JAMES 1:19-21
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.21 Therefore, 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.
James 1:19-21 QUICK TO LISTEN
Springford Baptist Church: September 12, 2021.
Even though we know the benefits of listening, this does not mean that it is easy to do. When we list the things that we naturally do quickly, listening may not be on the list.
Consider what happens when a two people are having a conversation and not paying very close attention to what is being said, not really listening. Then one person misunderstands what the other said and starts to get annoyed.
This does not help the listening process, because annoyance results in distracting thoughts and growing frustration. When that frustration gets expressed, it is likely that the other person will feel defensive and then that person’s ability to listen will also be affected. The urging here in Scripture from James letter is, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” (James 1:19)
Does this sound to you like what is happening in the current federal election campaign?
Does this sound like what has been happening with the differences of opinion around Covid vaccinations?
Does this sound like the way that you and I generally approach our conversations with people?
For us as Christians, there is a compelling reason to have listening take the lead in all of our relationships.
We find that reason in James 1:20, “because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”
We can think of anger in us being like a pot of water on the stove. At first the water is cool. Then, when the heat is on, the temperature of the water begins to rise. Small bubbles appear as the temperature rises still further. If we were to remove the pot from the burner, the water would cool down again, but if the heat continues, eventually the water will be at a full rolling boil and a great deal of steam will be expelled.
We’ve all heard people say or we’ve said ourselves, “I just needed to let off some steam.”
The problem is that when anger is not controlled, it is like the steam of a boiling kettle. It goes everywhere. A steam burn can be particularly painful. The truth of this Scripture that, “human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” is a strong warning that words or actions when angry, do not display the love of God that God desires our lives to show.
Not only do words spoken in anger damage our relationships with others, they damage our witness for Jesus. This should concern us greatly. God desires for us to love as He loves and uncontrolled anger does not speak a language of love.
There are certainly unjust and disturbing situations that will make us angry as Christ followers. We do have a responsibility to speak up and to speak against what is wrong. The question we must ask is, “How will my words when I am stirred up about something still display the grace of God”?
The way this can happen is to maintain this determination to listen and to have listening come first.
If listening comes first and we are slow to speak and slow to become angry then we can think more clearly.
The emotion of anger does not permit us to think clearly and to make careful responses.
We see this happening in protest crowds where emotions are already high and the anger and frustration boils over. A willingness to listen is rarely there.
Verse 21 highlights a very different approach to all of our relationships as Christians, 21 Therefore, 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.
This is a garden image. The moral filth and evil that is so prevalent are the weeds that we must intentionally remove from our lives. This is not a time to be judging and criticizing others. Judging what is so prevalent around us is easy to do because it is extremely obvious. How could we not be aware of the prevalence of moral filth and evil that gets expressed in people disregarding and tearing each other down in anger? This is wrong and we do not pretend otherwise. Yet, what are we called to do? We are called to tend our own gardens. In James words, “humbly accept the word planted in you which can save you.” (vs. 21b) The good news of Jesus saves us for eternity with Him. It also is planted and grows in our hearts saving us from the everyday temptations that lead to anger and further sin. This is what can happen when we humbly accept the word planted in us and rely on God to give us the ability to be quick to listen.
Even though a choice to listen may not come naturally to us, it can be a choice that we make more and more often as we ask God to produce in us the righteousness, the redeemed outlook, that He desires.
As we are LISTENING FOR GOD, what will being quick to listen to others look like?
This could mean that when we are listening to the news, we will wonder what is behind what anyone who is speaking is saying? What has happened in that person’s life to give them that attitude and that outlook? We can pray for that person to experience God’s love through someone who knows God’s love in a personal way.
This could mean that we will be praying for each conversation that we have with family, friends, neighbours, and people we encounter wherever we are. In those conversations, we can ask God to control our thoughts and reactions. When we are listening intently, we can come to understand each person in ways we did not before. By listening, understanding and compassion in our hearts will affect what we choose to say or not to say.
Being quick to listen will be like the burner control on the stove that can turn down the heat that would cause anger to simmer and then begin to boil over.
We thank our God for this wise counsel that challenges us to use the ears that He has given us to be quick to listen for Him and to listen with love to others!