that we understand James’ instruction as describing our attitude toward the instruction we receive from the word of God. “This you know, my beloved brethren…” connects this instruction to what was previously said about being brought forth by the word of truth. In the exercise of His will God brought us forth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures, therefore, we know, beloved brethren, that everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger regarding what we hear from God in His word. What we hear is going to reveal to us the need to repent, humble our hearts, and prove ourselves doers of God’s word.

 This opening statement could be rendered, “know this” as if it is an imperative. This is an instruction to be followed. When we have the occasion to listen to the word of God we should always be quick to hear and slow to speak. There likely isn’t a harder soil heart than the heart of one who has his mind made up about everything the Bible teaches, who believes he doesn’t have the need to learn. You can always identify that person because he is always quick to tell you what he thinks it means, or to tell you how it applies to life, even without having taken time to study the word.

 James tells us to be quick to hear. The word means to understand, to comprehend, and to hearken. We are to come with a genuine desire to hear what God says in His holy word. This means we come with a heart that is plowed deeply so that it is not hard. This is to come, asking God to give us ears to hear what the Spirit is saying. It is an attitude that says, “My opinion on this isn’t what counts. What is God saying?” 

 Ecc. 5:1 says, “Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.” God puts a priority of being quick to hear and slow to speak. Often the words of one who is quick to speak are the sacrifices of fools who do not know they are doing evil. They do evil if they speak as if they represent God and the do not remain true to His word.

 To be quick to hear is to have the attitude of those in Luke 19:48 where Luke tells us “all the people were hanging on to every word He said.” Jesus spoke like no other teacher because He was like no other teacher. The people were quick to hear. This is to be like Cornealius in Acts 10. After sending for Peter he said, “So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” His attitude is correct. When we come we are to be quick to hear and slow to speak because we are here before God to hear what He has to say.

 We commend the Bereans of Acts 17 because they searched the Scriptures to see whether the things they were taught were so. And this we should do. But before it says that about them, Acts 17:11 says, “they received the word with great eagerness.” They were quick to hear.

 You can’t be hearing if you are speaking. This is why James says we are to be slow to speak. The word slow in the Greek is “bradus.” I guess that indicates that my name means “slow.” That is appropriate.  The word “speak” is “laleo.” It is used of children who talk too much. James is speaking of those who would be prone to quickly speak up and give their personal opinion as if they are speaking authoritatively regarding what the word of God says.

There are some people who will butt into any and every conversation just so they can make their two cents worth known. We will get to verse 26 next week but it is worth noting here. “If anyone things himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.”

 Proverbs 10:19 says, “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” Proverbs 13:3 says, “The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; the one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.” Proverbs 18:13 says, “He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.” Proverbs 21:23 says, “He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles.”

 Having a receptive heart starts with an eagerness to hear what God’s word has to say to us. We can’t hear if we are talking. Talking and listening are kind of mutually exclusive activities. Having a receptive heart also means that when God’s word puts a finger on the issues with which we struggle, we don’t get upset and angry. We are to be slow to anger when we hear the word of God.

 This anger does not speak of explosive outbursts, but rather seething resentment that smolders and is often not seen by others. This is an angry state of mind, or an angry disposition. Aristotle says this word describes anger with grief. James is referring to an angry response to the truth of God’s word. Most of the time when Jesus spoke the truth, the Pharisees responded with anger and seething resentment. Herod’s wife Herodias resented John the Baptist’s preaching the truth about the sinfulness of her marriage to her husband’s brother. This anger seethed until she found opportunity to have her daughter request John’s head. The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

 The anger of man reveals an attitude of self-will. People get angry when they are confronted with selfish and sinful attitudes or practices addressed by the word of God. James is faithful to remind us that the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. God’s word is like a mirror that reflects the true condition of our hearts. If I get up in the morning and I look at the mirror and get angry at the mirror because I don’t like the image reflected in the mirror, I can break the mirror in my anger, but that will not change the truth concerning the reflection of the image. The mirror is telling the truth. My anger does not change the truth. The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

 We must have a receptive heart if our hearts are going to be of good soil to receive the seed of God’s word and produce much fruit. We must also have pure hearts. This is what James is telling us in the first part of verse 21. “Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness…receive the word implanted…”

  If you came to my house for dinner and Donna had prepared a wonderful dish of great looking, amazing smelling, delicious tasting food, and to feed you this food I went to the kitchen and pulled a dirty plate out of the sink, that hadn’t even had the food rinsed off from the night before, and told you to take that dirty plate and fill it with the great food, you would be repulsed at the idea. You would refuse, and rightly so.

