Sermon Tone Analysis

It seems a long time since we were last looking at the book of James, so its probably best that we quickly recap the [[first 18 verses|bible:James 1:1-18]].

Nearly a month ago we saw from [[verses 1 to 12|bible:James 1:1-12]] that *even trials are good for us* because they are able to lead us to maturity.

For those who are struggling with trials, James never promises that /things/ would become better, because they may not.

Rather, his hope is that /he/ would become better, and therefore more able to deal with the trials he was facing.

Then in [[verses 12 through 18|bible:James 1:12-18]], James looked at *When trials become temptations*, because he knows that although even trials are good for us, sometimes trials don’t build us up, trials drag us down.

So, in [[verses 12 and 13|bible:James 1:12-13]], he said that *Steadfastness in trials brings life*.

We saw that God sends us trials, in order that we might stand up to the test, and become stronger.

But he also told us in [[verses 14 and 15|bible:James 1:14-15]], that *Succumbing to temptations brings death*.

He reminded us that we should blame the government, the media, or even the devil for our own failings, because “each one is tempted when he is drawn away *by his own desires* and enticed”.

Although there is much in the world that is unhelpful, our biggest problem is not the world, but our own hearts.

And if we succumb to those temptations, James, says, then death is the inevitable result.

So how is the Christian to survive?

Thankfully, James gave us the answer to that question too, in [[verses 16 through 18|bible:James 1:16-18]].

There  he told us that *Security in trials is brought by God*.

In other words, he not only told us that God does not tempt us he /tests/ us, he also insisted he gives us the means to be able to pass those tests.

That’s why James said in [[verse 17|bible:James 1:17]] that every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.

So having dealt now with the general principles, James is able to move on to things a bit more specific, and in the verses that we’re going to look at today, [[verses 19-27|bible:James 1:19-27]].

In it James takes the same principle, and then applies it in two different ways.

In [[verses 19 and 20|bible:James 1:19-20]] James tells us about *Living in the World*, and in [[verses 21 to 25|bible:James 1:21-25]] he tells about *Living under the Word*, before tying the two threads together in [[verses 26 to 27|bible:James 1:26-27]], which we’ll call* Living out the Word*.

As we’ve said, James takes one principle, and applies it to each of these three situations.

The principle is very simple: */words and actions are inseparable/*.

It’s actually a very important principle for James.

That’s why [[chapter two|bible:James 2]] is all about our actions, and [[chapter three|bible:James 3]] is all about our words.

These verses that we’re studying today then, act as an introduction to those chapters.

In the first section, [[verses 19-20|bible:James 1:29-20]] he shows us that our actions are often moulded by our words.

In [[verses 21 to 25|bible:James 1:21-25]] he shows us that if we’re genuinely converted, then God’s word must also mould our actions.

And in [[verses 26 to 27|bible:James 1:26-27]], he completes the circle and shows that our words and our actions are actually one at the same thing, and can’t be separated at all.

Sounds complicated?

It won’t be once we get to the end!

Just remember the one principle (words and actions are inseparable), and the three sections: *Living /in/ the World*, ([[verses 19 to 20|bible:James 1:29-20]]), *Living under the Word *([[verses 21 to 25|bible:James 1:21-25]]), and* Living out the Word* ([[verses 26 to 27|bible:James 1:26-27]]).

Firstly then,

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Living in the world ([[vv 19‑20|bible:James 1:19-20]])

As we’ve said, James has one principle which he applies in three slightly different ways.

The principle is that words and actions cannot be separated, and in this first section he’s showing us how that can be seen in the way that we live in the world.

Let me read [[verses 19 and 20|bible:James 1:19-20]] to you:

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So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

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So what is James saying in [[verses 19 and 20|bible:James 1:19-20]]?

Firstly, that we should be eager to listen to others.

Remember, James’ mind has just been thinking through trials and temptations, and James knows that in the midst of trials, a listening ear can be a huge advantage.

Women, it has to be said, are rather better at mastering this than men.

