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Win Friends & Influence People. James 1:19-20. Study on James. We continue our journey into the book of James We have studied on trials, temptations, wisdom, blessings, faith, and prayer
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Win Friends &Influence People James 1:19-20
Study on James • We continue our journey into the book of James • We have studied on trials, temptations, wisdom, blessings, faith, and prayer • James continues to bless us with practical knowledge for us to live the life that God wants us to live in this world
Study on James • James begins to switch gears here from what God has done to what is required of us as His people • Here we begin to take notice of what things can help us in our Christian walk • What James speaks of next is not just for the trials of life, but for life as a whole
Study on James • 1. Swift to hear • Communication has long been thought of as the cornerstone of any good relationship • Whether it’s a marriage or simply a friendship, communication is vital to it’s success • So it’s no surprise here that we are told to be swift to hear
Study on James • 1. Swift to hear • It’s been said that God gave man twoears for a reason • How many of us can say we listen twice as much as we talk? • Most everyone needs to work on their listening skills
Study on James • 1. Swift to hear • We need to work on listening to God • How many people “listen to God” but really only listen for what they want to hear? • “A wise man will hear and increase learning…” (Prov. 1:5) • “Hear instruction and be wise” (Prov. 8:33)
Study on James • 1. Swift to hear • “Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.” (v. 34) • “Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools…” (Ecc. 5:1)
Study on James • 1. Swift to hear • “…for all the people were hanging on His words” (Lk. 19:48) • The early church devoted themselves to “the apostles doctrine” (Acts 2:42) • The Bereans “received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11)
Study on James • 1. Swift to hear • “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matt. 11:15) • We need to concentrate on listening, especially when it comes to the word of God • We also need to be good listeners when it comes to others
Study on James • 1. Swift to hear • We should “hear” others when they try to talk to us about sins that we might be guilty of (Matt. 18:15-17) • If we want God to listen to us, shouldn’t we be willing to listen to others? • A great resolution would be to become a better listener!
Study on James • 2. Slow to speak • There is probably not a person here who hasn’t said something before they wish they could take back • James later says if anyone does not stumble in word he is a “perfect man” (3:2) • Being slow to speak simply means talkingless and thinking about what we say
Study on James • 2. Slow to speak • Solomon went on to say “Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God” (Ecc. 5:2) • “In the multitude of wordssin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (Prov. 10:19)
Study on James • 2. Slow to speak • “He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction” (Prov. 13:3) • “He who has knowledge spares his words” (Prov. 17:27) • When we aren’t slow to speak, it probably points to one thing…
Study on James • 2. Slow to speak • “Do not be wise in your own opinion” (Rom. 12:16) • We like talking because we want people to hear how much we know • A dose of humility can go a long way in helping us be slow to speak
Study on James • 3. Slow to wrath • Anger is probably more prevalent in our lives than we realize • There are certain things or people that just seem to “push our buttons” • Perhaps we are quick to wrath because we are not quick to hear
Study on James • 3. Slow to wrath • “A quick-tempered man acts foolishly” (Prov. 14:17) • “He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly” (Prov. 14:29) • “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty” (Prov. 16:32)
Study on James • 3. Slow to wrath • Self-control is important if we are going to keep from being angry • One of the works of the flesh is “outbursts of wrath” (Gal. 5:20) • We must learn to love…love God first, but love others and see them as God’s creation
Study on James • 3. Slow to wrath • “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice” (Eph. 4:31) • “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice…” (Col. 3:8) • “the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God”