James 1:16-25, Not Decieved But Doers
“Do not be deceived.” So often we get locked up in our desires that we end up deceiving ourselves. There are times when we see scriptures with our human eyes instead of our Spiritual eyes and we start to make demand on each other that we think are the right ones when in reality, they are just distortions of the truth and they lead us into deception. We start to see things created by God as somehow being evil. We bring “Religiousity” into the picture instead of Faith and Trust.
I once belonged to a church that felt that dance was from the Devil and that all music other than Christian was worldly and temptation to sin. When I joined that church, I was unaware of this mindset but because I found so much love and caring in the members, I stayed there. When I pointed out that James said that, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.” they said that I was taking it out of context. While I do agree that much of the dance and music today is tempting and orientated to sin, it does not mean that only “Church Music” is good. What James is bringing to the table is that we should strive to use all the gifts of God and accept that God wants us to sing and dance and be happy. God did not create us to be dreary and dull, nor to be miserable and glum.
Even in our desire to spread the Good News, we have the tendency to become spoilers rather that enhancers. We tend to hurt, belittle and cause malice instead of Grace. I have seen on the Internet countless times “Christians” spouting out hate, ungodly rumours, and even out right lies of others because they dare to disagree with their point of view. I have been tempted to follow suit and have a hard time resisting.
So when James says be “Slow to speak and quick to hear,” it is because we can in our zeal bring more harm than good. He speaks for our sake and the good of the whole of the Christian Community. Put away all those vile and contemptible thought of others. Stop and listen to the voice of reason before you open your mouth and let the fire of hell spew from your lips. It is not of God when you speak against another in anger, for God only goodness is of God. As every perfect gift is of God, the imperfect is of man. One of the hardest lessons I had to learn, and I still have a problem with, is that I can’t express righteousness in my life if anger is a tool or a fallback in my expression of Faith. I must not become angry when I see sin or act in haste against the brethren.
Humility and peace is the receipt of God’s Word implanted in our lives. We are to be the “First Fruit”. And as the fruit of the Word, by the Fruit of the Spirit of God, our actions are to speak volumes over our utterances. No matter how much we proclaim that we are Faithful to the Word of God, only our actions truly proclaim it. Through our actions of Faith, we can grow in the true love of God and of the Mercy of Christ’s death. Because James was speaking to the Jewish Christian, they were aware of the Law of God regarding the care for others, the feeding of the poor and the helping the widows and fatherless. He was speaking to them to continue in the efforts to care for their families and friends who where in need. He spoke of their need to be devote and sincere in how they lived, how they interacted and how they reacted to persucutions.
James uses the metaphor of a man looking in a mirror and as soon as he sees himself, forgets. Let me tell you this, a woman would never forget. He was speaking of the nature of a man, not a woman, to not carefully examine himself to see that everything wasn’t perfectly in place. I’m sure that he observed women, whenever they saw a mirror would stop and check their hair, the hemline of their clothing and brush off any dust or leaves that they could see before moving on. Men just don’t think like that. It is against our nature. James seems to be saying that we are to take that nature on as a Christian. Before we go out, we are to see ourselves as God sees us and we are to brush off the debris of the world, make sure our armour of God is on straight and our face is washed and prepared to meet the world head on. We are to also remember that we are made in God’s image of perfection and walk accordingly.
“But if one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and preservers, being no hearer but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” (James 1:25 ESV) James says that the mirror is the perfect law, the Law of Christ Jesus, and in looking at Jesus and His law of Love and Forgiveness, we are called to do good works. In doing this we are blessed. We are not promised a higher place in heaven, we are not promised fame and riches, we are blessed. By our doing good works in Christ, we receive grace. While there are many who feel that they are not capable of doing hands on works, there are many other ways of helping each other. In today’s world of high technology, it has been easier to help others.
I live in a Senior Citizen’s Home park, quite often I hear of a need of someone living here that I personally can not help with but I know of someone who can meet the need. I will go to that person and let them know of the need and they will reach out to help. Sometimes it is just having a lady in the park go and spend time with a lonely widow. In this two good works have been done. I expect no reward for it or even recognition. It is just something that I feel must be done. Find some way you can help another just to be an able hand of Jesus and for no other reason, that is enough reward.
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