Some thoughts on James 1:19-27, first shared at All Saints’ Cathedral, Juba, Prayer Meeting – 8th February 2023
We like to talk here in South Sudan! Everyone likes to have their say. People are always happy to be asked to speak at any event – there is status that comes with speaking. But how often do we listen? When we spend time listening to each other – really listening – then we learn from each other; we understand each other; we are less angry with each other. When we fail to listen to each other we may get angry with each other but human anger does not help God’s agenda – it is not righteous – it does not bring us the life God has planned for us.
So let us stand firm against unrighteous anger. Let us remember God gave us one mouth and two ears – let us listen more than we talk, let us resolve issues peacefully.
One way to cease being angry is to get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent. Firstly looking in our own lives for anything that is not of God and removing it – we remove it by stopping the ungodly practices that we learn from the world; corruption; crime; lies; violence – the list goes on – to stop them in our country we need to first stop them in our own lives, in our homes, in the church.
We need to humbly accept the word of God, the word which saves us, the word which we have grown up hearing and knowing. We need to do more than simply listen to it. It needs to go from our head to oue heart. We need to really hear what it says and do what it tells us.
If we come to church on Sunday, or even prayer meeting on Wednesday, and listen to the word of God, and do nothing we are deceiving ourselves, and others. We are saying we believe in God, we are Christians, we go to church on Sunday… As believers we are told to fellowship together, so it is right that we do come to church BUT… we are also told to DO.
You will remember how Jesus ended the sermon on the mount (Matthew 7:24-27) – he talked of those who hear his words and put them into practice being like the wise man who built his house on the rock – the rain came, the wind came, yet the house did not fall because it had its foundation on the rock. Those who hear his words and don’t put them into practice are like the foolish man who built his house on the sand – the rain came, the wind came, and the house fell.
Do we remember what we heard in a sermon on Sunday? Do we remember any of the verses that we read in our quiet time this morning? What has God said to you today? Has he challenged you to do something?
“But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.”
James tells us here “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.
We are in the world, but we are not of the world. We need to protect ourselves from the world while still living in it.
We do this in a number of ways – by spending time in the presence of other Christians, by praying for each other – for protection by the blood of Jesus; by sharing the word and drawing others from the world into the Kingdom of God.
In chapter 2 James cautions the church not to show favourtism. I have told you before how much I dislike being called to sit at the front because of the colour of my skin. Whether we show favouritism to people because of their race, their tribe, their family, their clothes, it’s not what God has called us to. He has called us to treat everyone equally – in the way that he treats everyone equally. Of course there are some who deserve respect because of the office they hold but God uses all of us – we all have a part to play in bringing his kingdom to earth as it is in heaven.
James returns to talking about “doing”. There is no point us telling others that we are Christians if we do not DO. If we ignore the widows, the orphans, those in distress.
If we really believe in God, if we’ve made a commitment to follow him, we will want to do those things he asks us to do. It will be a natural progression of our faith to be doers as well as listeners. Because the more we do, the more God will use us, the more our faith will be stretched and strengthened, the more others will see Jesus in us and come to know him themselves.
Many of you have heard the story of my first visit to South Sudan. It was 2010. I was invited to come on a short mission to Bentiu. I had never done anything like it before. I was not a public speaker. I stood, with my back against a metal pillar in the cathedral in Bentiu; my South Sudanese friend – and translator – Justin standing next to me. I held my notes tightly but they still shook, I spoke quietly. And when I had finished I was still alive! I returned to the UK, to Steve my husband, and I found myself sharing the story. I was able to tell friends in my church about the amazing people I’d met in South Sudan. I was able to share how these people, who have so little, have so much more than we in the UK have. I was able to share of the goodness of God, of his protection, of his ability to bless me far more than I could expect, or imagine, when I thought I had gone on mission to give, I returned knowing that I had received. I came to minister but the Lord ministered to me.
The more we do for God the more he blesses us, the more “responsibility” he gives us to do more for him.
Just over a week ago a group of us made visits to Al Sabbah and Juba Teaching Hospital. We were able to share the word of God and pray with people, as well as providing some essential items – soap and sugar. From the money raised I expect a lot of people contributed financially; yet there were only around 10 of us that went. I know that there were many reasons that people could not go but what about next time – will you step up? Will you step outside the comfort zone of All Saints’ compound? Will you walk – surrounded by prayer and a multitude of angels cheering you on and protecting you – into the world and share the love of God with the widows, the orphans, the sick, those in prison? Will you take a step of faith like Abraham did – be prepared to sacrifice your only son if that’s what God asks? Or will you simply come to church and say you are a Christian?
May we be people that shine for Jesus in this world, may we be people filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit, people that listen more than talk, people that are honest with ourselves and with others; people that put faith our into action.
Amen