What a great piece of advice we find in this text. It speaks of things we are all acquainted with and tells us where we can go wrong in the way we respond or react.

He begins by telling “every man” to be “swift to hear.” We need to be deliberate and purposeful listeners. One thing that causes us grief is when we react without really hearing the whole story. Have you tried explaining something to someone, and before you really got started, he had already formed an opinion about the situation, with only a minimum of facts? This is being quick to respond, but not “swift to hear.” Proverbs 18:13 says, “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” Being a good listener is something that we have to develop and work on. Some people cannot hear what they are being told because their mind is actively planning what they are going to say in response. There will be plenty of time for talking, but first train yourself to listen.

James then admonishes us to be “slow to speak.” Speaking too quickly can create real problems. Words cannot be withdrawn. Therefore, it is wise to think about it before speaking. Make sure it is something you want to say or that needs to be said. One cannot make those kinds of decisions when he is quick to answer rather than being “slow to speak.” Everyone has an opinion, but everyone does not have to express it. Saying nothing is much better than saying the wrong thing. The Bible has much to say about the problems caused by too many words. For instance, Proverbs 10:19 says, “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” Let’s learn to be “slow to speak.”

Then we are told to be “slow to wrath.” A person who is easily angered is destined for trouble. Proverbs 14:17 tells us, “He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly.” When one is out of control, he often says things that shouldn’t be said, as well as things that he really doesn’t even mean.

If we would be honest, we would have to admit that we sometimes do the very opposite of what James tells us. We are slow to listen, quick to speak, and quick to get angry. We need more self-control. As we yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit, He helps us respond to situations in a way that honors the Lord.

“How many times do I have to tell you?” Most of us have heard those words from our parents or teachers at one time or another. We who are parents have surely asked that question of our children. The obvious implication is that once is enough. If we have expressed our views or given our instructions once, why is there a need to repeat it?

In our text, Balak sent to Balaam and requested that Balaam speak a curse against the people of God. When Balaam asked God about this proposition, God spoke clearly to him that he was not to go with these people nor curse them, for Israel was a blessed nation. When Balaam informed Balak that he would not be cursing Israel, Balak sent to him again with more pressure and promises to reward Balaam if he would speak against God’s people. Our text reveals the mistake that Balaam made. He then went back to God to see if the Lord had anything more to say to Balaam about the situation, when he knew that God had already clearly spoken. When a child asks his parents for permission to do something and the parents say “No”, there is a reason the child continues to seek permission. It is not because he did not understand the parent’s denial, it is because he is hoping that the parent will change his mind or reverse the decision. When this happens, it is usually an indication that the child is not as interested in directly obeying the parent and accepting his will as he is interested in getting his way. So he asks again, hoping to get a different answer.

With this in mind, we have to ask ourselves some questions about our responses to the commands of God. How many times does He have to tell us? When Balaam asked God and God said “No,” it should have been enough. WHY NEED HE SAY MORE? It is easy for us to see that Balaam should have known that God had made His will abundantly clear. But what about the many commands God has made equally obvious in His Word? How about the many times God has spoken to us through preaching concerning His will for us? How many times does He have to tell us? Our first desire should be to please God, not ourselves.

We need to develop the kind of hearts and attitudes toward God and His will that when He speaks, we are ready and willing to obey.

Jesus was eating in the home of a Pharisee. A woman, who was a known sinner, came in weeping and washed His feet with tears, wiping them with her hair, and kissing His feet. The host was critical of the woman’s behavior. Jesus gave the Pharisee an illustration. He told him the reason this woman loved Him so much was because she had been forgiven much.

Why do some people seem to love Jesus so much? Would you want to love Him more? At least part of the answer is provided in our text. MUCH FORGIVENESS PRODUCES MUCH LOVE. Those who are aware of the great sin they bore, who realize how hopelessly lost they were, who know that without Christ an eternity of torment awaited them, and have the assurance that all is forgiven, have a tendency to love Jesus more abundantly. This woman was a notorious sinner. She had a bad reputation in the city. However, being a person widely known for wickedness is not necessary to have much forgiveness.

