Why It Matters //
It’s one thing to agree with your words, to yell ’Amen’ when the preacher says something good, but it’s another to step up and do something about the injustice you see around you. These verses in James highlight the importance of not just caring with our thoughts and words, but also with our actions. James goes on in chapter 2 saying “ faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead”, meaning that if we see a brother or sister in need e.g. hungry, we should feed them, not just feel compassion for them. Many people talk about what needs to change, but only a few become the change.
What It's Talking About //
The author of the book of James was probably the brother of Jesus, and most scholars believe it was written around 60 A.D. The letter has jewish attributes to it and is most likely written to believers with Jewish descent. James emphasizes faith with deeds and talks about how the Word changes us. Religion and legalism bind people, but God’s living word gives freedom and changes us from the inside out-- to love the world like He first loved us.
James 1:19-27 NIV
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror
24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.