James 1:19 gives us three things to do to live a godly life. It says, “Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving]” (AMP). It was intentional that he wrote for us to be careful and thoughtful listeners first. Solomon was a great example of this. Did you know that’s where his wisdom came from? Here’s what he asked God for in 1 Kings 3:9, “So give Your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart [with which] to judge Your people, so that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge and rule this great people of Yours?” Becoming a careful, thoughtful listener starts by having a hearing heart.
The second thing James tells us is to be slow to speak and to use carefully chosen words. Later on in chapter 3 he tells us the tongue can kindle a great fire, so we must be careful with the words we choose to use towards others and ourselves. A great example of this is Barnabas in Acts 4. Verse 36 says, “Now Joseph, a Levite and native of Cyprus, who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement).” Did you know His real name was Joseph, but they changed it to Barnabas because he was such an encourager with his words? Carefully chosen words look to build others up rather than to tear them down.
Finally James tells us to be slow to anger by being patient, reflective and forgiving. The parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15) demonstrates both sides of this. The father was the one whom the son offended. However, when he headed home after wasting everything the father had given him, his father ran towards him forgiving him because he was patient and reflective. In contrast, the brother wasn’t and became angry towards his father and his brother. What if the brother had been waiting on the porch? His anger would have changed his brother’s story and left him outside. The effectiveness of our life and the lives of those around depends on our ability to do these three things. If you want to have a greater impact, ask God to help you in these areas.
Photo by Rebe Pascual on Unsplash
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 