James 1:19

James 1:19 says, Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:  James asked that Christians be swift to hear and slow to speak and slow to be angry.  We need to hear what people, and God’s word under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, have to say before we speak against them.  Even then, if we disagree with them, we are not to speak to them out of anger but with the love of God. 

Verse twenty adds, For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.  James said that the wrath of people does not show the righteousness of God to others, and as Christians this should be our goal.  Some might say that we have to speak out against those who proclaim something contrary to God’s word, and this is true, but we shouldn’t do so out of anger for the person, but only out of concern for their salvation.  Of course, James was writing to his fellow Christians, so this should especially apply to our relationship with them. 

Verse twenty-one continues, Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.  James said Christians are to lay aside all filthiness and inclination to do evil and receive with meekness the engrafted word of God instead.  As followers of Christ, we should have God’s word engrafted in us.  We shouldn’t rely on what we believe based on worldly standards, which is our normal state, but should have God’s word engrafted in us instead to guide us by His righteousness.  

Verse twenty-two concludes, But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  James said that we are not to just hear God’s word but are to do what it tells us as well. We can quote the Bible all we want to, but if our actions are not consistent with what we profess to believe, then we are not obeying God.  What we do as followers of Christ must be consistent with what we proclaim to believe about God.