James 1:19-27: Words, Words, Words

Introducing James

What does James have to say to me? James is practical.
Take problems. James knows nobody's perfect. So he doesn't tell us how to live trouble-free. He tells us how to live when troubles hit. Do I complain? Or do I use difficulties as an opportunity for growth?
Take words. We all talk. And sometimes we say things we wish we hadn't. James helps us use words more carefully, more positively. Do my words hurt others? Do they advance God's kingdom? Are they truthful? Are they loving?

Take money. It flows around us (despite our complaints about tight budgets and taxes). Do I withhold my money when others are in need? Do I put more value on worldly things than on the things of God?
Take time. If we have enough money, we know we never have enough time. We do all we can to get the most out of each hour of each day, filling our calendars with activity. But am I missing God's will and perspective in the midst of schedule making?

James is practical—maybe too practical! So expect these quiet times to be challenging—not because they will be hard to understand but because they will be all too easy to understand.
Who is this fellow James? There are several people in the New Testament called James, including two apostles. Though they have never been completely certain, most church scholars have believed that a third man, James the brother of Jesus (Mt 13:55; Mk 6:3), wrote this letter. While he probably joined the others in Jesus' family in rejecting Jesus during his earthly ministry, James certainly started following Jesus after his resurrection. In fact, James soon became the head of the church in Jerusalem.

He probably led the first church council in Jerusalem (Acts 15), which decided that Gentiles did not have to become Jews before they could be saved. This is an important factor in assessing James's view of faith and works (which is to be noted in light of 2:14-16).

Yet James was aware of the very Jewish makeup of the church in Jerusalem and required Paul to squelch the rumor that he, Paul, was telling Jews to abandon the Law of Moses. James himself apparently followed Jewish law closely, enough so that he was known as "James the Just." He died a martyr in A.D. 62.
James addresses his letter to "the twelve tribes scattered among the nations." "Twelve tribes" could refer to Jewish Christians who through exile, enslavement and trade were spread throughout the entire Mediterranean basin. More likely it refers simply to Christians, since the New Testament compares the church to Israel (Gal 6:16 RSV; 1 Pet 2:9-10). In any case, the letter is not addressed to one specific congregation, as Paul's letters were. It is therefore called a general, or catholic, epistle.
These quiet times will help you face squarely James's call for a consistent Christian life, for a practical faith—a faith that works.

 

Quiet Time Bible Study

James 1:19-27: Words, Words, Words

We all do it. It's as common as flies around a horse. While someone else is talking, we're thinking about what we're going to say next instead of about what is being said to us. We know others are worth more care and attention. But the habit is hard to break.
God wants us to slow down and listen too. But even when we've really listened to him, we're still not done. This study gives us practical help on listening and more.

Warming Up to God

There's so much to listen to all around us. What different voices and messages are on your mind? Tell God about them and ask him to help you clear your mind and focus on his Word.
Read James 1:19-27

Discovering the Word

• How can being quick to listen and slow to speak help us to be slow to become angry (v. 19)?
• James tells us that God's Word was planted in us. What weeds can choke that Word and keep it from growing (v. 21)? Explain.
• In your own words explain how the person who merely listens to God's Word is different from the one who puts it into practice (vv. 22-25).
• According to verses 26 and 27, how do people who think they are religious differ from those who are truly religious?
• Based on what you've read in this chapter, do you think James would be satisfied with good works apart from our listening to and receiving God's Word? Explain.

Applying the Word

• When is it hard for you to listen to God?
• Sometimes we do listen to God's Word, but we still don't follow it. How is this true for you?
• How would you like your religion to be more "pure and faultless"?

Responding in Prayer

Ask God to help you become a better listener and doer of his Word.