What Will You Do With The Word? (Part 1)

The title of this lesson is an important question that you would need to answer. Every time you hear the Bible being taught or you read it at home, you must ask yourself, “What am I going to with the message that I have learned?”

Before we get into James, I want to read a passage in . Whenever he talks about the law or commandments, he’s talking about God’s Word. And I want you to pay attention to the language and word he uses in response to the Word.

Psalm 119:1–12 NIV

Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart— they do no wrong but follow his ways. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me. How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees.

True Christians would always respond with this attitude towards God’s Word because it is their desire and joy and love to walk in obedience to God and His Word. True Christians would work hard to know God’s will by knowing God’s Word.

Followers of Jesus would do well to listen and obey the words of Jesus.

John 8:31–32 ESV

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

By knowing and abiding (or remaining) in Jesus’ words, not only are we His true disciples, but we will also know the truth.

John 14:15 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

John

Jesus is telling us that the evidence of our love for Him is obedience.

Later on, Jesus says:

John 14:21 ESV

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

John 15:7 ESV

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

John 15:7–8 ESV

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

True Christians will listen and abide in Jesus’ Words. True Christians will let His word internalize in their hearts. As we do so, we would bear much fruit. What does that mean? Obedience and good works that glorify God.

1 John 2:24 ESV

Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.

Having read all those verses, James also makes the same point about our attitude towards God’s Word. What will you do with the Word?

In context, John is speaking about the

Big Idea: You Must Receive The Word!

In the context of our passage, James has been dealing with the Christians who suffering, and we have spend almost 5-6 weeks dealing with the topic of trial. So, in verse 19, it may seem like he’s starting a new topic, but I don’t think he is.

James ended verse 18 talking about God using the word of truth to regenerate/save us so that the Christians would be God’s new creation. A holy people. A people who love and desire God and His Word.

I hope you remember the Parable of the Sower that Jesus told. God’s Word was planted into four soils (or four different kinds of people), but only one of them was a good soil. Obviously, the other three soils were non-Christians. Although some of them receive God’s Word, their so-called Christian life was so shallow and superficial that when trials and troubles come, they immediately destroy the word.

And obviously, non-Christians are resistant towards God’s Word. They have no interest in God’s Word. They hate the truth. They’re the ones who oppose God’s Word and disagree with the things that God says because the Bible goes against their perspectives on life.

But, here’s how Jesus describes the person with the good soil:

In the context of our passage, James has been dealing with the Christians who suffering, and we have spend almost 5-6 weeks dealing with the topic of trial.

Matthew 13:19–22 ESV

When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Matthew 13:19-

Matthew 13:23 ESV

As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

The second person receives God’s Word immediately, but that word di

God’s new creation will receive the Word. They should have the desire to receive the Word. They want to take God’s Word into their own hearts. They delight to have God’s Word as their treasure and valuable possession.

God’s new creation will receive the Word. They should have the desire to receive the Word. They want to take God’s Word into their own hearts so that they might not sin against Him. They delight to have God’s Word as their treasure and valuable possession. As a result, they would grow and bear fruit for God.

And because God has saved them through the word of truth, how would they live as Christians? They would need to do something about the Word.

1. You Must Receive The Word With Readiness (v.19-20).

Readiness - having the willingness and swiftness to do something.

James is saying “know this, my beloved brothers.” James is speaking to the Christians. James wants them to understand and pay attention to what he’s about to command.

He says, “let every person.” Meaning…let everyone! Everyone needs to hear this. And I would translate this verse from the Greek this way: “Know this, my brothers and sisters in Christ. NOW, let every person.” This is very important for James’ readers. He instructs them in three things: “Be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”

But, here’s the question we need to ask ourselves: “Quick to hear…what? Slow to speak…what? Slow to anger…at what?” What is the object in this verse? Answer: God’s Word. In entire context from verses 19-27 has everything to do with the Word of God. James mentions the word of truth in verse 19. He’ll talk about the implanted word in verse 21. He’ll go into the issue of doing the Word from verses 22-25. And he’ll talk about what that should look like when we apply the word in verses 26-27 and onward.

