James 1:19-27 19You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. 21Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. 2But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. 23For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; 24for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. 25But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing. 26If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. 27Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
I guess these verses to me “speak” - they tell me what every Mother tells her child “Think before you speak”. It says to me “slow down, think, anger produces nothing – count to 20 (or if need be 50, 100) first think, then let God’s love shine through.” Humble yourself, let God’s words be how you act and what you say and if you don’t you are a “false” Christian. Another words if you aren’t act like God asks you too you are a Christian or if you are acting like you are “perfect” or “better” than someone else you not a Christian.
Some people in the world look down upon others, in these verses of James it says to me – through God’s words and with God’s words being a part of you, you are blessed. Don’t let the world pressure you into doing something or let the TV/internet/peers speak for how you act or who you are.
I know in my life I have not “listened” to James’ words. I have acted and later regretted what I said. And I am the first to admit I have a temper, both of my parents – parents had tempers so I was bound to inherit some of that, but I’m pretty sure some of it was learned or the environment helped instill some it into me. I have, well sometimes, learned to stop! Especially with emails, boy are emails so impersonal – you don’t know what someone is REALLY meaning. So I now reread my upset/angry emails or I write it, save it, walk away [maybe even a day or 2] and then reread it. I have to “calm down” or I will DEFINITELY say something I shouldn’t or imply something I’m not meaning, too.
In 2010 there are so many things bombarding you – TV, Internet, emails, movies, celebrities, other people it seems sometimes we should just “make ourselves meek”. [Meek: characterized by patience and longsuffering, lacking in spirit.] Or in my words “humble” ourselves. [Humble: not proud, not haughty (lordly, overbearing, arrogant), unassuming.]
Humbling ourselves is never easy; it’s not human nature to be “simple”. Have you ever had a conversation with a person or 2 people who always “think” they are right? Boy are they missing out on life, if we are always right how are we ever going to better ourselves, learn from others, or even bring ourselves down to someone’s level so they can understand our“haughty”selves. I’m defiantly one who is willing to say “Uh, I don’t understand?” or am willing to listen, learn, and experience someone else’s learning’s. So, what are your thoughts on these James’ verses?
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