James 1:19-27
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone
should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the
righteousness 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.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive
yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who
listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at
his face in a mirror and, after looking
at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect
law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have
heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not
keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is
worthless. Religion that God our Father
accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in
their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
It
seems like there are plenty reasons to angry these days. Rampant inflation makes our incomes run out
quicker. White hot political divisions persist on almost every issue of any
substance. It doesn’t help that it is
likely that a former president will be criminally charged soon. Children we know now fear going to school
while all wonder what solutions might be effective. The
list of reasons to be angry could go on for pages. In the midst of all this, we need to hear the
words of our scripture for today again:
“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and
slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness
that God desires.”
I have to confess that I am often tempted to begin to writing
about my anger with the intention of “venting” my anger on social media. Each time, I would hear the words of James
above. In times of feverish anger, it is
more important to “be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry”
because my “human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”
“The righteousness that God desires.” From the lips of God, “righteousness” is a
relational word. Literally, the
translation of the word righteousness connotes “right relationship.” Human anger does not produce right
relationships. What does produce right
relationships, James reminds us, is listening, slow measured speech, and
refraining from destructive anger. So
instead of publishing my anger, I have tried to listen to people to which I
really don’t want to listen. This is
really hard. What I have learned is that
careful listening and slow measured speech is in terribly short supply right
now in others and in me. What is needed more than anything right now is more
listening and less unfiltered anger.
That is true not only of our political leaders on both sides of the
aisle, but it is true of our families, our churches, and all of our
relationships. When we are tempted to
lash out, we need to listen. When we are
feeling like we want to hit something, we need to listen. It is this listening that can provide the
path to righteous action, action that can produce stronger relationships. We have choices about how we treat those we
relate to in our own relational circles.
If more people could engage in patient careful love-infused
conversations, we can eventually have an effect on what happens in more public
arenas. It was spirit-filled, listening,
and loving Christians that had an effect on transforming the Roman Empire and
eventually converting the Roman Emperor.
This is always one of the tasks and responsibilities of
Christ-followers. Listening is how we
get to the heart of any matter. This is
true everywhere and anywhere.
Question: Where could
you in this moment, benefit at least one of your relationships by committing to
listening more than you are now?
Prayer: God, help us
commit ourselves to deeply seeking to understand and only after doing so speak
with the intention of being understood.
Help us to use not just the ears on our heads but the ears of our
heart. Help us hear more clearly than
anything your voice. Amen.
Prayer Focus: Pray
for law enforcement officials and leaders as they seek to keep the peace and
keep people safe in the coming days.
Song: Underneath, by Alanis
Morrissette (I share the lyrics today, because I believe they are very
insightful)
Look at us break our bonds in this
kitchen
Look at us rallying all our
defenses
Look at us waging war in our
bedroom
Look at us jumping ship in our
dialogues
There is no difference
In what we're doing in here
That doesn't show up as bigger
symptoms out there
So why spend all our time in
dressing our bandages?
When we've the ultimate key to the
cause right here
Our underneath
Look at us form our cliques in our
sandbox
Look at us micro-kids with both
our hearts blocked
Look at us turn away from all the
rough spots
Look at dictatorship on my own
block
There is no difference
In what we're doing in here
That doesn't show up as bigger
symptoms out there
So why spend all our time in
dressing our bandages?
When we've the ultimate key to the
cause right here
Our underneath
How I've spun my wheels
With carts before my horse
When shine on the outside springs
from the root
Spotlight on these seeds of
simpler reasons
This score born into form, starts
in my living room
There is no difference
In what we're doing in here
That doesn't show up as bigger
symptoms out there
So why spend all our time in
dressing our bandages?
When we've the ultimate key to the
cause right here
Our underneath
Link to song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVfz74FayzM