So, the 1st thing that James talks about is that everyone is to be “quick to hear.”

When the pastor preaches the Word in the morning service, or when I teach you God’s Word, believers will be ready to open their Bibles and to listen to God’s Word.

When the pastor preaches the Word in the morning service, or when I teach you God’s Word, believers will be ready to open their Bibles and to listen to God’s Word. They should not be distracted by the notifications on their phones. They should not be distracted by whatever they’re doing with their hands. Not only that, they should not be distracting others who are willing to hear God’s Word.

One commentator said it really well: Uncontrolled anger leads to uncontrolled speech. That’s a wise saying, I think. When you become angry, you get so emotional and angry that you express yourself in a wrong way without thinking about what you are saying. It is true that foolish people are those who have bad-tempers.

Proverbs 15:18 NIV

A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.

Why? “For/because the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

But, the other interpretation, which I think is the correct one because it aligns with the context, deals with this question: “Quick to hear…what? Slow to speak…what? Slow to anger…at what?”

You Must Receive The Word With Readiness (v.19).

Let me ask you questions for you to reflect on:

Are you “quick to hear” the word of God? Do you have the spiritual hunger to taste and see that God’s Word is sweeter than a honeycomb? Do you have the eagerness to hear God speaking to you?

During sermons/lessons, are you often distracted by the notifications on your phones? Are you often distracted by whatever you’re doing with your hands instead of having your Bibles opened? Do you come hear to be a distraction for others who are ready to hear God’s Word? Do you just come to Sunday school just to escape from school and find a place to zone out?

If you grew up in the church, then have you become too familiar with the Bible to the point that you don’t feel the need to hear God’s Word? Are you listening for others rather than for yourself; meaning, “Oh I wish Sally was here for today’s lesson because she definitely needs to hear this message and correct her behaviours and attitude.”

Not only that, they should not be distracting others who are willing to hear God’s Word.

In the midsts of trials and temptations, are you quick to run towards God’s Word, which is filled with divine wisdom and truth, or do you run towards other kinds of wisdom? Do you sometimes think that the lesson applies more to others than yourself? Are you listening for others rather than for yourself; meaning, “Oh I wish Sally was here for today’s lesson because she definitely needs to hear this message and correct her behaviours and attitude.”

This is where you must receive the Word with readiness. You must be willing to hear God’s Word. You must be quick to hear God’s Word.

And when the pastor preaches the Word in the morning service, or when I teach you God’s Word, believers will be ready to open their Bibles and to listen to God’s Word.

My prayer and hope for all of you is that you have the eagerness to hear God’s Word, just like the Jews in Berea.

Acts 17:10–11 ESV

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

My prayer and hope is that as you are listening to the teaching of God’s Word, you are not simply hearing Tommy Wong, but that you are hearing the very voice of God as I try my best to faithfully explain as accurately and precisely His Word to you, just like the Thessalonians.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 ESV

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

:13

The next thing James talks about is “slow to speak.” James is not talking about some conventional wisdom. Yes, I agree that it is wise that you think before you speak. And you should be hesitant to express your opinion and ideas too quickly. But, again, that idea is not within the context. James will deal with tongues and words in 1:26 and chapter 3, and we will get there.

Just as everyone is to be quick to hear God’s Word, everyone is to be slow to speak God’s Word. In other words, you are to be slow, cautious, and patient in becoming a teacher of God’s Word. Why is that?

Did you know that teaching God’s Word is a dangerous responsibility? James will tell the readers later on this warning:

James 3:1 ESV

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Some people might have wanted to become teachers for wrong reasons. And James warning is that being a teacher of God’s word is a huge responsibility. Teachers have a great responsibility to teach God’s Word accurately and precisely because it is a great expectation from God.

Just as everyone is to be quick to hear God’s Word, everyone is to be slow to speak God’s Word.

