James 1:19-20 reads as follows:
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 addresses believers gently but firmly. He starts with “swift to hear” which is foundational. I believe this covers Godly counsel not only delivered through the ear, but also Godly counsel read by the bretheren. We must be open and ready to the words that God has placed in our lives — through preachers, through the bible, and even through good counsel. We must not immediately reject these words, but eagerly await information that may be imparted by the Holy Spirit.
We must also be slow to speak. The bible frequently mentions the harm that the tongue can do. Instead of letting our tongue outrun the wisdom of a properly instructed heart, we must instead consider our words carefully. Further, by keeping quiet, we are more open to hearing and understanding more. We must keep the tongue from leading us into sin (Ephesians 4:29, James 3:6 and 3:8). Listen and do not speak.
Wrath is the enemy of hearing. I know that when I’m angry, I cease listening and am only looking for an outlet for wrath. I then become slow to hear and let my tongue loose. James here tells us that the wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God. While man may think his anger righteous, only God’s wrath is just.
James instructs me to listen more carefully, respond thoughtfully and lovingly, and to not let anger take hold.
