1. Someone has written:

I am the Bible.
I am God’s wonderful library.
I am always—and above all—the truth.
To the weary pilgrim, I am a good, strong staff.
To the one who sits in black gloom, I am glorious Light.
To those who stoop beneath heavy burdens, I am sweet Rest.
To him who has lost his way, I am a safe Guide.
To those who have been hurt by sin, I am a healing Balm.
To the discouraged, I whisper a glad message of Hope.
To those who are distressed by the storms of life, I am an Anchor, sure and steadfast.
To those who suffer in lonely solitude, I am as a cool, soft Hand resting on a fevered brow.
Oh, child of man, to best defend me, just use me.

2. The Bible is all that the writer described it to be. It is all that anyone can ever need. Yet, the way to experience all that the Bible can mean to you as a believer, is found in the words of the writer: “Just use me.”

3. If I were to sum up all that James is saying in verses 19-25, it would be, “Just use me.” One survey found that 27 percent of all Americans own at least five Bibles. Yet a poll in USA Today found that only 11 percent of Americans read the Bible every day. More than half read it less than once a month or not at all.

4. Even worse, George Barna conducted a survey of “born again” Christians and found that only 18 percent (2 out of 10) read the Bible every day, and even worse, 23 percent (1 in 4) professing Christians say they never read the Bible.

5. It is not enough to own a Bible. One must read the Bible and use the Bible. The Bible will do a person no good if all it does is sit on the shelf or coffee table. It must be used.

6. In our last study, we saw in verse 18, that the Word of God was the instrument of our new birth. We read, “Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth.” We were born again through the power of the Word of God. Verse 19 begins with the word “Wherefore.” The word indicates that the instructions that are about to be given are given in light of the place the Word of God had in our salvation.

7. In other words, since the Word of God was an instrument in our conversion, this is what our response should be to the Word. In verses 19-25, we see the part the Bible is to have in our life as a believer. In a nutshell, the Bible is to be used in our life. Let’s look at these 7 verses and notice the place the Word of God is to have in our life as a believer.

1. OUR AFFECTION FOR THE WORD!

1. In verses 19-21a, the emphasis seems to be on how we feel about the Bible. It speaks of our affection for the Bible that is revealed in our hearing of the Word of God. Luke 8:18 says, “Take heed therefore how ye hear” and Mark 4:24 says, “Take heed what ye hear.” We are to take heed “how” we hear and “what” we hear.

2. In the case before, the emphasis is on how we hear. How are we to hear? Spiro Zodhiates in his book on James describes four kinds of hearers. There are those that are like a sponge. They suck up good and bad and let both run out immediately. There are those like a sandglass that let what enters in at one ear pass out of the other, hearing without thinking. There are those who are like a strainer, letting go the good, and retaining the bad. Finally, there are those who are like a sieve, letting go the chaff, and retaining the good.

3. Notice what James has to say about our hearing of the Word and the kind of hearer we should be. First we see that there is to be:

A. Unlimited Hearing.

1. When it comes to our hearing of the Word, we are to avail ourselves of every opportunity to hear God’s Word. There should be an eagerness on our part to take advantage of every opportunity to hear God’s Word. Our hearing should not be occasional or irregular. Our hearing should be unlimited. By that, I mean that we should look for and strive for every occasion and opportunity to hear God’s Word. We should not limit our opportunities to hear God’s word.

2. In verse 19 James emphasizes this unlimited hearing by describing the response we should have to three particular matters. He tells us that we are to be “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”

3. First, let me point out that he describes a slow response on our part. We are to be slow to speak and slow to wrath. First, take the matter of being slow to speak. The wise man Solomon spoke to this matter several different times in Proverbs. We read in:

Proverbs 10:19, “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.”

Proverbs 17:27, “He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.”

Proverbs 21:23, “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”

4.  As believers, we should be cautious and careful when we speak. We are not to rush or be hasty in what we say. We should be slow to speak.