I rarely share with people about this story of mine because I don’t want people to misunderstand me for being boastful. But, for the sake of illustration and in light of what this verse is teaching, I think it’s appropriate for me to share with you what I do before I teach and preach God’s Word.

When I prepare Sunday school lessons or sermons, I sit down in my office and read the passage. I carefully read the passage in its context. I try to carefully understand the author’s intention of writing this passage. I try to understand what the author is saying and what the author means by what he says. And when I try to understand the author’s meaning, I do not insert my ideas or meanings into what he saying. No, I read the context and understand what the author means.

Unlike GO2 or the children’s Sunday school where teachers are given resources/materials, I prepare lessons from scratch. I usually spend at least 10 hours studying God’s Word to prepare Sunday school. If it’s a sermon, then I usually spend at least 20 hours of preparation. Now, the hours do not matter. What matters to me is have I understood the God’s Word to its fullest intent? This is important for me because I want to be faithful to God.

If you want to be a teacher, or if you

Let me share a key to my preparation. I don’t study God’s Word for the sake preparing Sunday school or it’s my job. I study God’s Word for my own spiritual nourishment. I wrestle with God’s Word and try to understand it as much as possible. In fact, I study God’s Word because I need Him to speak to me. I need Him to convict me of sins and show me areas of repentance. I need to be quick to hear God’s Word before I can speak God’s Word.

Here’s another additional

That’s why, when I stand up and teach, I can confidently say that I’m not nervous. I mean, yes I do get butterflies in my stomach because it’s public speaking, but I’m not nervous about the content that I’m going to say. I’ve done my homework. I’m confident and sure that this is what God wants me to say to you today.

When I teach, I am representing God. If I fail to understand God’s Word and I misunderstand His Word, then I am misrepresenting God. If I say teach something that God did not say and mean in the Bible, then I am in deep trouble when I see Him face to face. If I teach you something that God did not say and mean, then I am teaching you something wrong and I could lead you into error. If I say to you that the Trinity is not real, Jesus is not God, salvation is by your good deeds, hell is not real, then not only am I teaching you error, but far worse, I’m giving you false teachings, and I should be fired.

So, James’ instruction is that you take every opportunity you have to hear God’s Word and be hesitant to become a teacher of God’s Word.

And if what James said to you hits you in a wrong way, and you’re feeling upset and angry over it, then listen to his 3rd instruction: “be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” Be slow to becoming angry. Don’t be angry at God’s Word. Don’t be angry at the pastor giving you God’s Word. Don’t immediately protest against what the Bible teaches.

You may not know this, but God’s Word offends people because it confronts people’s sins. It can irritate and annoy people. For instance, God commands you to “honour your father and your mother.” And when you hear that, I assume that you want to protest against it. Or, perhaps you know that it is a good thing to obey that command, but maybe you don’t like it.

There was a sister in Christ who was dating a non-Christian. And she felt trap in this relationship because she says she loves God but she also wants to be with her boyfriend who was against Christianity. And she asked for help. So, I told her that the Bible tells Christians not to be yoked with an unbeliever, and there is a spiritual danger when a Christian dates a non-Christian. I simply told her this is what the Bible teaches and it’s up to her to decide what to do about it. Now, I do not know how she took it, but I haven’t seen or talked to her for a while.

I have personally experienced some people who were upset with me because I kept using the word of God as my explanation for almost everything. Some would think I’m just hiding behind the Bible for all my explanations and not express my opinion, when in fact, all my opinions are from the Bible because I want to live, breath, talk, and bleed God’s Word. I naturally can’t help it.

Now, when I say those things, there would be some who would get upset and immediately want to disagree with me and prove me wrong.

2 Timothy 3:16 NIV

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

Do you like to be rebuked? Do you like to be corrected? I would assume we naturally don’t, but that’s what the Bible does. And when the word of God confronts you, your sins, and your understanding of the world, James tells us to be slow to anger. Why?

