Another short section today...I told you, this text is just loaded with stuff we can talk about!  Here are today’s verses:

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

In reading this, the theme of this text seems to be anger, or pushing against having anger in your heart.  It is almost like James is telling us that anger and love can’t coexist in a person’s heart; where there is anger there is a struggle to love.

Why quick to hear; why does James start there?  I have to put things into the text that aren’t there, but I can speculate.  Let’s assume that most people are decent people, and most people are reasonable.  Then, most people act the way they act because of what they have seen and heard, just as is the case for me.  Then, it is a good starting point to assume that if I saw and heard and experienced everything they have, I might come to a similar conclusion, a similar opinion, or a similar place.  This idea of assuming the best in people is central to having a loving, understanding, compassionate, heart...and it all starts with listening.  It is predicated on the fact that we understand another person’s viewpoint.  Perhaps James is leaning into this truth...that understanding starts with listening, and that anger is born out of a lack of understanding more times than not.  Quick to listen, slow to speak...meaning, listen until we think we understand, then listen some more, the a little more; and all of that before I ever wade into the conversation with MY opinion.  Because, as he goes on to say, anger can’t be in the heart of someone who is producing righteousness...meaning, we can love our neighbor, we can’t come along side him, if we are harboring anger.

So, how do we do this?  How do we lower our guard, listen, and appreciate what another person is saying instead of becoming angry?  We humble ourselves to receive God’s word...which is to say, we humble ourselves, we become ‘meek’ to use James’ word in this verse, and we let God work on us.  We have been talking about leaning into God’s promises, and this is a great example of that...we are to love our neighbor and ask God to fill our hearts with love.  You see the order there?  We are to DO, then we will feel like it.  In fact, tomorrow’s verses start right there, by commanding us to be DOERS of the word.  Sometimes we have to act ourselves into feeling.

So, today I am reminded that anger is an enemy I must combat.  Listening is the key to that.  This week, I am going to subject myself to a challenge, and that is to be conscious to ask one follow-up question whenever possible and appropriate, to seek just a bit more confirmation in conversations that I understand, before I speak.  Before I offer an opinion or a thought, I must ask one more question or must restate what the other person is saying, in my own words, and confirm that I have it right.  This is a great relationship and conversational tool, but it is also a way to engrain a habit of being quick to hear and slow to speak as James commands here in his letter this morning.