Beyond Listening

James 1:19 says, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry."  No doubt about it, listening is an important skill in life!  It's important to learn when you're young otherwise you get in trouble in school or with your parents, right?  As we grow older, it's important to listen well in order to have good relationships with our friends, our co-workers, and our spouses.  As well, it's important for us to listen to God.  I think we all know people who have difficulty practicing James 1:19 (I can be one of those) but I don't think anyone would disagree with the importance of listening. 

But listening is not all there is.  In fact, just a few verses later, James 1:22-24 says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."  James takes listening in a little different direction here but he says when we read or hear the Word of God, we are called to not only listen but to obey.  If we don't, James says we're like a foolish person who takes the time to look at himself in the mirror but forgets what he looks like the minute he walks away . . . and so deceives himself.  You see, every time you and I hear God’s Word but do not put it into practice, we deceive ourselves into thinking that listening is good enough.  Does that happen to you?  I know sometimes I feel very good when I read or hear a good message from God's Word.  It stirs or resonates with me (and I feel more godly).  But what James is saying is that listening is not enough.  I must obey, put whatever it is that God was impressing on me into practice.

Now that we've heard God's Word in James, let's be people who are not only hearers but doers of God's Word.  Have a great week!

Pastor Darren