James encouraged his readers to live consistent Christian lives in the midst of persecution for their faith in Christ. Remember, first readers of James were Christians who were facing trials. We all face trials in life. In fact, we are either coming out of one, going through one, or approaching one. One thing is certain of is we can learn from each one we go through. This is how we gain experience and then, with that we can help others go through their trials.

We are called to change—and we are not going to change without God’s word or his help. Only when we learn to listen carefully to Him can we begin to life, that pleases God.

James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

Primarily, we are to hear God, to listen to the instructions of that truth, by which we have been brought into a relationship to God. At the same time, giving us the general doctrine that we are to be more ready to hear than to speak. We become learners rather than instructors.

Look here, people have two ears, and but one tongue, that they should hear more than they speak. The ears are always open, ever ready to receive instruction; but the tongue, it is surrounded with a double row of teeth, to hedge it in, and to keep it within proper bounds. Once loosed the tongue is small member, and it can burn down a forest quickly. We need to watch what we say.

Next the Bible says, we should restrain our temper; we are not to give indulgence to excite our angry passions. When we are slow to anger, we are greater and mighty; and you control your spirit.

We should lay aside all anger and wrath and should come to the investigation of truth with a calm mind, and spirit. We must discriminate and make a judgment of truth.

James 1:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

The Bible teaches us that anger makes us unable to fulfill the righteousness of God, which is what God wants us to be and made us in His image, and that foolishness makes us unable to fulfill our goals and objectives in righteousness. In the course of life, that foolishness makes us unfruitful, so that no matter how hard we want to have the things of the world, there will be no harvest, no fruit, only a weary heart. A man is never sure of doing right under the influence of excited feelings, he may do it and will have regret all his life afterwards.

Paul gives us some good advice in this next verse and we should take heed to it.

Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

If we consider anger, is our displeasure simply, when we are displeased with everything, or something, or someone we tend to get angry because things are not going our way, or when our version of events is not considered at all.

If you do get angry with anyone, see that your fire be put out quickly apologize and forgive, discuss and debate with the other person the right thing to do, and try to resolve it so that the small spark does not become a big fire of anger. Do not go to sleep with any unkind or unbrotherly feeling; anger. To sleep with anger, it will continue and, may produce malice and revenge.

James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls

There are no perfect people, no perfect families, no perfect churches, and no perfect people. If humanity is perfect, why did Jesus come to earth and get crucified?  Learn the “virtues” of a believer from the Bible. Judgment is the work of those who are prideful, seduced by Satan, and filled with evil and anger.

James here describes man’s sin in one aspect, as filthy, loathsome, detestableness; here he designs to express his abhorrence of it by a still more emphatic description, and he speaks of it not merely as an evil, but as an evil abounding, overflowing; an evil in the highest degree.  Becoming the captain of evil, leading us into suffering and trials that overflow from which we are bound and cannot escape.

When we receive with meekness it means we should open the mind and heart to instruction, and to the fair influence of truth. We should learn and practice everyday by imitating meekness, gentleness, submissiveness, to it is required in order to receive the instructions properly. It is the precious blood of Jesus, that overcame death, and forgave our sins, and died on the cross,for the sin of mankind. Believers, we should become obedient to the Word, and so we can become partakers of the love, forgiveness, and salvation God offers.

Engrafted here represented by the image of that which is implanted or engrafted from another source into us. That gentile believers, are implanted (put into/ brought into) the christian faith by the source of what Jesus did on the cross for all mankind.

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

It is implied here that by merely hearing the word but not doing it, they would deceive their own souls. If we deceive ourselves we will suffer a loss. When we deceive ourselves, we lose, and when we deceive others, we may seem to gain at first, but we lose a lot.  When we obey the gospel, and follow it, we lose the self-deception and will end up blessed when we do the will of Jesus, the source of new life..

James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

James 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

Looking at yourself in a mirror shows you exactly who you are… but looking at yourself and walking away and forgetting what you saw, or thinking you are that handsome young man you used to be… it’s a bit short of the mark, and you’re stuck in the past, and your conceit and misguided thinking is futile.

James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed

Looking at yourself in a mirror shows you exactly who you are..  In the light of the word of God’s obedience there is perfect freedom. As Christian children we must remember the ideal Christian walk, and we are free to be wise and strives to realize it in our life. Then we win the blessings of God.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Selah. Amen.