Doers Who Act
You must understand this, my beloved:
let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger
does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all
sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the
implanted word that has the power to save your souls.
But be doers of the word, and not
merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and
not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they
look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like.
But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere,
being not hearers who forget but doers who act – they will be blessed in their
doing.
If any think they are religious, and
do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is
worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:
to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
As Christians, we are to have hearts
of giving. James tells us to listen to the Word and do what it says. But he
does not stop with just telling us to obey. He gives us specific instructions
about what we must do. Ask God for a loving heart. Give to widows and orphans.
Out of love for God, obey what He tells you to do. It is what we are supposed
to be doing.
You can give
without loving,
but you can’t
love without giving.
Our Daily
Bread –