If I was to ask you: “who do you know that is a good listener?”,

most of you would think of more women than men.

And if you are a woman, it’s quite probable that you won’t be able to think of any men at all!

But although it’s quite true that God made men and women to be different, that is no excuse for us men.

Every Christian, James says, is to be an eager listener.

But that’s not all.

We’re also to be slow to speak.

Again, this is a message that every one of us needs to be reminded of.

We all have a tendency – some more than others – to be fond of the sound of our own voice.

But that is not a virtue, says James.

I really like the book of Proverbs, for it’s down to earth practical wisdom.

There’s no political correctness, Proverbs just says it as it is.

And Proverbs 17:28 says, “Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.”

How very true.

But we must remember, of course, that James does not want us all to be completely silent.

He does want us to speak, but he wants us to do so with more careful consideration than often we manage.

Again, when we’re going through trials, most Christians tend to make one of two mistakes.

Either we shoot our mouths off with barely a thought and make everything twice as bad, or we clam up and don’t say anything to anyone, and let the situation slowly get worse and worse.

Both extremes are wrong.

We should speak, James say, but we do so with care.

Thirdly then, he tells us that we must be slow to wrath, to anger.

Again, it’s crucial to notice that James does not tell us never to become angry.

Sometimes it’s right both to be angry, and to express that anger.

But when that /is/ the right thing to do, we must always do it in a measured way.

A Christian must not lose his temper.

That is exactly the model we have from God – on no less than nine separate occasions, we are told in the Old Testament that God is “slow to anger”.

And in [[Galatians chapter 5|bible:Gal.

5]], Paul us that we are to be just the same.

He lists nine things which he says are part of the fruit of the Spirit.

It should not surprise us that no less than three of them have to do with this very issue: peace, longsuffering and self-control.

Nor should it surprise us that Paul puts “outbursts of wrath” in the corresponding list of “works of the flesh”, with a reminder that “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Now to some, that may seem an impossible task, but we must remember what James has already told us in [[verse 5|bible:James 1:5]].

It is the wise, according to Proverbs, who hold their tongue, and James has already told us that “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

That’s the message to every one of us who finds applying [[verse 19|bible:James 1:19]] very difficult.

But we must apply it, because James wants us to understand why this is so important, as he tell us in [[verse 20|bible:James 1:20]].

The translation in the New King James Bibles we use here in church is accurate, but difficult to understand.

The NIV is much clearer.

It says, “man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires”.

James is telling us that getting angry won’t make us any holier, it won’t make us more like Jesus Christ.

There is of course a place for righteous anger.

But the tragedy is that most of the time when our tempers flare up it’s over the trivial: the person who left the toilet seat up – again, the traffic lights that change to red just before we get there, the referee who loses our team the match.

And meanwhile every single day billions of people enjoy the glorious gift of life, and never stop for a moment to give God any glory.

Every single day, in the UK alone, 550 babies are killed in our hospitals.

And around the world 473 Christians are martyred for their faith, /every single day/.

And we get angry about traffic lights?

So, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.

That is how words and actions are inseparable, when we’re living in the world.

James now moves on, and applies the very same point – that words and actions are inseparable – to a slightly different situation, because now, secondly, James wants us to consider…

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Living Under the Word ([[vv 21-25|bible:James 1:21-25]])

[[Verse 22|bible:James 1:22]] should be enough to convince us of James’ main point – that words and actions are inseparable.

Let me read the verse from the NIV, which is unmistakably powerful: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.

Do what it says.”

Unlike the previous verses, James is not concerned here about words which we may speak to our friends.

His concern is about God’s word.

We’ll return to [[verse 22|bible:James 1:22]] shortly, but let’s start at [[verse 21|bible:James 1:21]], which is equally powerful.

“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

Here, James takes up a metaphor which is common throughout the New Testament.

It’s an easy picture to visualise, isn’t it?

James is calling us to lay aside, or take off all filthiness and excessive wickedness, as we might take off a filthy robe.

But remember that James is talking about Christians, about people like you and I.