Rody C. Gumpad (58 years old) preaches for the Metro Tuguegarao Church of Christ, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, Philippines (and for the Edsa-Pasay Church of Christ, Pasay City, Manila, Philippines). He is married to Tessie U. Gumpad and they have seven children.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls (James 1:19-21).

In this section of his epistle James begins with three admonitions: "Be swift to hear (or quick to listen), slow to speak and slow to wrath (or slow to become angry)." We should apply these exhortations also to our Christian's response to the Word of God as well as to our many other aspects of our daily living. By admonishing us to "be swift to hear," James is urging us to have a teachable spirit, that we have to be ready to receive instruction from the Word of God. We should be eager to listen to the Word, always with a mind for applying it to our lives. We all need teaching from the Word continually until we leave this earth. It seems that some old time Christians think that they have heard it all. They stop reading the Bible, they stop going to Bible studies, and even stop studying the Word themselves because they think they "know it all." This should not be our spirit but rather, we should have the patience to listen to God's words. Paul admonished Timothy and he said; "…give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine" (1 Tim. 4:13).

When he said "be slow to speak," James is urging us not to rashly blurt out opinions concerning the Word of God without careful study. Yes, we must be careful in what we say, especially concerning God's Word, so as not to misrepresent it. When Moses was asked a question concerning the law to which he did not know the answer, he said, "Wait until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you" (Num. 9:8). So, to hold the word of God in proper respect, when someone asks us a question about God's Word to which we do not know the answer, rather than giving an answer that we are not certain is correct, or giving uncertain conclusion, it is better that we should say: "I don't know, let me seek the Lord on that issue."

When James said "slow to become angry," he is urging us to be patient with those who disagree with us concerning the Word of God. As Christians we should not be involved in heated arguments. We should humbly and respectfully listen also to the others' opinions. When one is "quick to listen," he cannot help but be "slow to speak." Also, being "quick to listen" aids in being "slow to become angry." Anger is often caused by a misunderstanding of the other person's viewpoint. Being "quick to listen" will decrease the possibility of such a misunderstanding. When participants in a discussion are not slow to speak, they must speak more loudly in order to make their point. Thus, the volume grows until the speakers become shouters! How often does a friendly conversation grow into a full-blown argument due to too much talking and not enough listening! James likewise mentioned: "For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." It was revealed to us that anger and Christianity are incompatible! Yes, Christianity is founded upon the blood of Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. Jesus did not go to the cross in anger but in humility and submission. Peter declared this: "Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously" (1 Pet. 2:23). It is very difficult to preach grace, share grace, and convince others of God's grace when we are angry!

James further said, "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness." The Christian, in order to be teachable and not deaf to the Word, must "lay apart all filthiness" in his life. He must not speak filthily; he must not read filthy books or magazines; he must not watch filthy movies or television programs; he must not listen to music with filthy lyrics; etc., for these things are abomination to the Lord. As God's children we should not enjoy filthy things. Why are we willing to watch and read things that are contrary to our loving God whom we are serving? Oh yes! Let's be careful, because filth is filth, regardless of the standards of society. Let's pray that God would help us to have the right attitude about filth, that filth would be detestable to our spirit, that our merciful Father would give us the moral strength to cleanse the filth from our life.

Doers of the Word

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed (James 1:22-25).

James says, "be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only." Many "hearers" of the Word think that to hear is enough. They think that they are somehow doing God a favor by attending church for an hour a week. They do not apply what they hear to their lives. In some cases, they do not even accept words of the Lord in their lives. So, they "deceive" themselves; they believe they are saved by the "hearing," but they are not! Thus, rather than just hearing the Word, we must do it. It is the fool who hears the Word of God and does not "do what it says." Jesus said, "And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell and great was the fall of it" (Matt. 7:26-27). James goes on to compare the "non-doing hearer" to someone who looks at himself in a mirror and forgets what he looks like. This is pointing out that the Word of God is a mirror to the soul to make us aware of our sin. Paul said, by way of example: "For I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet" (Rom. 7:7). Thus, the Word of God is a mirror to the soul that should cause us to change our lives. Just as looking at your mussed-up hair in a mirror would cause you to comb it, so looking at your mussed-up soul in the mirror of God's Word should cause you to straighten up your act. Self-examination should bring about change.