5. The story is told that on one occasion, a young man came to Socrates to be trained as an orator. At his first meeting with the great teacher, he talked without stopping. Finally, Socrates interrupted him and said, “Young man, I will have to charge you a double fee.” The young man asked, “A double fee? Why is that?” “I will have to teach you two sciences,” answered Socrates. “First, how to hold your tongue, and then how to use it.”

6. I have met a few that needed to learn how to hold their tongue and how to use it. We are to be slow to speak.

7. We are also told to be “slow to wrath.” The word “wrath” speaks of more than just becoming angry. Will Rogers once said, “People who fly into a rage always make a bad landing.” In this case, it is more than someone flying into a rage. The word speaks of that which is smoldering in the heart.  It is describing someone whose heart is filled with anger and resentment that is smoldering in the heart. It has not burst into flames as of yet, but it is only a matter of time before it does.

8.  How often we let bitterness, resentment, and anger smolder in our heart. There is someone who has done us wrong or something happened that we didn’t like, and it smolders in our hearts. Instead of extinguishing it we let it smolder.

9. In verse 20, James adds a comment to this matter of “wrath.” He says, “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” This smoldering anger is just a breath away from igniting into a flame. When this happens, it never results in actions or behavior that is right in the sight of God. Such actions never accomplish God’s righteous purposes for our life.

10. When it comes to speaking or being angry, we should have a slow response. But notice with me that he also spoke of a swift response on our part. He tells us that we should be “swift to hear.” He is talking about how we should hear God’s Word. The word “swift” simply means “quick.”

11. The word is translated from a word from which we get our word “tachometer.” A tachometer or “tach” is an instrument that measures how fast a piece of machinery is operating. When it comes to hearing, we should be quick and hasty to hear God’s Word.

12. The ideal is that we should quickly, hastily, and swiftly avail ourselves of every opportunity, as one writer said, “to increase our exposure to the Word.” James tells us that when it comes to speaking and anger, we should be very slow in our response. But when it comes to hearing the Word, we should strive to hear the Word every chance we get.

13. When it comes to a private exposure of the Word, we should seek every moment and opportunity we can to hear God’s Word. Guy King commented on the words “swift to hear” as "eager learners ever listening for the Spirit’s voice in the inspired pages.” If all you do is move a bookmark when you read the Bible, you haven’t really read the Bible. You only read the Bible when you read it, listening to what God is saying to you in His Word. When you read the Bible you are to read it with the objective of letting God speak to you.

14. Most likely James was speaking of a public hearing of the Word—the preaching of God’s Word. There are many Christians who unfortunately feels that one sermon a week is enough. Even more that feel they can get by one two sermons. Bless those who feel they need at least three sermons.

15. James tells us that we should avail ourselves of every opportunity to hear God’s Word. In simple language, James says, “Every time the Word is preached, you be a present listener. Every time you have a chance to hear God’s Word, seize that opportunity.” There should be unlimited hearing.

16. Notice secondly that there is to be:

B. Unhindered Hearing

1. Again in verse 21 we see the word “Wherefore.” In light of what has just been said, we are instructed to, “lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness.” There is not only to be a response on our part, but a removal as well. Since there is to be an unlimited hearing of the Word, there should also be an unhindered hearing of the Word. Let me explain.

2. The words “lay apart” simply mean, “to put off.” The words are descriptive of taking off a coat or garment. In other words, there are some things that we need to get rid of in our life as it relates to how we hear.

3. For one thing, we are get rid of all defiling sins. Notice the word “filthiness.” Notice James 2:2: “For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment.” The garment of the poor man is called a “vile” garment. The word “vile” comes from the same word as “filthiness” in 1:21. It speaks of that which is dirty. It is descriptive of moral sins. There is to be a removal of any sin that defiles us.

4. Also, we see that we are to get rid of all deliberate sins. Verse 21 speaks of the “superfluity of naughtiness.” The word “superfluity” speaks of that which is in abundance, a surplus. The word “naughtiness” speaks of all that is bad and pertains to sins that are deliberate.

5. I find it interesting that the word “superfluity” is the same basic word was used in Mark 8:8 to describe the leftovers when Jesus broke the fish and bread and fed the 5,000. A superfluity of naughtiness suggests the ideal of things that are “left over” from our old life.

