In the Apostle James’ epistle he is writing to his “beloved brethren” who are “scattered abroad.”  He is writing to the diaspora–Israelites whose ancestors had been scattered throughout the world because of their rebellion against God (Jer. 9:16).  He is writing to those whom Jesus sent His apostles: “Do not go to the Gentiles, nor to the Samaritans, go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel” (Mat. 10:5-8).  They were to take them the gospel of the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick, cast out demons and raise the dead.  They were to freely give what they (the apostles) had been given.  James was writing to the churches that had been established among those scattered Israelites.

In 1:19 he tells them: “Wherefore, my beloved (physical and spiritual) brethren, be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath.”  James had obviously been told that there were problems among the converted Israelites.  Some were listening to the wrong “truths.”  In this context the word “swift” meant to be always ready to hear God’s Truth (Word-Jn. 17:17).  In other words, don’t think you know it all. 

James was referring to self-righteousness.  “Swiftness to hear” is what separates church sheep from church goats.  Upon hearing something different sheep will say,  “Show me in God’s Word.”  And if it is there, they will embrace it.  Goats will refuse to hear God’s Word.  And if they should inadvertently hear or read it, will reject it because, “That’s not what I was always taught.”  As one such goat told me, “I know all I need to know.”  The speaker was my dear aunt–a pillar in the church in which I grew up.  She knew very little of God’s Word and was wrong about what little she knew.  Apparently, James was dealing with a number like my auntie.

We are living in the “last hour” of this world.  All of the Biblical signs proclaim this truth.  James’ message is a last hour message.  Therefore it is imperative that the word gets out: “Therefore, put away from you all filthiness and wickedness and receive with humility the IMPLANTED WORD OF GOD WHICH IS ABLE  TO SAVE YOUR SOULS” (1:21).  He was telling the Christians in the various churches scattered throughout the world to get rid of the things that choke and pollute the Word of God in their lives.  These admonitions are also for those who call themselves by God’s name today.  Note that James was telling those Christians (and the church today) that the Word of God is ABLE to save their souls.  If, as we are told, they were already saved, why did he make such a statement?

Note also that merely knowing God’s Word was not enough to make it a soul-saving entity.  God’s Word must be “IMPLANTED” within our hearts (minds).  God implants His Word in us via the Holy Spirit so that it will take root and grow.  As we nurture it, deep, water (Spirit) seeking roots form and the sprouted seed grows, producing more and more faith.  “Faith comes by hearing the Word of God” (Rom. 10:19).  The more we study, the more faith we gain.  The more faith we develop the more holy we become as we obey what we believe.  As the Lord tells us, “According to your faith, so be it unto you” (Mat. 9:29).  True, living (working) faith is based on what is written in the Scriptures.   When challenged about good and evil, Jesus quoted the Holy Scriptures by prefacing them with “It is written, ….”  If the Word of God was the holy grail for Him, it is the holy grail for us.

God commands that we grow in knowledge of, belief in and obedience to His Word.  Notice that the END of a life-long program of study, faith and obedience is ETERNAL LIFE (Rom. 5:21/6:22/Mat. 10:22).  Salvation is promised only if we “run the race” and cross the “finish line” having followed His Rule Book.  Once the “race” (walk) has begun, one must remain on the prescribed track (obey His rules) until the end in order to receive eternal life (Mat. 10:22).

In order for the implanted seed (Word) to take root and produce growth, faith and fruit the “soil” must be well prepared.  We must be mentally and spiritually ready to receive God’s Truth, even if it contradicts everything we have ever been taught–which it will if one has been in “the church.”  Those who will agree to do this are, as Jesus said, “few” (Mat. 7:13,14).  I recently had religious man’s resistance to God’s Truth proven to me yet again.  I was talking to a very religious couple who mentioned that they would like to visit my website.  I said to them, “You will not like you read, for it contradicts everything you have ever been told.”  I have not heard a world about the website since.  My friends were not “swift to hear.”

The last part of James’ statement is that we must be “slow to speak.”  This does not describe those who do allow me to show them what God says.  They are swift to speak their rejection of God’s Word.  Their “soil” (minds) are not prepared for God’s Truth.  Church doctrine has hardened them to the point that God’s Word cannot penetrate, take root and produce good fruit.  We must deliberately prepare our soil (minds) to receive God’s “seed” (Words) because Satan is continually hardening the minds of those in his religious system.  Read the parable of the seeds in Matthew 13.  There we are told that only one kind of soil produces the fruit required by God.

We must not be like Adam and Eve whose minds (soil) went from receiving God’s Word (seed) to being hardened so that His Word could not take root.  We must not listen to religious doctrine which is not the “water of the Word” (Eph. 5:26) by which we are continuously “washed” clean of Satan’s Word (seed) which is continually put forth from pulpit and podium.  We must study in order to know the difference between the two truths, to choose the right one and to reject the wrong one.  This is voiced in 1 Thessalonians 5:21: “Prove all things of God; keep the good and dispense with the bad.”  This is the passage I used in naming this website.  I do what the passage dictates–I study God’s Word diligently, write it almost every day and speak it when the opportunity arises, which is rare.  L.J.