Bulletin 09-28-02

Being "Doers of the Word"

A story was told about a man who went to heaven. As he entered, he saw thousands of ears stacked neatly on the sides. He asked his angelic guide about the ears. The angel informed him that they were the ears of those who, while they were living, were very "faithful" in their attendance of church services. Whenever the doors were opened, they were present. However, that was the full extent of their "Christianity." When they left hearing the word, they did not do what it said. Thus, their ears were the only part of them that made it to heaven. Obviously, this story is not real, but it does illustrate an important point: We must be doers of the word and not hearers only! James 1:19-25 gives three principles that will help us in being doers of God" s word.

Being doers of the Word requires preparation. James said, "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath…21Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls" (Jas. 1:19-21). First, we must be of the mindset to hear. This sounds simple, but some think they know it all. We all know people that no matter what subject we talk about, they know more about it (or so they think). In discussions with such people, we cannot get in a word. But James says, "be swift to hear" and "slow to speak." This is much more pressing when we are considering God" s word. Let us be of the mind to listen to what God is saying to us through His written word! Second, in preparation, James said that we must put away some things; namely, "filthiness," which refers to impurity (cf. Zech. 3:3-4), and "superfluity of naughtiness [overflow of wickedness, NJK]," which refers to a state in which the heart is filled with evil and exhibits itself in ungodliness. We cannot be doers of the Word if we are not willing to put away sin from our lives. Finally, by way of preparation, James said that we must "receive with meekness the engrafted word." "Engrafted [implanted, NKJ]" means rooted, or fixed, and thus emphasizes a thorough reception of God" s word. The Word superficially deposited in the heart will never produce the yield of fruit that God desires (cf. Mt. 13:5-6, 20-21). The Word is only able to save those who receive it. Are we prepared to be doers of the Word?

Being doers of the Word involves realizing that only hearing it is not sufficient. James said, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was" (Jas. 1:22-24). We are deceiving ourselves if we think that God only requires us hear His word. There are those in congregations all over who attend the services of the church regularly—who hear the truth preached constantly—but who never translate what they hear into life. We must do the word (Rom. 2:13; Lk. 11:28)! Remember the main difference between the wise and foolish builders (Mt. 7:24-27)? Jesus said that both builders "heareth these sayings of mine," but the wise builder also did what he heard, whereas the foolish builder did not! James compares the one who only hears to a man who observes himself in a mirror. He has the information he needs to improve himself, but he really is not concerned enough about it, and soon forgets what manner of man he saw. Realize, brethren, that physical appearance is nothing compared to eternity. We cannot afford to take lightly the word of God. Spiritually, it has all the information we need, but we must do more than just take a glance and then forget! We must adjust our lives according to the faults it exposes in us.

Being doers of the Word brings blessing. "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed" (Jas. 1:25). Note the equation: look + continue + not forgetting + doing = blessing! "Looketh" is from a Greek word that means to stoop to look, gaze at intently (cf. Jn. 20:5, 11), and here conveys one who is greatly interested in the Word. "Continueth" means to remain in, to stay close to, and reveals one who, because he has a proper attitude, will stick close to it. "Not forgetting," in contrast to the man who walked away from the mirror without changing a thing, refers to one who takes to heart the truths that he hears from God" s word (cf. Ps. 119:11). The "doer" is obviously the one who puts into action the word of God, but note that James says a "doer of the work." Being faithful to God involves work (Jas. 2:14-26 cf. Jn. 6:26). The object of all of these verbs is "the perfect law of liberty." Those who say Christians are not under law simply have not read their Bibles (cf. 1 Cor. 9:21). The law about which James spoke is "of liberty" because it sets us free from sin (Jn. 8:31-32; Rom. 8:1-2).

Are we doers of the Word or just hearers? May the Lord help us to be workers for Him. With the guidance of our elders, we look forward to a God-glorifying 2005. There is much work to be done. We want you to grow with us, but it must start with each of us being doers of the Word. Are we?


	January 9, 2005