So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (19-20)

If I can provide some marriage counseling for this morning…its this verse…all the woman say Amen? Listen More and Speak Less! Right? We have 2 ears and 1 mouth…

But also, when were always talking we are never listening, right? Its important that we listen to people more than we talk. Now I know this is easier said than done, but this is godly wisdom you can apply to your lives..especially your relationships

Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.Proverbs 10:19  NLT

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 NIV

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4:6

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. Ephesians 4:29

So as we can see in the Bible, our words are important, we need to remember to listen more and talk less….Amen?

Doer of The Word

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; -for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. (22-24)

Another challenge the Apostle James presents to us, is are we hypocritical Christians? Being Hypocritical in our daily lives, our marriages, our friendships, raising our children, our workplace…Do we do what we actually say? We talk the talk but do we walk the walk? James says Dont just heard the Word of God, actually Do The Word of God. We know alot of people who like to beat people over the heads with the Bible, but they themselves are guilty themselves…

Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth. 1 John 3:18

consider what Jesus says..

24“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:24-27)

Jesus says anyones who hears the Word of God and actually is a doer, actually does the will of God, is like a wise person who builds their life upon a solid foundation, obviously that foundation is Christ. So when the storms of life come in, trials and testing, you will be able to stand against these things. But the person who listens to the Word of God and doesn’t actually apply them , is a foolish person who builds their life upon sand, so when the trials and testing come, their faith totally collapses, because they are hypocrites. You have to be a doer of the word, by faith follow Jesus, not just a hearer of the word

False Religion

If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. (26)

Now James talks about false religion, many people can call themselves Christian, but does their life really reflect this? Again going back to James saying be a Doer of the Word and not just a Hearer. But also James goes back to our words, if you don’t keep control of your words, you deceive yourself and your religion is useless. This goes back to listen more and speak less, if we are hypocritical our religion is worthless….religion is only good if its truthful…..lets consider what Jesus said

But I tell you that for every careless word that people speak, they will give an account of it on the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37

Here’s another scary thought, every word that you speak, you will have to give an account for it on judgement day. By your words you will be justified and condemned, that’s not my opinion, thats the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. So this should make us a little more serious about the words we speak, right? 

James then gives us an example of what true Christianity looks like…

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (27)

Help people, right its one thing to preach to people but actually practice what you preach. And to keep yourselves from this world, right resist temptation as James taught earlier….again consider what Jesus says….

35for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ (Matthew 25:35-36)

45Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me 

This is what Jesus demonstrates what true Christianity looks like, we as the Church are the Salt of the Earth, the Light of the World, we are the hands and feet of Christ. Think about what Jesus said, for whatever you do for the least of these, the lowly of the people, you did it for Jesus, think about that. 

Conclusion:

1. Listen more and Speak Less
2. Be accountable for your words- they will condemn you
3. Be a Doer of the Word Not just a listener- Don’t be a Hypocrite
4. False Religion is useless- don’t just say you are a Christian- live for Christ
5. Whatever you do for the least of these, you do it for Jesus

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

True religion is to be a doer of the Word and not just a Hearer, if we call ourselves Christians, we should act like Christ. Be slow to speak and quick to listen, love and forgive one another, because Christ loves us and has forgiven us, Amen!

Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, (v9)

Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his high position [as a born-again believer, called to the true riches and to be an heir of God]; (AMP)

The Apostle James is telling you, to rejoice and have glory , no matter what your position is in this world, think about this there are many people in our prison systems that are getting saved, there are many prisoners who are recieving Jesus and becoming born again, those people are more blessed than the unsaved people in the outside world.  Jesus taught us many examples that the Kingdom of God will not work like the world. Jesus said the First Will Be Last and the Last Will Be First, Jesus was flipping the script of society as we know it. To the world, and to this first century culture , the rich man seems to be blessed, He must be in good favor with God, right? However he might be spiritually poor 

The Apostle James says here “Let the person of lowly or humble circumstances glory or boast  in his exaltation or high position with God” What is James saying here? In the world you might not be considered important, you might even be considered an outcast in society, however don’t worry about that, Rejoice because you are a Child of God, you are an heir of the Kingdom with Christ, you have been Chosen by Christ to be in His eternal Kingdom, and nobody can take that away from you

