Doers of the Word (James 1:22-27)

We seem to be reading and hearing about a lot of natural disasters.

There’s been floods … forest fires … tornado’s … earthquakes … tsunami’s … 

In many of these disasters we find that there is usually an outpouring of response by outside agencies to help in the disasters.

Many of these agencies are decidedly Christian.

We have our own Anglican Relief and Development fund.

Other denominations … such as the United Methodist Church …. Southern Baptists … have their own disaster relief agencies.

And then there are independent agencies … such as Samaritan’s Purse and the Salvation Army.

The Christian agencies … such as Samaritan’s Purse … in one way or another are fulfilling some of the commands of the Scriptures … such as …

— do unto others as you would have them do unto you

— “You are the salt of the earth; … “You are the light of the world.

— And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.””

— Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God

I could quote many more Biblical precepts … but we see that there is one that stares at us that summarizes what we should be doing from our Epistle lesson … something simple, but profound: 

““But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.””  (REPEAT)

It is one thing to hear the word of God and what God desires of us … but it is another thing altogether to live out what we believe.

As I have explained before … God has given us all that is necessary to live our lives on this earth and how to get to the world to come  — and that is only through the Lord Jesus Christ — as revealed in God’s Word.

If you want to know how to lead and conduct ourselves as Christians in this world that God has placed in — read and follow God’s Word.

If you want to know how to act and react as Christians in this world that God has placed in — read and follow God’s Word.

If you want to know what we should think about all the events that happen in the world around us … read and follow God’s Word.

And so we see what God’s Word again says: ““But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.””

We know what God has revealed in His Word.  We know what is acceptable to Him and what is NOT acceptable to Him.  

It not rocket science.  

It is also not multiple choice — we cannot pick and choose what we want to follow.  

We have to follow all of it … the best that we can.

AND … if we think about it … it is a FULL TIME JOB.

Our faith is something that should influence our lives each and every day!

It’s NOT something that we put on for Sunday morning for a couple of hours.

It’s not something that is there when we find it convenient … or when there is a difficult problem in our lives … 

For some … there is the truth that says that there are no atheists in foxholes … that’s the only time they pray!

BUT … even as we strive to live for God, each and every day … we see a couple of things.  

First, we know that we cannot keep God’s law perfectly and completely.  

If we could … there would be no reason for Jesus to have come.  

The Bible tells us that if we have broken one law, we have broken them all — that’s just the way it is. 

And so, because we cannot keep God’s law … we are sinners … and that is why Jesus came … 

— to save sinners — to save those who have put their faith in him as Savior, believing that he died for our sins … in our place.

The fact that we are sinners should not prevent us from trying to obey God’s Word the best that we can.  

Because as we do this … we will be doers of the word … we will be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

Throughout the Book of Common Prayer, there are various exhortations and prayers for us, to live as Christians in the world around us.

For example, in Daily Morning and Evening Prayer we pray:

““More especially we pray for thy holy Church universal; that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life.””

In the Litany, we read:

““That it may please thee to give us an heart to love and fear thee, and diligently to live after thy commandments; … and That it may please thee to give to all thy people increase of grace to hear meekly thy Word, and to receive it with pure affection, and to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit;””

In the Post Communion prayer of Thanksgiving, we read … in part:

““And we most humbly beseech thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in;””

In Family, Evening prayer, we read:

“AND accept, O Lord, our intercessions for all mankind. Let the light of thy Gospel shine upon all nations; and may as many as have received it, live as becomes it.”

There are more … but suffice it to say … that ONLY the Christian can live like a Christian.

I would hate to think of a world without Christianity — and without Christians living their lives in the world — being doers of the word.  

And as the light of the world we reveal God’s truth to an unbelieving world — we give light to the truth of the Scriptures. 

Think about individuals that you know who are not Christians … and consider what is important in their lives and how they live them.

Think about those countries were there is no Christian influence or very little and you know clearly what I mean.

Our country was founded by some strong Christians. 

— and the Christian influence in our laws and society cannot be denied — nor can the lives of those who were Christians and influenced those laws.

The problem … at least in my mind … that has arisen in the last century and continuing in this century … is that Christians have ceased being the salt and light in of the world. 

When you have Christians saying that Jesus is NOT the only way of salvation … they have ceased to be doers of the Word and ceased being the salt and light in of the world.

When you have Christians saying that abortion is acceptable to God … they have ceased to be doers of the Word and ceased being the salt and light in of the world.

When you have Christians saying that alternate lifestyles are acceptable to God … because God loves you just the way you are … they have ceased to be doers of the Word and ceased being the salt and light in of the world.

There was one branch of theology, very popular in the 20^th century — and since proved mostly wrong and thankfully, on the decline — where people specifically withdrew themselves from society … education … politics … etc. 

And … because their theology taught that the world needs to get worse so that Christ can return — so why do anything to improve it??

Their philosophy was that you don’t polish brass on a sinking ship.

I would venture to say that this is one of the reasons for the state of our Nation.

AND … I might add … this is really contrary to the scriptures — ““But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.””  

We are to be the salt and light in the world, even though we know that we are just passing through.

Peter tells us in his first letter … 2:11, 12:

““Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.””

We know that we are just here for a short time … the Bible says that the average is 3 score and 10 … 70 years … 

We know that we are just passing through.

But … at the same time … God has placed us in this world for whatever time He has allotted for us … and we are to live for Him … as a witness to Him … being salt and light … in short … being doers of the Word.

God has revealed Himself to us through the Lord Jesus Christ and while we are not saved by our works … our works are an evidence of our faith. 

And this has ALWAYS been the norm for God’s people!

What is the Great Commandment that we recite each and every week: 

““THOU shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”” 

Loving God … and then our neighbor!

Micah 6:8 tells us: ““He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?”” 

As we read in the familiar Ephesians 2:8-10: ““For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  not of works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.””

We see that while not saved by works … that is why we have been saved — to do good works —  to be “Doers of the word.”  

The late President Jimmy Carter … a devout Baptist … put his faith into action starting “Habitat for Humanity” to provide housing for the poor.  

He not only heard the Word of God … but he acted on it.

Samaritan’s Purse … founded by Robert Pierce in 1970 … and now led by Franklin Graham … has … as it’s mission … to provide aid to people in physical need … wherever that might be!

They are doers of the word.

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We can say … in summary … what the Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 4:1: ““I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,””

Walking is one of the terms used in the Scriptures for our active Christian lives.

And so we have a few different terms in the Word of God — Doers of the Word … walking worthy … being the salt and light.  

In short, living our lives as strangers and pilgrims in the world around us, as witnesses to the grace of God in our lives. 

Remember, my friends … we have the responsibility and privilege of being “doers of the word” to a world that desperately needs to know Christ in personal and saving way.