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!