But be doers of the word and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. James 1:22
The letter of James is hard-hitting and intense. James challenges us to be all-in for Christ and he is unrelenting in requiring complete devotion to God. It seems almost inconceivable that someone could read James and not feel spiritually inadequate or that their actions do not measure up to God's expectations. I certainly feel convicted when reading it. That being said, James is also a faith-filled letter with encouragement and deep insight into human nature. James challenges the reader/hearer to apply their faith into their life in real and meaningful ways. This is an important message for all of us to hear and even more important for us to do.
When James tells us that that we must be doers of the word and not merely hearers of the word, he calls out all of us who sugarcoat and qualify the tough teachings of scripture to fit our own agendas. James knows our tricks and knows our ability to self-deceive. We can often comfort ourselves with the idea that we are faithful to God because we come to church, read the bible, and pray regularly. But James insists that the life of faith is more than this. "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for the orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." (James 1:27) To be a doer of the word is directly linked to helping the most vulnerable of the society in their needs. We cannot claim to be faithful to Christ if we merely hear these words but do not act. For James, faith is an action verb and it is best expressed in acts of love and compassion for those who are most needy. This is a challenging word for all us and calls us to get off the comfy sidelines of passive faith and into the game of serving and loving our neighbor.
The life of faith is not easy; it requires everything we have and is not without hardship and difficulty. But James also articulates the great promise that the life of faith offers.
Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. James 1:12
To love the Lord means to be doers of the word; that our whole life is focused on faithfully living out our calling as children of God. May we each have the strength and courage to be doers and not merely hearers.
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