“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22.
How can we live out James’ directive? James’ meaning is very specific—do what the Word says! Notice that James says, “not hearers only”. Don’t miss this point my friends. We must still be “hearers”, which equates to hearing, reading, studying, and absorbing His Word. In order to “be doers” we must hunger on God’s Word. God has given us His Word to lead us and to guide us, and to direct us. Timothy captures it beautifully, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17. My friends. God has not just given us His Word to do that which is on the outside, He has given us His Word to penetrate the depths of who we are and transform us from the inside out. Jesus said, “… ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”’” Luke 4:4. Be careful; for those who “only hear” deceive themselves. They think “being in the Word” is enough. Hearing a great message from God’s Word and never putting it into practice is shirking our responsibility. Something to think about: Our responsibility as those who have heard is far greater than those who have never heard! Paul addresses hearing the Word in Romans 10:17: “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” We can’t believe in something we’ve never heard of. We can’t be “doers” of something we’ve never heard of. We can’t know God or His Son unless we hear, read, and study the Word. Once we begin doing so our hearts will soften and open up to receive It—The Word. It can then begin working from the inside out and the power of the Holy Spirit can begin His work to mature our faith. Jesus clarified that hearing the Word of God should lead to bearing fruit in our lives. He gives us the parable of the sower of seeds to help us appreciate the importance of this message. “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” Matthew 13:22-23. My friends, we need to receive His Word and be receptive to living it out and producing good fruit. Jesus gives us a dramatic statement regarding “hearers only” of the Word compared to those who obediently take one step further to do His Word: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. Jesus knows the difference between those who can talk a great game and those whose walk matches their talk. He again uses a parable to explain it.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. …. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.” Matthew 7:24, 26. Hearing and doing is how we build our firm foundation. Obeying His directives keeps us safe when the storms of life come and beat down upon us. These storms will not shake our foundation. Hearers only, however, are like those who build their house on a sandy foundation. The house will fall when the storms come. Let us all “be doers of the word, and not hearers only”! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
