Introduction: READ: James 1:19,20

 

Is James in touch with human nature, or what? He knows our tendency is to react negatively to trials instead of seeing God at work in them. He knows we tend to want to have the best of both worlds and are therefore often double-minded. He knows our inclination to blame God for the temptations in life, even though we know they are a result of our own evil desires. James knows how we respond to all the above. So he instructs us in a loving, caring, and affirming manner, that we should do the opposite of what comes natural.

 

James encourages, exhorts, and commands us as Christians to react to the world around us in a uniquely Christian manner. A manner which reflects God in us, not the world in us.  James cautions us and even pleads with us to do three things.

 

This morning we will examine three qualities which James challenges us (notice he says "everyone") to take hold of in our Christian life. Let's look at each one of them more closely.

 

 I. Be Quick To Listen.

 

1. Notice the positive tone James creates here. He not only starts off referring to his readers as beloved brothers, but also puts his exhortation in the positive. Instead of being negative and telling us what not to do, or saying, "Don't!" he instead positively redirects our thinking to the things we in fact should be doing. Positive redirection is a term that has recently become more popular. You hear it in parenting classes. Teachers use it. Counselors use it.  This concept isn't new though, because right here in James 1:19, we find James using it to instruct us.

 

2. James says that we should be quick to listen. The word translated "swift" is the Greek word tachus meaning "speedy." It is the only time in the New Testament this exact word is ever used. The root of the word tach is used in other words which denote quickness or speed, and are more popular in Greek, but James uses the form tachus because it is fitting for his poetic nature. I'll show you why in a moment.

 

3. James encourages us to be quick to listen. This word means "to hear" and carries with it the meaning: to attend to, consider what is or has been said, to understand, perceive the sense of what is said, to comprehend, to understand. That drives home the fullness of what it means to really listen.

 

4. Fellows, has your wife ever been talking to you and your mind was on something else and it shows?  Pretty soon you are going to hear something like this: “Honey, did you hear anything Isaid?”  You may be able to rattle off what she said, but you really were not listening.   Real listening is more than just a mere echo response. Real listening doesn't happen involuntarily. Hearing does, but listening doesn't. You can hear all kinds of sounds going on at any given time, but listening is the conscious act of selecting a particular sound to concentrate on.

 

5. Those of you here who own a dog see this all the time. Dogs have great hearing, but you know when they are really listening because their ears perk up. They have just heard a very familiar voice or tone of your voice which they have associated with something good happening or just seeing you.  Their ears go up and the tail begins to wag back and forth.

 

6. Humans however, are not quite as obvious. It is difficult to tell sometimes if others are really listening. When I am preaching or teaching I think about this. I think, "Oh, I know you hear the sound of my voice, but are you thinking and concentrating on what I am saying or are you daydreaming about lunch and that nap you are going to get this afternoon?"

 

7. James wants us to make an extra special, swift and speedy, effort to truly listen. Listen to the proclamation of the Word. Listen to our spouses. Listen to our friends. Listen to our co-workers. Listen. Listen. Really listen. Really concentrate on what is being said, so we can apply what we hear, and so we can understand how to better relate to the people around us. If we really listen, we will know what our spouses are saying. We will know what they mean and the emotions they are feeling. You can't pick up a marriage enrichment or marriage preparation book without several chapters being devoted to the art of listening. You know how important it is to effective communication. But it doesn't always happen. James understands it is not in our nature to listen well, so he encourages us here to make the decided effort and concentrate on listening.

 

8. The devotion prayer of modern man is, "Lord, speak to me! You have sixty seconds."

 

II. Be Slow To Speak.

 

1. Here is where James' poetic side picks up as he uses the Greek word "bradus" which means "slow." Remember what word he carefully chose for "quick"? Tachus. Now he restates his point by using a like-ending word, bradus. In fact the word for listen is achouo and the word for speak is laleo. He says we ought not only be quick to listen, but we must also be slow to speak. In a sense, pointing out we were given TWO ears, and just ONE tongue for a reason. Sometimes it might not be a bad practice to pretend you are mute. The saying goes, "It is better to keep your mouth closed and be thought stupid, than open it and leave no doubt about it."

There is a saying among rabbis, "Men have two ears but one tongue, that they should hear more than they speak. The ears are always open, ever ready to receive instruction; but the tongue is surrounded with a double row of teeth to hedge it in, and keep it within proper bounds."

 

2. With your mouth closed, you will be more inclined to listen to what others are saying. You will be less likely to come to premature judgment. Less likely to say things that can't be taken back. Less likely to do more harm than good.

 

3. We all too often do Christ a big disservice by spewing forth from our mouths all kinds of rabble. As you read from the book of Job you may find God's response to Job's seemingly knowledgeable and talkative friends very interesting. Job 42:7-9 describes God's response:

 

And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job.

 

4. There is some real truth to the saying, "If you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all."

 

5. James feels that for a Christian it is better to be mute than deaf, spiritually speaking. Not listening and fast speech lead us to James' next exhortation.

 

III. Be Slow to Become Angry

 

What happens when we don't listen and spout off without thinking? Not only does it usually encourage the development of our own anger, but it also often leads those around us into anger as well. You have heard it said that a smile can be infectious, but I would posit that anger is perhaps one of the most infectious emotions around.

