Devotional - November 2, 2022
Scripture: James 1: 19-20 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
Again, we see James leaning in and putting an arm around us saying, "my dear brothers and sisters..." That is code for, hold on! He is about to unleash a word that will be hard to hear. But notice, he says listen not hear. One can hear someone saying things, but never listen to a word they say, ...true? Many things can account for this, but the results are the same. To hear what someone is saying is defined in a very basic way. You hear the sound of the words being spoken to you. Listening refers to an act of attending, focusing, interpreting what the person says. James tells the church to listen to each other. Take time to process and think about what the person said before deciding how to respond to them. Not to mention, listening to yourself. Before you say anything, why is it you want to say the things you do? What is your motivation? Or, why won't you respond? So, you are not only listening to others, but yourself too. Not many can honestly venture far in this direction before self-delusion sets in. Being honest with ourselves and others is hard to do. Most want to live life superficially, not bothering with what is underneath or in our past. Unfortunately, like trees, what is at the top, or on the surface, is connected to what lies below. Conversely, after venting your frustration about someone you may have been told to consider the source. Initially, it may not have helped, but the more you thought about it, the more sense it made. It's not always about you. Being able to listen to others in a productive way is essential in the life of the church. James knows this and that is why he addresses it specifically in his letter.
Slow to speak, does not only refer to angry words, but any words. Unfortunately, others can misinterpret or misconstrue what we say. Moreover, there are some you cannot trust with your words; sad, but true. James calls us to seek to understand what is going on before we start speaking. Then, when we speak, speak so as to be understood. Doing so may drive the other person crazy, but any efforts in this direction can pay off in the end. Angry words shut down communication and provoke an emotional reaction. And with that in mind, James counsels us to mind our anger. Books, volumes of books, have been written on this matter. Not to mention, you have your own treasure trope of wisdom built upon your own experiences dealing with anger. Much of it comes from the damage we, or others, do when it is mismanaged, to put it nicely. In the life of the church, it often leads to loss. Churches spit, people leave, and in extreme cases eventually close when tempers are left unchecked. Remember, when James wrote this letter the Christian church was still on the rise and under a lot of scrutiny and oppression. The last thing they needed was trouble within. Good communication comes from good people, as does the righteousness of God (Mark 10:18, James 1:17). I think many feel the church is a social group and in some ways they are correct. But, the church is much more... The church God desires is a community that makes up a Kingdom. We are a body (Col 1:18,1 Cor 12: 12-27) that needs to work in harmony if we want to succeed. Keep this in mind when you read Jame's letter. Otherwise, it becomes a bunch of rules for your life, not the life of the church.
Pray with me, Holy God we admit we do not always want to listen to others, especially when they tell us something we do not want to hear. Quiet our hearts and minds, so we can truly listen to one another and also to ourselves. We give thanks that You listen to us. Bless our loved ones in accord with their needs and bless our church, so we can be the people You call us to be, in Jesus name, Amen.
God's peace,
Pastor Brian
