James 1:19-20 Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.
James wrote that we must look into the mirror of God’s word, see our flaws, and actually change. One issue he confronted is bridling our tongues and our criticism of each other. In challenging Christians to live the message in a dark world, he wrote that we should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. I am often slow to listen, quick to speak, and quick to anger – especially when dealing with someone who is negative and critical. That is the complete opposite to the perfect image of Jesus!
“But what if my anger is justified and my words are truth?” That’s what the disciple thought when they were dealing with a village in Samaria that refused to welcome Jesus! Jesus and His team were on their way to Jerusalem. As far as the Samaritan villagers were concerned – Jerusalem was the other group, the bad people, the people the Samaritans hated. The disciples reasoned that the Samaritans were the ones who had already rejected God’s ways. How dare they now reject the Messiah! The disciples were quickly offended for Jesus. They said, “Jesus, should we call fire down from heaven to consume these people?” Considering the circumstances, certainly their anger was justified. But Jesus rebuked His disciples and they traveled on to the next village.
Quick, slow, slow. Think of it as a new dance step we all must learn. Quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. This does not mean that we cannot speak the truth, but we must be quick, slow, slow! Our anger does not accomplish God’s work. In our blindness we can’t even imagine what God is wanting to accomplish. Like the disciples, we look at the darkness in the world and see people being deceived and even rejecting Jesus. They embrace evil and call it good. Surely our anger is justified. James counters that our anger is still earthly. We need to slow down before we speak. We are not God, nor are our thoughts His. We must be quick to listen to others and to the voice of the Holy Spirit. This is a great challenge. We are earthly souls called to live by a heavenly standard. Our words and actions must come from a deep sorrow for the lost, a desire for mercy, and a heart that seeks God’s kingdom. As I look in the mirror, I see that I must slow down, take a deep breath, and learn this difficult step: Quick, slow, slow. Quick, slow, slow.