"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." James 1:19-20 (KJV).

In the previous study of verse eighteen we saw James writing, "Of His own will begat he us with the word of truth…" The Word of God should be precious with the Christian. It should be as precious as the meals you eat for the sustenance of your physical body. For our spirits to grow more into the image and likeness of Christ we need the word of God.

We should be eager to pick up our copy of God’s Word every day, open its pages, read the words, and let the Spirit of God feed us. In that feeding we may receive conviction of sin which we have committed; we will receive encouragement to fight all the discouragements, distress, doubts, and fears which life throws at us; we will receive instruction of how to live a godly Christian life; we will receive rebuke for those times we did not carry through with God’s leading. Because of these things we are to be "swift to hear", let the Word and the Spirit work together in our hearts and minds to change us into the image of Christ.

Have you ever seen anyone get angry over something the preacher said, and what he said was scriptural, he even said it with love and grace, seasoned with salt? There are things God may reveal to us through His Word which could make us angry. The preacher or teacher who will clearly expound the Word of God will have someone offended occasionally, and that should not surprise us. We are dealing with fallen human beings. No one really likes to have their sinful lifestyles exposed for what it really is. Sinful living is an offense to God. If it is found in the life of the Christian that needs the confrontation, the exposure, and it needs dealt with. We have no right to criticize the Word of God. We certainly have no right to become angry with what God has said, or what His messenger has been given for the people to hear.

Hear me here. Not everything the preacher says from the pulpit is from God. Surely we know that from some of the words a certain Presidential candidates pastor has said. We are given command to check what men say with the written Word. That should be a practice we all get into. It does us no good to speak against the Word of God. We should be slow in condemning what God’s messengers say as well; having taken time to verify what has been said with Scripture, then, when we have evidence that what has been spoken from the pulpit was not true, was said while in a moment of passionate, rhetorical display, and/or was just plain wrong we should confront the speaker; and make it right.

"Wrath" should come also come slowly. Some act as though anger is wrong. It would be wrong not to be angry in some matters and situations. When we get angry, we need to take control of it so as not to do anything rash. The wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God. God’s wrath does work His righteousness. Let us devote ourselves to the reading, study, hearing and devotion to the Word of God; and do it with all our heart in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Hear what the Word of God says of itself:

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

"The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes." Psalm 19:7-8ff (KJV).