James 1:22-25 – Slow, Listen and Do: The Key to a Blessed Life

James 1:22-25

"19.My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20. for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.22. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

23. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24. and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does"

If you have been living in the Seattle for quiet a while, you would know the drill in case of an earthquake. It's an easy to remember three steps: duck, cover, and hold.

In this sharing, I want to share another easy to remember three steps of how to have a blessed life. It's Slow, Listen, and Do !

1. Slow

The author of James gives a huge warning of what we need to watch out in our life, it's our mouth and our anger. How many time in our life we have that kind of regret "Man, I wish I hadn't have said that to (put someone's name here)" or maybe "If only I haven't been that angry with (put someone's name here)". Anger and mouth just don't mix well. Slow to anger and slow to speak will take you further in life.

2. Listen

Listen to what? In v 23, it says listen to the word. The author does not just say listen to words (any word), but THE word, which he refers to the words of God. If you see, there is a huge contradiction between the v 22 and v. 19. In the v. 19, it says  slow, slow, slow in speaking, but in v. 22, it mention says, says and says. The difference is the subject. The verse 19, the subject is us, but on the v. 22 the subject is the Word of God. Thus, the word of God must supersede our word. We have to let the Word speak into our life.

3. Do

After you listen the word, the last thing you need is DO ! It is very awesome analogy that was given by the author. He refers to the people who don't do the word, as someone who just look into the mirror and immediately forget what he/she look like. Most likely when you see into the mirror, you want to know what is good and what is not good in your appearance. If it is good you keep it, and if it is not, then you fix it. So, when you forget your appearance right away, it means you forgot also what to keep and what to fix. Chances are you will fix things that you should keep and keep things you should fix. Result is messed up and confused life. So when the word convict you, do it right away !

If you practicing the easy steps above, what would be your reward ? Check v. 25 – you would be blessed in what you do.

So, remember the 3 steps: Slow, Listen and Do !

Erwin Analau