Guidelines to Application
James 1:19-22
I never have really liked "lab" classes in school. These are the classes where
you are expected to put into practice what you have learned in the lecture
classes. I guess my dislike for them originates from the fact that nothing ever
seems to work the way it is suppose to work. It is much less difficult for me to
understand something on a theoretical basis than to actually apply the theory.
This is the same problem many of us have with our spiritual lives. It isn't too
difficult to understand how God want us to live but acting upon that knowledge
is a whole different story. The first chapter of the book of James gives us
instruction on going beyond the mere hearing of God's word into the doing of it.
If we are to better apply God's word in our own lives then we desperately need
these instructions.
1. Be Swift to Hear. James begins his
guide of application by giving us the first step..."So then, my beloved
brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." (James
1:19). It is impossible to apply principles that we do not even know. If we are
not swift to hear what God has to say then we will not be able to live the way
he wants us to live. Also included here is the desire to hear. We should always
base our actions and our decisions on God's word. In 1 Peter 2:2 Peter states,
"As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby."
Our growth originates from a desire for God's word. If we are swift to hear then
it shows we desire God's guidance.
2. Lay Aside All Filthiness. The second
step in applying God's word is found in verse 21..."Therefore lay aside all
filthiness and overflow of wickedness." If we are not willing to refrain from
actions that displease God then we are going to be hindered from performing
actions that are pleasing to him. In Ephesians 4:22 Paul says "put off,
concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the
deceitful lusts." Again he states in Colossians 3:5,8-9, "Therefore put to death
your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil
desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry...But now you yourselves are to put
off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your
mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his
deeds." In application of God's word we must take ourselves down from the throne
of our lives and lay aside our evil practices.
3. Receive God's Word in Meekness. The
third step is stated in the last part of verse 21..."Receive with meekness the
implanted word, which is able to save your souls." Once we have taken ourselves
off the throne of our lives then we need to put God in that position. When we
meekly receive his word we are saying that we will submit our will to his, his
word is what will rule our lives. In Ephesians 4:23 Paul says that in order for
you to lay aside the old self and put on the new self you must "be renewed in
the spirit of your mind." We must change our attitude and our direction in life
from serving ourselves to serving God. This is similar to what Paul said in
Romans 12:2, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and
perfect will of God." An application of God's word demands
that we recognize God as ruler of our lives.
4. Be Doers of the Word. Once the above
three steps are completed and are present in our lives then we can become doers
of God's word. James 1:22 states, "But be doers of the word, and not
hearers only, deceiving yourselves." The only thing that appears to keep us from
applying God's word after we have truly performed the first three steps is our
own deception. It is a sad situation indeed when we attempt to explain away why
we have not obeyed God. All we are doing in this instance is trying to deceive
ourselves. We need to "look in the mirror" and fix what is wrong instead of
walking away and pretending everything is all right.
Application of anything is much more difficult than the mere knowledge of that
thing. The same difficulty is present when discussing the application of God's
word in our lives. James has given us guidelines, however, so that we can become
"effectual doers" of God's word. Put these steps into practice and stop
deceiving yourselves!
By Olin Hudson
From Expository Files 7.3; March 2000
