Doing The Word

22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror
24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
25But 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 1:22-25 (NIV)

Today’s topic is on doing God’s Word. As I have stated many times in this blog, God did not give us the Bible to worship or create theology out of it. The Bible itself is a living Word of God and its function is to serve us as our tool for our prosperity. In short, God made his Word for us. He did not make us for his Word.

To emphasize the point, God did not send his Son to die for the sins of the Bible. Jesus died for us, not the Bible. The Bible is our servant for our use. Our role as Christians is to use it. We use the Bible by doing what it says. This is what James 1:22 is all about.

Verse 23 tells us what happens when we read the Bible and not putting what we have read into use. We will be like a man looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away immediately forgetting what he looks like. So, reading the Bible without putting it to use is as good as not reading it. It is a waste of time.

Time is precious. Don’t waste it. If you have no intention to put the Bible to use, don’t read it. If you want to read the Bible, make sure you put it into use.

Verse 24 tells us the benefits of putting the Bible into use. We will have access to God’s perfect law. Through this law, we can have perfect freedom and be blessed in what we do. I find this to be a great incentive to read the Bible.

I want freedom and blessing. Please note that the Bible never said the blessing of God as everything minus health and wealth. The blessing of God will give us everything we desire. What do you want that makes you happy? God’s blessing will give them to you even if these items are politically incorrect like a lot of money. God is not restricted by political correctness.

In conclusion, use the Bible. The Bible is designed to function as a servant or a tool for our use. Our role is to use it. Read the Bible and put what you have read into practical use. Soon, you will find yourself prospering in all things and be in good health as your soul prospers. This is the Bible in action.