It is so easy when we are driving and we see someone make a careless mistake, to react so fast. We may shout out a word that we shouldn’t say. Dirty looks at the driver often take place. Yelling out loud happens regularly. I don’t know about you, but I get angry when events like this take place. Another incident is when our little grandchildren make one mess after another. At times, it may seem funny, but after a while of cleaning over and over, it really is tiring and I get irritable. The question I want to ask you today, that blends well with the three verses at the end of the first chapter of James is: How do I react? Am I quick or slow?
Key Verses
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”
James 1:19-21(NIV)
React “Quick To Listen”
When we don’t like what someone has to say, we don’t react ready and quick to listen. We are ready to get the next word, phrase or comment in. In disagreeing with that person, we beat them to the next point so that they can’t get their point across. Our ears do not open so that we listen and our mouth does not stop moving. If we keep doing this, usually we are in rage mode by this point and we become angry, just like James 1:19 states…”Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” When we react like we are ready and quick to listen, we don’t normally have the level of anger inside of us.
React “Slow to Speak And Slow to Anger.” Why?
Verse 20 of James 1 tells us clearly that”.” human anger does NOT produce the righteousness that God desires. Do we truly want what God desires for us or do we care just to react without caring? Does it matter to us, how we react? Do you try and please God with your life or do your actions matter only to you? As we relate to other people and to God, we have to think about how we treat them and how we demonstrate to them, a life of righteousness.
React By Changing
So, “get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”(Verse 21) If we really want to change, we have to get rid of all of the garbage and filth that is naturally in our lives, because we have a sin nature since we were born. When we accept His word and His truth and really strive to live a righteous life, this will save us from many bad consequences. Relationships that die and go sour, some ending in divorce, families that fight, all are examples of why we need to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry. If we don’t want our relationships to be bad, think on these truths and live accordingly. “Seek His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.”(Matthew 6:33)
Reaction matters. Blessed are the poor in spirit.