Diligent Joy

Being a Doer of the Word

Our message this morning is about being a doer of the word. We're going to look at how to be a doer of the word and the gospel motivation behind that principle—what needs to take place in our lives to make us doers of the word.

James chapter 1, verses 19 through 25, teaches how gospel motivation leads us to holiness and makes us effective and happy people. God wants us to be happy in him—his holiness is the source of our joy. Being a doer of the word leads God's people to be effective and blessed, with joy in what they do.

God is glorified and pleased when his people hear what he says, put it into action, and enjoy the benefits.

Quick to Hear, Slow to Speak, Slow to Anger

Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. (James 1:19-20)

This is practical for relationships—be quick to hear others, slow to speak, slow to anger. But the main emphasis is being quick to hear the word of God. Verse 19 instructs us to be hearers. Verse 21 says receive the implanted word. Verse 22 says prove yourselves doers, not hearers only.

God's people should listen to what God says in his word. Psalm 131 illustrates this:

Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. (Psalm 131:1-2)

David quiets his soul by removing pride—not exalting himself, but being calm and ready to receive God's word. Apply this in relationships by hearing God first, gaining his perspective.

When God speaks, prioritize listening over distractions—even less important things like bills or the week ahead. The word "speak" includes any noise or chatter that distracts. Be slow to anger at God's word, which requires removing pride and sin. Pride resists God's message that he is most important.

Pay attention to God, embrace his word with joy. Man's anger doesn't produce righteousness. This implanted word saves our souls—eternal life, not just helpful hints.

Consider John 6: many followed Jesus for wrong reasons. When he preached the true gospel as bread of life, most left. Jesus asked the Twelve if they would leave too. Peter replied:

Where else would we go? You have the words of eternal life. (John 6:68)

Putting Aside Sin to Hear the Word

Putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21)

Sin prevents hearing: put aside filthiness (corruption—any behavior or thought deviating from God's design, marring his image) and excessive wickedness (surplus sin, practiced regularly). Be infants in wickedness, mature in thinking—filled with gospel truth about Christ.

Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. (1 Corinthians 14:20)

Take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Humility receives the word—esteeming God above self, others higher than ourselves.

Examine yourself: Is God most important, the center of your life? God's people grow effective at killing pride, joyfully hunting sin with Scripture.

Doers, Not Hearers Only

Prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. (James 1:22)

Hearing without doing makes you deluded—a fraud. James illustrates:

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away, and at once forgets what he was like. (James 1:23-24)

The mirror is God's word—it shows exactly who you are, exposing sin (like the law) and providing comfort and encouragement (2 Corinthians 1). It's offensive because it calls out sin, but offers gospel restoration.

The word bats 100%—God's perfect diagnosis and remedy for humanity.

Looking into the Perfect Law

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (James 1:25)

Look intently—gripped by the word, like disciples on the Emmaus road whose hearts burned. The perfect law is the whole word of God—law pointing to Christ (Romans 10:4), royal law of love (James 2:8). Hunt sin, find Christ, learn to live rightly.

Church equips for service (Ephesians 4). Consumer mentality misses the mission: receive agenda from God's word, apply immediately.

Doers abide in Christ's law of liberty, experiencing his joy—even in suffering. Without doing the word, burnout comes in ministry, marriage, work. Two sinners together make a mess without it.

Doers put off sin diligently, think rightly in humility, let God's word speak without excuses, practice immediately. They become effective and joyful in all they do.