6. When we first got saved it did not takes us long to realize that there were some things in our new life that were carried over from our old life. There were some old habits and ways that clung to us. James spoke of anger in verse 19 and our tempers would be one example.  

7. James is telling us to put off or lay apart all that has to do with the old life. We are to get rid of the “leftovers” of our past life. All those things that we do deliberately or out of habit, is to be removed in our life. 

8. What has this to do with out hearing? Notice the word “filthiness” again. As I said, the word speaks of that is dirty and defiling. But the word has even a deeper meaning. The word is a compound word from which we get the words, “ear wax.” 

9. Verse 19 tells us to be swift to hear, to quickly avail ourselves of every opportunity to hear God’s word. Therefore, we are to remove anything that would hinder us from being able to hear God’s Word. In simple language, get the wax out of your ears so you can hear properly. 

10. Let me sum it up this way. We are to have a great affection for the Word of God. We should love the Word and seek to hear it every chance we get. Since it was the Book God used to save us, we should hear it with great affection and allow nothing to hinder us from hearing the Word.

 11. Let me move on and notice with me secondly:

 2. OUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE WORD!

 1. We read in the latter part of verse 21, “and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” James not only talks about hearing the word, but also receiving the Word. Notice:

 A. The Welcome We Are To Give

 1. Notice the word “receive.” It simply means, “to welcome.” Like we would receive or welcome a friend into our home, we should welcome the Word of God in our life.

2. How are we to welcome the Word? We are to welcome the Word with “meekness.” The word was used to describe an animal that had been broken and domesticated, such as a wild horse being broken and made submissive to a master.

3. The ideal is that we are to be submissive to the Word we hear. It is not just enough to read the Bible. We must hear the Bible. Furthermore, it is not just enough to hear, we must submit to what we hear.

4. We are to welcome what we hear into our hearts and lives. Instead of bucking and snorting, fighting what God says to us in His Word, we are to welcome what He says in our life, willing and heartily submitting to His Word.

5. I have known of a few through the years that got mad at a preacher for what he said. Sometimes it was due to how he said it. I am afraid that I have upset a few through the years, both by what I said and how I said it. I do not want to make people mad by my disposition but if I make them mad by my position, then I am not going to lose a minute’s sleep over it. Some simply get mad because they do not welcome the Word they hear and are not willing to submit to what God says.

6. Notice secondly:

B. The Work We Are To Grant

 1. Verse 21 calls the Word of God the “engrafted word.” It is literally the “implanted” word and means, “to plant a seed in the ground.” At our conversion the Word was planted in our hearts. Our receiving of the Word with meekness speaks of our allowing the Word to work in our lives.

 2. As believers, the Word has been planted, and we are to provide the soil that will enable the seed to grow in our life. We are to water and fertilize the Word so it can accomplish in our life that which God intended.

 3. What does God intend for His word to accomplish in our life as a believer? Verse 21 speaks of the word, “which is able to save your souls.” This saving is not salvation in the sense of getting saved. It is speaking of the continuing work of salvation whereby God’s purposes and plans for our life are accomplished and fulfilled.

4. We are to seize every opportunity we have to hear God’s Word. We are to welcome God’s Word and submit to what we hear so that the Word of God can work in our life, bear fruit, and bring to pass all God wants for our life.

5. The believers at Thessalonica are a good example of this truth. In 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Paul expressed his thanks for the believers at Thessalonica because of how they received the Word and allowed the Word to work in their life. Paul said: “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

6. They received the Word and allowed it to work mightily in their life. As believers, we should not only get into the Bible, but also let the Bible get into us. There is to be an acceptance of the Word.

7. Finally we see:

3. OUR ABIDING IN THE WORD!

1. In verse 22 we read the words, “But be ye.” The words speak of that which is “continual.” It speaks of that which abides or is habitual in a person’s life. The same thought is found in verse 25 when it speaks of one that “continueth therein.” Again, the ideal is of abiding therein. There is not only to be a proper response and reception to the Word, but also a proper result. We are to abide in the Word. 

