September 6, 2021 (Monday)
One reason I love the book of James is because it teaches us
to behave in real life.
One issue we have is the willingness to judge others. This can
bleed into being offended. The two seem to go together. I think a follower of
Jesus needs to be “unoffendable.” James starts us on the path when he states, “Know this, my dear
brothers and sisters: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and
slow to grow angry.” [James 1:19 CEB]
There are three skills listed in this verse.
First we must be “quick to listen.” My impression of “quick”
is that we should be more interested in listening actively than talking. The
idea is to put effort into understanding what the other person is saying,
instead of thinking about what we are going to say next. Our problem when we
become judgmental or offended is think we know WHY the person has said what
they said…
Psychologist tell us this is “projection.” There is no
possible way we can understand why someone said what they said so we “project”
our own motivation into the statement. When we are offended by what someone
else has said, we expose the corruption in our own heart. Or as Jesus declared,
“For you will be
treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by
which you will be judged.” [Matthew
7:2 NLT]
Only God knows the heart. Jeremiah declared, “The human heart is
the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how
bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I
give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” [Jeremiah 17:9 – 10 NLT] Even the individual person
cannot truly know what is in their heart. What helps expose the darkness
lurking in the heart is when we open our mouths or when we are judgmental.
The second skill James listed was “slow to speak.” I have a
friend who describes the human condition of “diarrhea of the mouth.” The skill
of thinking before we speak is important, but it is only part of what James is
staying. The third part of James’ skill set is “slow to get angry.” Don’t say
it and don’t let it bother you are closely linked. Once you open your mouth, it
escapes the lips and poison spreads like a pandemic.
James’ issue with anger is very simple, “This is because an angry person doesn’t
produce God’s righteousness.” [James 1:20 CEB] Anger does not
produce righteousness. I know some will point to the times Jesus appeared
angry. My response is, only God knows what is in the heart. But wait, there is
more! James connects “diarrhea of the mouth” and a judgmental attitude with
something much darker and sinister.
James goes on to say, “Therefore, with humility, set aside all moral filth and the
growth of wickedness, and welcome the word planted deep inside you—the very
word that is able to save you.” [James
1:21 CEB] Because we open our mouth or get angry, we expose a gigantic iceberg
silently floating along in the ocean. So is the darkness in our heart.
If we find something exposed, chances are very good it is
only the “tip of the iceberg.” Scientist tell us that what we see of an iceberg
is only about 10% of the whole. Very literally, our lives are like the Titanic.
We push ahead, unaware of the danger that lurks unseen in our lives.
My suggestion is we learn to pray what I call the bravest
prayer in the Bible, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my
thoughts!” [Psalm 139:23 ESV] What
starts as a declaration at the beginning of the Psalm is a petition at the end.
I think the psalmist is asking God to reveal to them what He already knows. Are
you brave enough to take the journey into the darkness in your heart?
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