Study Through James - Part 4

Hello everyone! Sorry for not doing a post on here in a while. I've been meaning to do another post on here for a while, but I just never got to it.
Anyway, here is the passage we are looking at today:
James 1:19-27:
¹⁹My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. ²¹Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

²²Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

²⁶If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. ²⁷Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

So, let us begin:
In verse 19, it says we are to be quick to listen and slow to speak and slow to become angry. I think this is super true. Think about it, if you speak the second something comes into your mouth, is it likely to be good or bad? You should always "think before you speak". It is just a good idea. Also, we are supposed to be quick to listen. This is also good. Listen to people when they have something to say. Just do it. It is always good to listen to someone... to help them. Think about it: this is how God acts. He always listens to our problems. Key word there: *listens*. Also, it says we are to be slow to anger, vs 20, "for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." So, let us always hold our tongue when we want to speak... especially if we're not sure if it sounds good or not. Always think for a bit. I know that before, sometimes I had to wait a few hours or day to reply to an e-mail or something of the sort, so I don't totally blow up. It gives me time to think about what I should say. This is always the safest way to go.
In verse 21, it says that we should get rid of all moral filth. In this case, James was talking about anger, and the filth that we can have in our words. Also, he says to *humbly* accept the word given to us. That means, when you read something in the Bible, don't say, "Oh, of course I'm not sinful. I'm better than most. I'm good. I don't need this." No no no no no no no no no. =P We are supposed to *humbly accept* the word. Also, it says, "Humbly accept the word planted in you, *which can save you*." So, this word is obviously important. If we believe what it says, we are saved. =)
Next, it goes on to the word itself... how to read it and learn from it.
In verse 22, it tells us not to merely listen to the word. Now, honestly think: how many times do you actually try to apply what you learned in the Bible? I know I'm not terribly good about that. Although I do have one idea I tried: read a series of verses, and read about a verse a day. Focus on that verse that day, and try to follow it fully. But verse 22 cannot get much clearer... if any clearer. =P "Do what it says." I mean... that is pretty straightforward. Do what the Bible says. Just *do* it. That is our command. That is what we should do.
In verses 23-25 tells us how to not read the Bible, and also, how to do it. Read these verses again. We need to repeat these verses, so we make sure we get the fullness of them. We'll start in verse 22.

" ²²Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does."
This is a very good analogy. If we just hear or read God's word, and then immediately forget it, then what is the point? I mean... it is just... useless. But, in verse 25, it says the man who looks intently on the prefect law, *AND CONTINUES* to do so, and *NOT* forgetting what he has heard, then he will be blessed. Pretty cool, isn't it? =) But we have to read and study and learn, and most importantly, remember what we have read and learned.
In verses 26-27, we are told what religion is not, and what religion is.
" ²⁶If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. ²⁷Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
Remember, in verse 19, it says to be slow to become angry. In verse 26, it says basically the same thing: keep a tight rein on the tongue. It says if we don't, that we have deceived ourselves. So... remember that tongue.
James says that the religion God sees as PURE religion, is this: "To look after orphans and widows, and keep ourselves from being influenced by the world." So, always take care of orphans and widows. This can be done in many ways. Think about it: Tithing at church, giving to a charity, going to a nursing home to see widows; there are many ways to do this. Also, I think the influenced by the world thing is *super* important. Think about it. I've been to many churches, and you see some pretty darn weird stuff. You see women who have obviously never thought about modesty in their lives. You see odd stuff being taught from the pulpit. And when you see "Christians" out in public, listen to what they talk about, and how they act. Pretty weird, isn't it? We should be influencing the world, not the world be influencing us. That is our goal. We are to change the world for Christ. But if the world is changing us, how can we do that? This is a very important point.

Anyway, that is all for today. =) I hope you enjoyed the post!

In Christ alone,
~Madison