2. In verses 22 James speaks of both a “doer” and “hearer” of the Word. He says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” The word “doer” speaks of more than what a person does. It is a word that characterizes the whole person. It describes what a person becomes, more than what a person does. 

3. The word “doer” speaks of a productive action leading to an actual result. If a person will hear and receive the Word, it will work in their life and bring about certain results in their life. It speaks of what we become as result of the working of the Word in life as well as what we do. 

4. The word also means “poet.” A poet is one who puts words together in order to express a thought for feeling in a beautiful manner. As we hear the word, receiving a word, then another word, and then another, and so on, it all comes together in our life developing us into a beautiful expression of God’s plans and purposes for His children. 

5. The “doer” is set in contrast to one that is a “hearer” only. The word “hearer” means to audit a class. When a person audit’s a class, they sit in the classroom, listen to the teacher and learn the subject that is being taught, but does not get a grade or credit for the class. 

6. The Bible is telling us not to be someone who hears but does not get any benefit from what they hear. Again, we are to hear and receive the Word and allow it to work in our life. There are many who attend services each week who hear the Word but never welcome it into their life and allow it to work in them. All they had done is audit the Word they heard. 

7. Beginning in verse 23, further emphasizes this thought of abiding in the Word. First we see:

A. The Picture That Explains Abiding

1. In verses 23-25, James sets in contrast the “doer” and “hearer only” of the Word. The picture is of each looking into a mirror. The word “glass” in verse 23 speaks of a mirror. In verses 23-24 we see one who is a hearer only: “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: [24] For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.”

2. This person looks into the mirror and the mirror reveals certain needs in their life. It shows that their face needs to be washed and their hair needs to be combed. But this person does nothing about what the mirror has revealed. As James describes, he sees what needs attending to but does nothing about it and goes their merry way and soon forgets about what needs to be done.

3. In verse 25 we see one that looks into the mirror and does something about what the mirror reveals: “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

4. The mirror again reveals things that need to be attended to and in this case the observer responds to what the mirror reveals and attends to those matters. As James says, he does not become a “forgetful hearer.” That is, he does not ignore what is revealed but responds to the needs.

5. The lesson is that God’s Word is a mirror that reveals needs in our life. As we hear the Word there will be needs exposed and revealed in our life. We can be one is a hearer only and ignore what is revealed, or we can be a doer and do something about the needs that are revealed.

6. The word’s “continueth therein” in verse 25 indicate the doer of the Word is one that is always responding to what the Word reveals. This person abides in the Word, always allowing it to work in their life and responding to what it says.

7. Then finally we see:

B. The Promise That Encourages Abiding

1. What does James say about the person who abides in the Word? He says in verse 25: “this man shall be blessed in his deed.” James says that God blesses the one who abides in the Word. Do you want to be blessed by God? Then hear His word, receive His word, and obey His word.

2. The world-renowned physician, Dr. Howard A. Kelly of John Hopkins, was once visited by a woman in which the cares of life threatened her physical strength, and even her reasoning. Once she described her symptoms, she was surprised at the prescription he gave her. “Madam,” he said. “What you need is to read the Bible more!” He told her to go home and read her Bible an hour each day and then to come back to him in a month. At first the lady was inclined to become angry with him, but she did what he told her. She was a Christian and had neglected the things of God. When she came back a month later he said to her, “I see you have been an obedient patient. Do you feel as if you need any other medicine now?” She said, “No, Doctor, I am a different person. But how did you know what I needed?” He reached over and picked up his well-worn and well-marked Bible and said, “If I omit my daily reading of God’s Word, I not only lose my joy, but I lose my greatest source of strength and skill. You case called not for medicine but for a source of peace and strength outside yourself. My prescription, when tried, works wonders!”

3. Hear the Word! Hear it at every opportunity you can. Receive the Word! Welcome the Word in your heart and life and let it work in you. Abide in the Word! It will not only work wonders but will bring great blessings into your life.

4. In light of all James says, I say: “The B-I-B-L-E: THAT’S THE BOOK FOR ME!