Cosider this story, we talked about this in our Bible Study, the Widow who gave everything she had

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44)

This widow , who was one of the lowest positions of society during that culture, woman were not allowed to work back then, she didn’t have a husband to support her, she was on the bottom of society. All these rich guys were putting in their tithes so they can be seen, she gave only a few coins, but that was everything she had. Jesus said she gave more than all those rich guys, why? Because she gave with her heart, she can glory in her position in the Kingdom because she is a Child of God not a widow of this world, are we getting it?

but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. (v10)

In our world even today, if you have some money and power, everyone thinks your important, everyone listens to everything you have to say, even when they are not even qualified to say it. Consider all the celebrities and pro athletes today, most of these people are idiots but everyone hangs on every word they have to say. Everyone celebrates everything these people do, people try to copy what these people wear, they try to imitate their life after them but why?

Because of their wordly status the world exalts these people, however the big question is what is their status in the Kingdom of God? Is their soul saved? Are they Born Again in Christ? Consider what Jesus said

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  Mark 8:36-37

What good does it do you , to have everything in the world and yet to lose your soul? This is what the Apostle James is trying to say , you might not be celebrity or the rich and famous, but rejoice brothers and sisters, you have the greatest position, a child of the most High God, your name is written in the book of life

Satan even tried to tempt Jesus with this same lie….

8Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

10Then Jesus said to him, [b]“Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ 

Satan offered Jesus this empty promise he offers the world, sell your soul and he will give you the world, and many people fall for this lie, they chase after money, they chase after fame, they chase after everything in this world when they should be chasing after Jesus, the only one who can give you eternal life

For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. (v11)

The Bible tells us Life is like a vapor in the wind, here today and gone tomorrow. The Apostle James is telling us life is short, we think we have all this unlimited time, but as we get older we know time goes by fast. So the point is , why cling to this world? Why sell your soul to a world that is fading away including you?  Cosider what the Apostle Peter says…

because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you. 1 Peter 1:24-25

While our time is short here in this world, Gods Kingdom is eternal, Jesus Christ is the same today, yesterday and forever, the Word of God endures forever! Why put your faith in a world that is temporary, when you can put your faith in the eternal God and His Kingdom

Consider what Jesus taught us about His Kingdom

1“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2In My Father’s house are many [a]mansions; if it were not so, [b]I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

5Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Jesus is preparing a place for You, Jesus will come back and recieve you into Gods Kingdom. Jesus is the Only Way to Salvation. How do we know we can believe all this? Because Christ is Risen, Jesus has already overcome the world

Blessed is the man who endures (preservers) temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (v12)

Going back to the joy in the 3 T’s (Trials, Testing, and Temptation) When you endure the temptation you are blessed,   (God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation) (NLT) You have passed the test, and what is your reward? You will receive the Crown of Life which The Lord has promised. Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again, to promise you eternal life, you need to love him, it says “promised to those who love him” you need to put your faith and trust in Jesus through all things

And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. Mark 12:30

The greatest commandment to Love God with everything you have, The Lord promised the Crown of Life to those who Love Him

1. In the Kingdom the First Will Be Last and the Last will Be First
2. Don’t seek this world, Seek Jesus
3. Your life is like a Vapor, don’t waste your life chasing the world
4. Your true reward is to be a Child of God
5. Jesus promised the Crown of Life

Those of low degree may rejoice, if they are exalted to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom of God; and the rich may rejoice in humbling providences, that lead to a humble and lowly disposition of mind. Worldly wealth is a withering thing. Then, let him that is rich rejoice in the grace of God, which makes and keeps him humble; and in the trials and exercises which teach him to seek happiness in and from God, not from perishing enjoyments. Matthew Henry

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

Don’t be conformed to this world, the world is passing away, this world is not your home. Be transformed by Christ, rejoice for you are a Child of God, Christ died for you, and Christ rose again on the 3rd day defeating sin and death forever, rejoice we have Victory in Jesus Christ, Amen