 Sometimes I fear that this is exactly what we do when we come to hear the word of God taught. You bring into this place a heart that harbors a variety of filthiness and wickedness. Or we come with hearts that are distracted by all kinds of worldly concerns, or fears, or anxiety. James tells us to be putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness. The words employ the idea of taking off dirty clothes. But we know, as Jesus said, that it is what comes from the heart that defiles us. If we are to receive the precious, holy, inerrant, inspired, profitable word of God we need to come with a pure heart.

 These words describe things that are morally filthy and wickedness as an evil habit of the mind. These things will show up as flaws in the life and character of the one who will not put them away. Romans 13:2 tells us to lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Ephesians 4:22 commands us to lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit. Heb. 12:1 says, “lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us.

 Our goal as we seek to have hearts that are deeply plowed, free from hard stone, and cleansed from contaminates, is to heed the instructions of Paul to the Corinthians in 2 Cor. 7:1. He said, “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

 You know whether or not you come to the study of the Scriptures with hearts that are pure. James tells us that there really isn’t an option. God knows our hearts. The seed that falls into the soil of a heart that is contaminated with filthiness and overflowing with wickedness will get choked out. It cannot bear fruit. Certainly, if we are not willing to confess and repent of all sin, we certainly are not going to have a receptive heart. A pure heart must accompany a receptive heart, or the heart is not going to receive the truth. 

 If you harbor sin in your heart, you will not have a healthy appetite for the pure milk of the word. If you harbor sin, you will only be posing as one who loves the truth. You will, in reality, be a hypocrite. You may “amen” the message preached at church, but this will only be a mask for the true love of your heart, which is filth and wickedness.

 A third point made by James here is that we must receive the word with a humble heart. Look at the last part of verse 21. “…in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.” The Greek word translated “humility” is “prautes” (prowtase). This describes an inward grace of the soul, an attitude that accepts God’s dealings with us as good, without disputing or resisting. This means we don’t argue with the word of God. We don’t dispute with God concerning what He says is right or wrong. It is the attitude of David expressed in the Psalms where David declares, “I esteem right all your precepts concerning everything.” We don’t deny God’s word, or twist God’s word to fit our whims and desires.

 The humility required to receive the word of God involves a setting aside of my selfish ideas, as well as my sin, and opening my heart to the word of God. Humility is the acknowledgment of who God is as the absolute and ultimate authority in my life. To receive the word in humility means I will earnestly seek to know what He has to say regarding my life and I will embrace it with eagerness, honesty, and transparency before Him. Why do I do this? Because I know He is always right. He perfectly understands how I am made and exactly what is best for my spiritual well-being. He would never lead me astray.

 This is how we receive the word implanted. We are humble, gentle, submissive, and willing to be taught what God’s word says and means. We turn from all sin and embrace His truth and willingly walk in purity and holiness and as we do this we receive the word. Psalm 25:9 says, “He leads the humble in justice, and he teaches the humble His way.”

 This was the attitude of the Thessalonians, who were commended by the Apostle Paul, because, he writes in 1 Thess. 2:13, “when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.” We must recognize that the word of God received is able to save our souls. This is the work that the word of God performs.

 In John 6:68 Jesus asked His disciples if they were going to leave also. Everyone else left. Jesus preached them away. He told them things they didn’t like hearing. They did not have eager, pure, or humble hearts. Peter’s response was, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” This must be our attitude if we are going to receive the implanted word. We must know that what Paul told Timothy in 2 Tim. 3:15 is right. “…you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” This is the word that is able to save your souls.

 To get anything out of the teaching of God’s word we must have a receptive heart, a pure heart, and a humble heart.

 Let’s pray.

 This message provides a good backdrop for the Lord’s Table. Just like we must have pure hearts to receive the word of God, and we are instructed to put aside all the filth and wickedness, we must approach the Lord’s Table with pure hearts.