In verse 25, James goes on to point out that the one who looks into the mirror of the soul, the Word of God, and then acts on what he sees, will be blessed by God. Note that the blessings will come to the one who "looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed...." "Looketh into" and "continueth therein" implies studied meditation and diligent effort. It suggests not a glance, but prolonged meditation on the Word. It suggests not being satisfied with a first impression, but diligently looking into the Word to find the full extent of its application to one's life.

James further said that it is the "perfect law" into which we are to gaze intently. David said, "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul" (Ps. 19:7). Thus, God's law is "perfect." It is unchanging, invariable, and needs no amending (unlike man's law). We must respond to its perfection by giving value to it (Deut. 6:24), by not taking from it (Deut.12:32), and not adding to it (Prov. 30:5-6). James also describes the law as the law that "gives freedom." The law gives us freedom from our own lusts and desires. The devil, along with the desires he fosters, is a prison warden. Paul said, sinners should repent so "that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will" (2 Tim. 2:26). For some reason, many think that they are free if they ignore the law. On the contrary, "His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with cords of his sins" (Prov. 5:22). Jesus said, "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin" (John 8:34). Peter adds that "they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage" (2 Pet. 2:19). Thus, we must strive to be mastered by God's perfect law, rather than sin: "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Rom. 6:16). The man who will be "blessed" in what he does is the one who not only "looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein," but also does not "forget what he has heard." Many over the years have heard the Word of God, pondered the Word of God, and discussed the Word of God but failed to achieve completeness, because the Word was not primarily given to us for philosophical meditation, but for action! We must "Do what it says!"

The True Religion

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world (James 1:26-27).

The word for "religion" that James uses signifies in its external aspect, religious worship, especially the ceremonial service of religion. In other words, James is speaking of the outward manifestation of true Christianity. So James, in effect, is describing the actions through which a Christian's religion is displayed to the world. He is addressing the one who "considers himself" religious. We are such in our own eyes. We should cultivate the ability to examine ourselves and our actions objectively in order to gain a correct estimation of ourselves. As Paul said, "For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another" (Gal. 6:3-4). Paul further said, "For I say… to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to everyman the measure of faith" (Rom. 12:3).

The first of many exhortations in the Epistle of James is concerning controlling one's speech (2:12; 3:2, 5-12; 4:11, 13; 5:9, 12). There are also passages in Proverbs that deal with incorrect speech (Prov. 7:27, 28; 10:19). Jesus also warned us about careless speaking: He said, "…every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned"(Matt. 12:36, 37). Why does the Bible put such emphasis on controlling the tongue? Some reasons are: (1) It is the chief way we interact with others. (2) It is so easy to stumble with the tongue, yet so hard to rectify, once done. (3) Stumbling with the tongue seems such a small sin, but, in fact, can be extremely destructive. (4) Consider these ways to stumble with the tongue: derision, mockery, gossip, lying, slander, boasting, obscenity, blasphemy, etc. (5) The tongue reflects the heart; control the tongue and odds are that your heart is in the right place. Thus, James says later, "For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body" (James 3:2). And Jesus also said, "for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" (Matt. 12:34). In verse 22, James pointed out an example of someone who "deceives himself." In this case, self-examination concerning what you say will keep you from deceiving yourself. Do you use profanity? Do you gossip? Do you lie? Do you deride others? To the extent that you do, as James says, your "religion is vain." We must ask the Lord to help us keep a tight rein our tongue. Further, it does not matter what men think. You can "act" and "speak" like other Christians, but God sees the heart. We must be careful because vain religion can have eternal consequences: Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 7:21). The religion that counts is not that which we consider, but the one that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless.

James goes on to indicate another work that tests true religion: "To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction." So, true religion involves not only restraint (as in matters of the tongue), but action (as in charity towards to the fatherless and widows). True religion manifests itself in good deeds. We are to love all believers as brothers, not just our close acquaintances and family members. Charity toward "orphans and widows" is also representative of charity toward those who are most needy "as we have therefore opportunity…" (Gal. 6:10)!

Finally, another test of true religion that James pointed out is "to keep himself unspotted from the world." God desires not only good deeds, but holiness as well. This is true so that our service can be seen by others as work for God and by God. However, it is difficult to walk in the world without being tainted by it, filth being so prevalent. Thus, "Be not conformed to this world" (Rom. 12:2). Wash yourself after touching the world. Paul said, "...let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Cor. 7:1).