Study on James 1:22
The Word of God tells us in James 1:22 “Be ye therefore doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
We hear from the Spirit, in Luke 6.47, what faith should be like that makes us like Jesus: “Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like.”
So let’s see:
“Come to me” – It means that we are always looking to him in response to God’s love (John 17:26; Rev 2:4; Phil 1:9)! We only know fully when we have the experience of Job: knowing “by walking together”, not just “hearing about”!
“Hear my words” – Hearing is keeping, obeying, following, giving heed (Rev 1:3; Jn 8:47; Jn 10:27; Jn 18:37; Rom 10:17; Col 3:16).
“Practice them” – listening is practising! Practising is not accepting, agreeing, philosophizing about a subject, but making it a personal experience.
We are called to express our faith through obedience to the word of God. (Mt 21:28-32; Lk 11:27, 28; Jas 1:22, 25). According to James, it is impossible to speak of faith and not live by works; nay, faith that does not express itself in works is dead (James 2:17, 26)!
Paul says that works do not save us, we are saved solely by the grace of God (Eph 2:8,9). But Paul also says that “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10)!
In his letter to Titus, Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, gives us several hints about the importance of good works in the life of the Church:
Titus 2:7: “Personally become a pattern of good works.” Each of us should be a model of good works, which are listed here as: disciples of integrity, reverence, with sound and irreproachable speech; employees obedient to their bosses and authorities; workers who satisfy their superiors, not being answers; not being thieves (from God too? – Mal 3:8).
Titus 2:14: “People… zealous for good works.” To be a people zealous in good works means to be a people intensely dedicated, careful, diligent, helpful and always attentive to be able to serve others.
Titus 3:1: “…be ready for every good work.” Readiness is the opposite of omission! It’s getting out of the comfort zone, and exposing ourselves by calling responsibility for ourselves. It is taking the risk and the loss; it’s actually serving and not just being moved by a situation. It’s praying, yes, but with the willingness to get involved with the answer!
Titus 3:8: “… be diligent in doing good works.” Being solicitous in the practice of good works is the same as being always sensitive and carefully attentive and committed to serving. It is asking the other, with sincerity: “How can I be useful?”.
Titus 3:14: “… that they also learn to excel in good works…”. We must not flaunt our “good works,” but we must do so to such an extent that we become known as those who stand out for their dedication to good works. After all, Jesus said we would be known as his disciples because of our love for one another (John 13:35)!