 

A. DEFINING "ANGER" AND "WRATH"...

1. ANGER - (Greek, "orge")

a. "Indignation which has arisen gradually and become more settled" - THAYER

b. "ORGE suggests a more settled or abiding condition of mind, frequently with a view to taking revenge" - VINE

c. Anger, then, is a lingering, seething emotion

 

2. WRATH - (Greek, "thumos")

a. "The sudden outburst of passionate anger" - ZONDERVAN PICTORIAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE BIBLE

b. "The blaze of temper which flares into violent words and deeds, and just as quickly dies" - BARCLAY

c. Today we would call this "blowing off steam"

 

B. THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOKS OF WISDOM SAY MUCH ABOUT ANGER AND WRATH

1. In the Psalms:  Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. (Psa 37:8)

2. In the book of Proverbs:

a. He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly (Pro 14:17)

b. He that is slow to wrath is]of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. (Pro 14:29)

c. A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but [he that is] slow to anger appeaseth strife. (Pro 15:18)

d. He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. (Pro 16:32)

e. A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again. (Pro 19:19)

f. It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman. (Pro 21:19)

g. Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:  Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. (Pro 22:24-25)

 

C. THE NEW TESTAMENT ALSO SAYS MUCH AGAINST ANGER AND WRATH

1. To the brethren in Rome, Paul wrote:  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. (Rom 12:19)

2. It is included with those things Paul lists as the "works of the flesh" in Gal 5:19-21

3. To the Ephesians Paul writes:  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: (Eph 4:31)

4. In a similar vein to the Colossians:  But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. (Col 3:8)

 

D. HAVING SAID ALL THAT, WE MUST ALSO NOTE THAT...

1. Paul seems to concede that there is a place for a certain kind of anger:  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: (Eph 4:26)

 

2. On several occasions Jesus expressed anger

a. Towards the money changers in the temple - Jn 2:13-17

b. Towards the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees - Mt 23:13-36

 

3. In both testaments, God is presented as a God of anger as well as a God of love

 

a. In the Old Testament:

1) He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.  He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;   And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham: (Psa 78:49-51)

2) Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcasses were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. (Isa 5:25)

 

b. In the New Testament:

1) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (Rom 1:18)

2) He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.(John 3:36)

3) Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. (Eph. 5:6)

 

How do we then reconcile those passages which demand that anger and wrath is folly and something to be put away, with those that speak of anger on the part of God, Christ and even the Christian? A closer look may help provide the answer.

 

E. A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ANGER OF GOD...

1. God's anger is ALWAYS A JUST REACTION TO EVIL (as clearly pointed out in Ro 1:18-2:11

a. Being Divine, and all-knowing, His wrath is NEVER MISGUIDED

b. He is therefore capable of properly directing anger and wrath

2. Man, with his imperfections, is not so capable!

a. His anger is often misguided (through ignorance, misunderstanding, etc.)

b. Haven't we ever been angry about something, later regretting it when we realize we were in error?

3. Therefore, just because God may display wrath and anger, this does not necessarily justify man doing so!

 

F. A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ANGER OF CHRIST...

1. What has already been said of God could also be said of Christ

a. Especially in light of His ability to read the hearts of men - Jn 2:24-25

b. With such divine knowledge, He could not mistakenly direct wrath and anger

2. Also, in the examples of His anger...

a. There is nothing of self-interest

b. Only HOLY ANGER against unrighteousness which is abhorrent to God

 

3. He was angry, but only for God's honor!

a. When personally abused, He said nothing - 1 Pet 2:21-23

b. But when it was against God, He displayed "righteous anger"

 

Application: Again, man with his imperfections often uses anger improperly

a. For example...

1) We remain silent when sin is exalted and GOD is dishonored

2) But then get angry when someone offends US personally!

b. Too often, therefore, what we justify as "righteous indignation" is really "SELF-righteous indignation"!

 

G. A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ANGER IN EPHESIANS 4:26...

1. Whatever our interpretation, it needs to be in harmony with the context; especially with what Paul writes just a few verses later: Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: (Eph 4:31)

 

2. I understand this passage, rather than justifying anger, to be directing us how to deal with it when it arises in our heart:

a. First, "DO NOT SIN"

1) The emotion must be CONTROLLED

2) Don't allow it to manifest itself in a sinful way

3) Such as saying or doing something that is wrong

 

b. Then, "DO NOT LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON YOUR WRATH"

1) The emotion must be DISPELLED BEFORE NIGHTFALL

2) Otherwise, we may be giving Satan ample opportunity to tempt us to sin - cf. Eph 4:27

 

4. In view of what Paul actually says in Eph 4:26 and then later in Eph 4:31, it seems highly unlikely that he is justifying anger and wrath

 

CONCLUSION

 

1. Concerning the subject of anger and wrath, we would do well to take James' admonition to heart and to be “swift to hear, slow to speak slow to wrath"

 

2. For though the "wrath of God" may on occasions accomplish the  "righteousness of God,” it is clearly stated that the "wrath of man" does not:

 

For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. (James 1:20)

 

3. Following the example of Christ, there may be a place for anger, but if so, ONLY in things pertaining to the honor and will of God!

 

4. In all other things, we would do well to remember another admonition: And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient,  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;  And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. (2 Tim 2:24-26)

 

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:" (James 1:19)