I need to be quick to hear God’s Word before I can speak God’s Word.

He says in verse 20, “For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” I think the NIV captures the verse well, which says...

James 1:20 NIV

because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

The word righteousness needs to be understood carefully. Paul constantly talks about righteousness in the context of the court of law whereby the judge declares a person not guilty.

For James, however, righteousness is specifically speaking of doing what God requires of his people. It is speaking about having an honourable character and behaviour.

One commentator said it really well: Uncontrolled anger leads to uncontrolled speech. It is true that foolish people are those who have bad-tempers.

When you are angry, you lose all sorts of control in your thoughts, emotions, and words. This happens in politics, this happens at school, and this can also happen in church. When there is a disagreement between two groups of people, instead of having a civilized discussion, one group would attack the other group either verbally or physically or both. When someone says something that disagrees with your thinking, you don’t take the time to process and instead lash out and express your opinion too quickly. Words become distasteful. Tone becomes hostile. You can get so emotional and angry that you express yourself in a wrong way without thinking about what you are saying.

Proverbs 14:17 ESV

A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.

James’s very simple point is that human anger does not produce the behaviour that is pleasing to God. Jesus had something to say about someone who is angry.

Matthew 5:21–22 ESV

Matthew 5:21–26 ESV

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

This kind of anger makes a person behave and think sinful thoughts and actions, such as violence and murder, and especially unwise speech that comes from anger. Anger creates violence and not peace. And the general principle is that human anger leads to all kinds of sin that are displeasing to God.

Are you a person who is slow to become angry or quick to become angry?

Therefore, you must receive the Word with readiness. You need to be quick to hear the Word of God. You need to be slow and cautious about speaking God’s Word as a teacher. And you need to be slow in becoming angry at the Word of God.

2. You Must Receive The Word With Purity (v.21a).

Purity - Not being stained by sin.

Notice that word, “therefore.” Because of what James had said about anger and the command to be quick to hear and slow to speak, he commands the Christians to “put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness.” James is not only talking about human anger as a sin, but it’s speaking of all kinds of sins.

He instructs to “put away.” It literally means taking off your clothes, especially your dirty clothes after you go home feeling all filthy and sweaty from P.E class.

In my family, we always take off our shoes after we come home. Our shoes have been through places that are disgusting. We could have stepped on mud or dog poop with our shoes, and there is no way you want to walk around the house with your shoes on.

Before Alethia was born, Alison and I worked hard to clean the place up. We made sure that the carpets and floors were cleaned and disinfected. One day, we called the plumbers to come fix the boiler for us. There were two plumbers. One of them had manners and took off his shoes. The other one was big and tall and strong, and he looked intimidating. So, he came him and I showed him where the boiler was…but he did not even bother taking off his dirty boots. He walked on our clean floor and carpet. Alison and I were upset, but we did not say anything.

we had to fix our boiler in the house. We called the plumbers to come fix it for us.

In my family, we always take off our shoes in front of the entrance door after we come home. Our shoes have been through places that are disgusting. We could have stepped on mud or dog poop with our shoes, and there is no way you want to walk around the house with your shoes on.

And that’s the idea that James wants us to tell the Christians. He commands them to take off “all filthiness” and “rampant/abundant wickedness.” Filthiness is not dirt and sweat, but James is talking about “moral impurity and moral filth.” The things we do and say that are immoral. They’re the things that go against God’s will. For instance:

Colossians 3:8 ESV

But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

1 Peter 2:1 ESV

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

Just an interesting thought about filthiness that I found in my studies. Some Greek Philosophers would use filthiness in a graphic manner. And that is…getting rid of your dirty wax in your ear.

Perhaps it does make a good point. You are to keep your ears clean so that you would be able to hear and receive the Word with purity.

If you are filled with sins, impurity, and abundant wickedness that you have not repented of and confessed to God for forgiveness, then they would keep you from hearing God’s Word. True Christians would desire to hear God’s Word with purity. They’ll confess and repent of sins.

