The book of James is one of the most practical books in the Bible. This week I want us to consider a lesson from each one of its chapters.
Let us begin with James’ exhortation to be doers and not just hearers of the word.
James 1:22–25 (ESV)
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
We must put our faith into action. Just being a hearer of the Word never saved anyone. Jesus warned of this in His Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 7:21 (ESV)
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
The Bible demands that we are doers. James gives us a good illustration of the uselessness of being hearers only. He compares it to looking at ourselves in a mirror. If we look in a mirror and see something that we do not like but are unwilling to do something about it, looking in the mirror is a waste of time. It is only when do something about what we see in the mirror, fixing whatever it is that we do not like (straighten a crooked tie, comb ruffled hair, etc.) that the mirror serves as a useful tool.
The Bible is God’s mirror. It is a powerful tool that James says is able to save the soul (James 1:21), but it can only do so when we are willing to make application of it. We should all study the Word of God regularly, but our aim should be more than simply accumulating knowledge. We must study the Bible intending to do what it teaches us to do.
Romans 2:13 (ESV)
13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.
Concerning the old law (the law of Moses), perfect doing was demanded, but even under this new covenant (the law of Christ), doing is required. After Jesus washed the disciple’s feet, teaching them the importance of being humble and serving others, He said to them, “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (John 13:17).
On another occasion, while Jesus was teaching, His mother and brothers came to talk to Him, but they could not reach Him because of the crowd. When someone told Jesus that they were there and wanted to speak to Him, His response was, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the Word of God and do it” (Luke 8:21). This once again shows the importance of being doers of God’s Word. Only then does Jesus recognize us as His kinsmen in the faith.
What do you do after you look into God’s mirror (the Bible)? Do you fix the flaws that are revealed, or do you keep on living the same way? Hearing God’s Word is necessary. Doing God’s Word will give us entrance into the kingdom of heaven.
As you wind down for the night, think about these things.