To read the rest of A Journey through James 1, start HERE.
James 1:19-20
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
So, I’ll just admit it from the get-go: These verses definitely hit home…. And I mean they hit home when I’m at home. Out and about, I’m usually able to be quick to listen and slow to speak or become angry when I’m spending time with friends, at church or running errands, but when I’m at home with my own family, that’s when I often find myself struggling to do what these verses prescribe.
Frequently I tend to do just the opposite… Much more often, I’m quick to speak and slow to listen. And when I get frustrated, I tend to get angry hastily. So, whenever I read these verses or God brings them to mind, I wince a bit and remember how much I need God’s unending grace and that I need to ask for forgiveness once again.
Not surprisingly, the Bible is full of verses that advise us against speaking and getting angry quickly, especially in Proverbs.
Proverbs 10:19 NASB
When they are many words, wrongdoing is unavoidable, but one who restrains his lips is wise.
Proverbs 14:29 NASB
One who is slow to anger has great understanding; But one who is quick-tempered exalts foolishness.
Proverbs 29:20
Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
Since Proverbs is considered the book of wisdom, these are wise words to take to heart, which will hopefully prompt us to pray and ask God for help in these areas.
In James 1:19, the verb “quick” is the Greek word tachys, and it’s only found three times in the New Testament… Here in this passage, when we are told to be quick to listen, and twice by Jesus Himself.[1]
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus instructs us to reconcile and settle differences quickly (Matthew 5:22-25 NLT), and in the parable of the Prodigal Son, when the father sees his son returning home and tells his servants to quickly bring out the best robe for him and to prepare a feast in his honor (Luke 15:22-24). From these passages, we learn the importance of being quick to listen, quick to reconcile, and quick to celebrate when someone comes home to the abundant life found with our Heavenly Father.
Not only are we to be quick in these areas, James 1:19 also instructs us to slow down in two quite challenging areas… We are to be slow to speak and slow to become angry. The Greek verb for “slow” is bradys, and it’s also used three times in the New Testament… Twice here in this verse and also in Luke 24.[2]
In this chapter, Jesus joins two of His followers on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection, but they didn’t recognize Him. So they end up recounting all that had happened in Jerusalem over the previous days to Jesus Himself without knowing it, articulating that “we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel.” (Luke 24:21 NASB, emphasis added).
When His own followers expressed that they’d lost hope that Jesus was the Messiah, He exclaimed that they were “slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to come into His glory? Then beginning with Moses and with all the Prophets, He explained to them the things written about Himself in all the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:25-27 NASB, emphasis added)
Talk about a simultaneous high and low for these two followers on the road to Emmaus. First, they were reprimanded by Jesus for being slow of heart to believe, but then they were taught by the Savior Himself how all of the Scriptures actually point to Him! Just like the Good Shepherd He is, even after reproaching His followers for being slow of heart, He extended grace and love to them.
Oh, how I need that grace and love too! All too often, I feel like I am slow of heart instead of being slow to speak and slow to become angry. Anybody else with me?! Even though I know that I’m saved because of what Jesus has done, I’m so often slow to let my heart be changed by His power, and therefore I struggle to be slow in speech and anger. When I act like all I need is a change of attitude or to just try harder, what I really need is a change of heart.
My continual prayer is that I allow Him to change this slow heart of mine, little by little and day by day, so I can extend the love and grace He’s given to me to my family and whoever else He brings across my path.
Jesus, please transform my heart. Help me to be slow to speak and slow to be angry, so I can love others like You do. Amen.
[1] G5036 – tachys – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (nasb20). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5036/nasb20/mgnt/0-1/
[2] G1021 – bradys – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (nasb20). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1021/nasb20/mgnt/0-1/
Heather L. Myers 