True Christians would desire to hear God’s Word with purity. They’re confess and repent of sins.

Are there filthiness and sins that are hindering your relationship with God?

3. You Must Receive The Word With Humbleness (v.21b).

It’s one thing to take off a dirty clothes, but it is another thing to put on a new clean clothe. So now, James is going to command them to receive the Word with meekness.

In some of your Bible translations, it may say “humility” or “humbly” which still communicates the point.

Humble - not being proud or arrogant.

Humility - not being too impressed

Don’t be too impressed of yourself. Don’t you think that you know the Bible too much that you don’t think you need to hear it again. Don’t you think that you do not need to hear God’s Word to live your life. Don’t you think that you are smarter than God and that you can live your Christian life without His Word.

You need to receive The Word with humbleness. You need to be ready to accept and believe in God’s Word, the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Are you full of pride when you hear God’s Word? Are you teachable and submissive to God’s Word?

James is speaking to the Christians, not non-Christians. So, God has already saved these people from hell and sin. And what does he mean here then? In what sense is the implanted word able to save the souls of the Christians?

I could spend another hour teaching this topic, but let me just be brief. The Bible talks about salvation in three realities for Christians: past salvation, present salvation, and future salvation. In other words, we were saved. We are being saved. And we will be saved.

You were saved by God’s grace. Your sins have been forgiven by God. You were freed from guilt of sin and slave of sin. You were a child of wrath and then you became a child of God because of Jesus.

You are being saved by God’s grace. You are being saved by the influence of sin, world, and Satan. As you follow Jesus, you are continually growing to become holy, pure, and become like Jesus Christ.

You will be saved by God’s grace. One day, after death, you will go to heaven. You will be saved from God’s final wrath as talked about in the book of Revelation.

Therefore, you need to receive the Word with humbleness because it has the power to transform your life, give you hope and assurance, and a whole lot more.

Do you humbly receive God’s Word? Or are you too proud to listen to God?

Conclusion

REFLECTION: Are you a receiver or rejector of the Word?

Maybe you want to be a receiver of the Word, but you are so busy with school and life. Perhaps you need to reevaluate your priorities so that you can commit to being a receiver of the word. There is nothing more important than to make it a priority to be quick to hear God’s Word when you’re at home or at church. Jesus commended Mary for making it a priority to listen to Jesus’ teaching instead of Martha, who was so busy doing other things to serve Jesus.

Jesus commended Mary for making it a priority to listen to Jesus’ teaching instead of Martha, who was so busy doing other things to serve Jesus.

Luke 10:39 ESV

And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.

Maybe you have been a receiver of the Word, but you feel that you are not growing at all. Perhaps you need to search your heart and see if there are sins, filthiness, impurity and distractions that are hindering you.

Bible scholars differ on the interpretation of verses 19. Some would say that James is essentially teaching a new topic. They would say that “quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger” are essentially wise sayings. There are some good ideas from this interpretation. It is wise to learn to listen to others before you speak. It is wise to be hesitant to express yourself or to express your opinion. And it is wise to be hesitant and slow in becoming angry.

Maybe you are somewhat in the middle. You want to receive the word, but there are also other things in the Bible that make you want to be a rejector of the Word. I do not know if it’s because you’re not fully convinced if the Bible is reliable.

My prayer and my hope for all of you is that you be quick to hear God’s Word and you make every opportunity to read the Bible because it is the only way for you to hear God’s voice.

Proverbs 15:18 NIV

A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.

There are teachings in the Bible that are explicitly clear and they’re should not be negotiable. The Bible is clear that God created the world in six literal days and rested on the 7th day, and that God did not use the theory of evolution to create the world. I believe the Bible is clear that women cannot teach or exercise authority over a man, so women can’t be elders and pastors. I believe the Bible is clear that the church is to be governed by elders.

Now, when I say those things, there would be some who would get upset and immediately want to disagree with me and prove me wrong.

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