---

The book of James in the New Testament answers the question, "How can I be mature in Christ?" It is a book filled with very clear ways on how to live so that you escape an ordinary Christian life. Last week we learned about the type of heart that God has. He is loving and a good God despite some of the hard things you have to face from time to time. This week we are going to see the vital need to be patient and trust in God.

Let's look at this week's passage, James 1:19-21:

"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 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."

First of all it is important to note that this passage is written to those that believe in Jesus Christ as personal Saviour, so he is writing this to Christians. This also means that Christians can be slow to listen and quick to speak and cause more problems than a day really needs.

I remember someone told me that we all have two ears and one mouth, so we should listen twice as much as we speak. Not bad advice, huh? How many times have we said something and then we regret it later? James also states that we should be slow to become angry. Anger is a really 'hot' topic in the Bible because it causes us to sin so greatly and therefore brings about the greatest amount of regret in our lives. However, keep in mind that anger is like the symptom of the real disease.

Right now the Swine flu is running rampant in some parts of the world and all are frantically working to bring some control to it. When a person has the flu, some of those symptoms are a runny nose, headache, body pains, redness in the eyes, however, it is not the real problem.

The symptoms only indicate that something else is wrong, in other words it's the effect of a greater cause. The real problem is that the person in infected with the flu virus.

Anger is the same. Anger is only the symptom, but the real issue is a lack of patience because of a 'blocked goal'. A blocked goal is when you want something, but just cannot get it at the time. As a result we get angry with others, with life, and even with God. James is warning us here by saying that man's anger does not bring about the right life that God really wants for us. Rather an angry heart is like the 'dead weight', holding back all that God wants for you.

What we really need is deliverance from anger and from saying things we should not say, which is what James means when he says "...which can save you." He does not mean salvation as when you accept Christ, but the word 'saved' in the Bible in this context means to be delivered by God. To be delivered by God, there are some things that we have to do by God's strength. He says get rid of all the moral filth and evil that is so prevalent and humble accept God's Word that has been planted in us previously.

This simply means stop any immorality in our lives and the evil that everyone else is doing and obey what God has already told us. Many people blame God for their lack of holiness, when the real problem is that we have not left the junk behind in our lives.

Rather, it's like instead of taking out your trash, which for me is Tuesdays and Fridays, it's like taking your Glad bag to work with you, in your car, or on the bus and then back home. Imagine the stench. So listen to God's command and get rid of it.

Keep in mind that to get rid of most things in life, you need help. If you have tried on your own for so long, maybe you also need a mature believer to come along side you to help you with your area of weakness or maybe a leader in your church. The emphasis is on taking this seriously to get rid of it quickly and permanently. If you don't adhere to God's advice then you will become bound to the things you ignore and they will overtake you with many unnecessary consequences. In your area of trial, don't be impatient because you don't get your way, rather trust and depend on God.

Remember you have two ears, and one mouth, so practice listening twice as much as you speak. Remember the warning from the book of Proverbs: "There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking." Proverbs 29:20.

Pastor Gary C. Simons serves as the Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Bible Fellowship, 82 Church Street, Hamilton, Bermuda, HM12.

[[In-content Ad]]

---