Proper Attention Produces Privileged Lives (Part 1 of 2)

Review of Trials and Temptations

In the first chapter of James, we began by considering trials and adversity as joyful. Trials produce maturity and equip us for the future. A trial is anything difficult—loss of a loved one, illness, persecution, or national tragedy like 9/11. The purpose is to test faith and produce a better version of ourselves. Suffering pushes us beyond comfort with the present self toward a future self that responds with joy.

We also discussed temptations, recognizing that we are drawn away by our own desires. Changing our desires moves us away from sin and toward Christlikeness.

The Main Idea: Proper Attention Produces Privileged Lives

James addresses his scattered congregation facing persecution. In their unprivileged circumstances, he reveals a path to privilege through proper attention to God's Word. What seems like disadvantage becomes opportunity when we apply Scripture fully.

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

— James 1:21-25

James rounds out the chapter: start with joy in trials, end with what produces true blessing. Proper attention to God improves how we perceive, react to, and endure circumstances.

A Childhood Illustration of Improper Attention

When I was young, my cousin and I would visit my aunt. She would tell us not to go outside, especially into the street. We would agree, but minutes later, we were there. Caught and rebuked, we acted confused—we heard her but forgot because we weren't paying proper attention. Disobedience followed. This mirrors our passage: lack of attention to God's Word leads to forgetting and sin.

Quick to Hear, Slow to Speak, Slow to Anger

You may know this as relational advice: in conversations, listen fully before responding or getting angry. That's wise, but James means something greater—proper attention to God's Word.

Be quick to hear Scripture, slow to speak or act on partial understanding, slow to anger from prideful self-expression. James emphasizes speech throughout (chapter 3 on the tongue, verse 26 on bridling it). Speech reveals the heart and connects to behavior. Quick hearing suppresses sinful expression; slow hearing leads to worthless religion, misrepresenting God.

Constant hearing provides the full context of God's truth. Without it, we take snippets, form flawed views, and react wrongly—like misunderstanding a statement out of context, leading to quarrels or tragedy (e.g., misapplying verses to condone sin like suicide or ignoring God's stance on issues like gay marriage).

Be Doers, Not Hearers Only

Many hear God's Word frequently—services, studies, sermons—but it's pointless without action. James illustrates with a mirror:

Imagine studying your face intently, seeing spinach in your teeth or ketchup on your cheek. You walk away and forget, greeting others oblivious. The Word is that mirror, reflecting who we truly are. Diligent study without perseverance and action is self-deception.

It's not about memorizing everything instantly, but consistent engagement so our lives reflect God's truth. Sermons and readings are marching orders, not mere lectures. Hearing without doing wastes time and misses blessing—a higher quality of life, maturity, and the "better you."

Obeying Scripture, like honoring parents, blesses every relationship. Amen in church means nothing without diligent application. Failing to do so deceives us and forfeits privilege.

Not Practicing the Word Creates Danger

Anyone who is more thoroughly equipped to deal with any particular circumstance but does not put the Scriptures into practice robs themselves. In fact, they create a dangerous situation. Someone who does not do the word may be like the person in James chapter 2 who believes in God but expresses no obedience. James calls that a dead faith—someone playing make-believe, not made to believe.

There are serious implications when the Bible lists sins: no fornication, yet people sleep around calling it love, as in today's erotic freedom movement. They claim commitment and love, but demonstrate they are not doers of the word—it's just verbal. No drunkenness, yet some enjoy getting drunk. Not doers of the word, with real implications.

James addresses a congregation scattered by persecution: if you don't practice what God says, you risk missing the significant blessing to endure this trial. Consider it joy for the outcome to produce a better you, one who endures.

Like returning to the gym after 29 years, if I don't keep going, the next time will be just as pitiful. Similarly, if I don't endure trials, the next one could cause the professing-but-disobedient believer to fall away. Joy is the principle that carries you through, producing blessing.

Gazing into the Perfect Law

Spend time looking into this perfect law—a full expression of God's word, law and gospel. Your constant activity: be quick to hear the law of God, not as a list of do's and don'ts, but like gazing into a mirror exposing who you really are. As Paul says, the law exposes sin, teaches your need for Christ, and leads to Him.

Consistently hearing God's law reveals you as a wretched, vile sinner, incapable of pleasing God, dead in sin or troubled by it. If quick to speak, you say "I got it" and walk away, forgetting your sin.

Combine law and gospel constantly: law shows how sinful you are; gospel how forgiven. Just forgiveness licenses sin; just law breeds legalism and performance to impress God. Both give an accurate picture of who you are and what to do—security in Christ, conformed to His image.

Beholding the gospel counteracts the law's revelation of wretchedness. In the New Testament, Jesus pleases God; the Old shows you offensive to God. See steps from offensive you to pleasing Jesus, enduring with joy like Him amid hostility, now seated at the Father's right hand. You share that gospel glory.

This avoids anger: I'm terrible, performance isn't considered, others are too. I count on Christ. If disappointed in me, step in line—I'm first, thoroughly disappointed in myself, interested only in Christ. He's my center—privilege, hope, security. Pro-Christ: no negativity against Him, but slander me freely; my identity is in undisappointing Christ.

Closing Considerations: Run to Hear God

Proper attention to God's word produces privileged lives. If God is real, spoke the world into existence, shaped history by His word—why neglect hearing Him frequently? If we truly believe He's real, know Him experientially as a child of God—not mere demon-level faith of James 2—we run to hear Him.

Don't figure life out alone; run to God for instructions. It's makarios—privileged. Biggest privilege: talk to, listen to God anytime. Old Testament high priest once a year; now unlimited access, His voice via electronics wherever we go.

Makarios brings joy, happiness—not overtaken by cares. As in 2 Corinthians 1:

Blessed be the God... who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Hear God's comfort in any trial, then comfort others. Privileged joy: comforted, encouraged, admonished, strengthened, pushed forward.

Don't just read the word—hear it quickly, frequently. Never believe you've fully learned a biblical principle; that's quick to speak, prideful. "He who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall." The less you hear, the more you forget. Repetition is necessary—we forget past sermons or Scriptures without returning.

Christianity isn't graduating high school, college, or PhD—done. Hear every biblical concept as often as possible, as long as you can stand. We think we've learned, then violate it—like kids ignoring aunt Penny's "don't go outside."

Be slow to speak incorporates humility and meekness. Receive the implanted word with meekness. Sin is the greatest deterrent to privileged life—be diligent to put away filthiness and rampant wickedness.