Do and Be

Here are some thoughts about the epistle reading for this coming Sunday from James. This was shared electronically Thurs. with the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church.

Second Reading: James 1:17-27

17Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

  19You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. 21Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.

  22But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. 23For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; 24for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. 25But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.

  26If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. 27Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

The Letter of James is unlike other works of the New Testament. It is a form of Wisdom literature, which we see in the Old Testament’s Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. You could practically put James side-by-side with these two other books and the similarities would be greater than the differences. 

I find the reminder in the first two verses, focusing on all good things coming from God, helpful. The reference to “birth by the world of truth,” makes us think of Jesus’ words to Nicodemus, “You must be born from above” (John 3:7). It is on the basis of this, of who we are in Christ, that James can give the instructions to the church that he does. 

James’ words are timely. We live in a time where civil discourse is anything but civil. Those from the right, left and middle vilify each other in such an ugly way. James wrote, “You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness.” Can you imagine what life would be like if we all listened more, spoke more carefully and controlled our emotions?  

This passage looks like an overwhelming laundry-list of dos and don’ts. We cannot live this kind of life apart from the work of Christ within us. God gave us “birth by the word of truth, so that we would come a kind of first fruits of his creatures.” Our lives are to be fruit bearing, demonstrating the Christian life to all around us. 

Let us pray:

Holy God, makes us more like you each day. May your light shine brightly through us. May our actions display your love to all.

Amen.