Trailblazin Ministries

Strong Christian Character - James 1:19

Written by LaRosa Johnson
Thursday, 21 June 2007

So far in our study of James we have seen how the Christian is to respond to both sin and temptation, and we have accumulated a lot of information from that upon which we are able to build a foundation for developing a pattern of holiness in our lives. Today, as we study the text, I want for us to begin to see the types of qualities that any true believer should have. On the surface they seem quite simple, but don't let their simplicity fool you into thinking that these are easy qualities to obtain and upkeep. With that in mind, let us go to the Scriptures and see what it has to say.

James 1:19 (NASB95) - 19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;

After referring us back to what we studied yesterday about the regenerating power of the Word in the statement "this you know," James goes on to express to this letter's recipients the qualities that should begin to bear fruit in the lives of those who have been saved by the power of the Word and have become new creatures in Christ Jesus. The first trait that we come across is "be quick to hear." This trait refers to the Christian's ability to be a careful and diligent listener. In terms of our daily walk, we should seek as many opportunities as we possibly can to dig in and hear what the Scriptures have to say to us. In other words, we should have a sincere desire to learn the Scripture and take hold of every opportunity to read the Word or have it taught to us. This is truly one of the most telling signs of a believer because he loves God's Word and has a desire to learn and study it. For the person who is "quick to hear," he is one that looks to the Word in both good times and bad; he looks to the Word in joyous times to find a blessing to give to the Lord, as well as in bad times when he needs a word of comfort from Scripture. This is also the kind of person that is exhibited in Acts 17:11 who is diligent in making sure that what they hear is accurate, as they are careful to make sure what they are taught. In its plainest application, this should show us that our delight should be in the Scriptures and we should be able to hear and listen to whatever it has to say, even when it is contrary to our own personal beliefs.

The next trait that a Christian should have is that they are "slow to speak." This ties in directly to being "quick to hear," especially in a natural application. You cannot be a good listener and hear what another is saying if you are always quick to speak or always thinking about what you're going to say next. This is the barrier that causes many conversations to fall apart; we are so concerned with what we have to say that we never take time to really listen to what the other person has to say. In that regard, we need to be quick to hear and slow to speak. In a spiritual context, it applies as such: we cannot allow ourselves to be thinking about our own thoughts when someone is trying to deliver God's Word to us. This even includes personal study, as we should never go into a time of devotion or study preoccupied with our own thoughts, which inevitably end up altering our understanding of Scripture or overtake us altogether. It is important that in these terms, we quiet ourselves both on the outside (speaking) and on the inside (our thoughts).

That alone is not the only context for "slow to speak." In relation to the "quick to hear" we are able to understand that application in terms of being quiet, but it also implies that there is a time that we will have to speak. This speaking refers to the times when we, as believers, have to deliver and/or teach the Word of God. We should never come into a situation like that puffed up and thinking that we know it all or that we know what we're doing. Bringing forth the Word of God is a weighty responsibility and not one to be taken lightly, and it is with that in mind that James pens these words. If we quickly flip over to James 3:1-2, we will see that James further elaborates on this in his letter:

James 3:1-2 (NASB95) - 1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.

You see, bringing forth the Word of God is a serious matter, and it should be our desire that every time we speak it that it is clear, true, and spoken in a manner that edifies its hearers. Much like the position of a preacher, one should never truly relish having that role because it bears a great responsibility as they are becoming the oracle of God to deliver His truth to His people; and the mandate to deliver sound biblical teaching is a weighty one. But this just isn't for the preacher, as we are all commanded to share and teach the Word, as we are to share it with anyone we come across. And, to reiterate, we are slow to speak because we want to make sure that every word we speak is truth and not simply something that we have come up with on our own; in other words, it should all be supported with Scripture and not simply our own conclusions.

The final trait shown in this passage is "slow to anger." This is a pretty interesting one to deal with, as anger is a very natural reaction for humans; and we are even shown in Scripture that it is okay to be angry, so long as it does not lead us to sin. There is even such a thing as righteous anger, as was displayed by Jesus when He turned over the table of the moneychangers in the temple. That is not the kind of anger that is being spoken of here; instead, we are speaking of more of an inward and internalized anger that is not as clearly visible in the life of a believer. It is important to note the Greek word for "anger" that is used in this passage, and it is orge (Strong's #G3709) and it does not refer to an explosive outburst of anger, but more of an inner and deep resentment towards something. For the believer, this is a very dangerous kind of anger to have, as it is one that is rarely noticeable by others and one that we can very easily allow to grow and get out of control. In the particular instance, as it relates to this passage and our desire as Christians to learn the Scriptures and hear the Word of God, it is speaking of our reaction to the Word of God when it is something that we don't agree with. Many times when we read the Bible or hear it preached to us we become convicted about sin in our lives, and if it is one that we do not want to part with, then it breeds resentment and hate toward the Word of God. This can even lend itself towards doctrine, when we have held to a particular belief and the Word shows us that we need to believe otherwise; if we are unwilling to believe what the Word says, then we will harbor anger towards the one who brought forth the Word, the Word, and ultimately God Himself, since He is the Word. This is a very dangerous position to be in, and is the reason why it is important for us to learn how to study and understand Scripture so that when we are confronted with Biblical truth we are in a position to accept it as such and apply it to our lives.

That's all for today; but, tomorrow, we will continue taking a look at anger in the life of the believer and what we are to do with it. For today, I urge you to take a look at these three traits and see if they are present in your life. Are you quick to hear the Word of God and eager to study it? Are you slow to speak when it comes time to teach the Word? Are you slow to anger when you are presented with Biblical truth that is contrary to what you previously believed? Take inventory today and see if you line up. If not, then search the Scriptures and pray to the Father that you would begin to exhibit these fruits in your life. Until tomorrow, keep striving for holiness!