All of us, whether young or old, were guilty sinners in the eyes of God. We were “by nature the children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:3). Our sin separated us from God and His holiness. Our destiny was the lake of fire. Nothing we could ever do on our own could change that. Yet Christ, in His love, went to the cross for our sins. He took our sins on His sinless body and bore them on the tree. He loved us when we were still in our sin. By grace, He saved us and accepted us into His forever family, and one day we will be in Heaven with Him. A key to consistently loving Jesus is remembering all that He has done for us. Somehow people tend to forget. They forget what it was like to be lost. They lose the wonder of His love. They begin to lose sight of what they were saved from. If we are not careful, we can begin to take the grace of God for granted. Sincere gratitude for our salvation will generate genuine love for the Lord Jesus Christ. “We love him, because he first loved us” (I John 4:19). The Pharisee did not understand the extravagant love of the woman.

I wonder how many around us do not understand why we love Jesus as we do. They do not know why we worship Him, serve Him, and want everyone to know Him.

Obadiah was declaring God’s message to Edom. The Edomites felt very secure in their mountainous habitation. They believed that they were untouchable, yet God said that He would bring them down. God would reduce them and humiliate them. According to the Bible, they were deceived by their pride, “The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee.”

Pride can be very deceptive. Like the Edomites, unbelieving individuals and nations tend to be deceived by their pride. They live as though they are invincible, and as if God Himself cannot or will not judge them. However, we should know that this is not true. God will bring every thought and every word into judgment. Our beloved country, in many ways, has been deceived by pride. We have been a mighty nation, a strong nation, and a respected nation. We have defended the cause of freedom on many fronts, we have withstood vicious attacks against our country, and we have assisted in the defeat of tyranny and ruthless, savage, leaders. However, we are not indestructible. There was a day when this country was considered to be “one nation under God,” but few people believe that we as a nation are concerned with God’s will. Our pride is deceiving us. Great nations and powerful empires have come and gone. America cannot ignore God’s commands and expect God’s blessings and protection.

Not only are unbelieving individuals and countries deceived by their pride, Christians can also be deceived by pride. Pride is incredibly deceptive because it appeals to our personal desires and preferences. It is prideful to believe that we should always have our way. Obadiah spoke of “the pride of thine heart.” We all must consistently face the issue of pride in our hearts. That is the seat of pride. Our pride can deceive us about our spiritual condition. Our pride can convince us that things are good spiritually, when in reality, we are far from God’s will. Pride can deceive us into thinking that we can get away with carnal appetites and selfish living, as though God does not see or care. Pride has a way of making us believe that we can function and serve Christ acceptably in the energy of the flesh.

We must take seriously the danger of being DECEIVED BY PRIDE.

The word “renewed” in our text carries with it the idea of a renovation or making new. We have known people who have bought older homes with a goal to renovate them or those who have restored an automobile to its original condition. God’s goal for our spiritual growth is to renovate our lives. In renovating a home, there are two general things that must be done. The old and dilapidated materials must be removed, and they must be replaced with the new, desirable materials. These same two processes are needed for A SPIRITUAL RENOVATION.

The first part of our text reads, “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt.” There are things from the old life that a serious Christian must be willing to part with. We must not allow the “old man,” the old nature, to control our lives. We have to be willing to die to ourselves. Our “old man” was crucified with Christ (Romans 6), and we are to reckon ourselves to be dead to sin through the victory of Christ on the cross. If we are to experience A SPIRITUAL RENOVATION, we must “put off” former behaviors and practices. The verses that follow our text specifically mention such things as lying, anger, stealing, language, and bitterness.

Then we are to “put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” As we remove the old materials, we replace them with the materials that God provides. As we reckon ourselves to be dead to sin and “put off…the old man,” we are to yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit’s control and walk in His power and influence. He dwells within the Christian to lead us and produce spiritual fruit in and through our lives. When it tells us to “put on the new man,” it does not mean we are being saved again, only that we are consciously allowing the Holy Spirit to control and direct our lives.

Later verses in this chapter admonish us to put on such qualities as kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness. This is a lifelong process for the child of God, putting off the old and putting on the new, bringing about A SPIRITUAL RENOVATION.

This great Psalm deals with matters of personal separation and holiness. David begins with the question, “O when wilt thou come unto me,” followed by a statement of commitment, “I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.” (Psalm 101:2). The majority of the remaining passage has to do with acquaintances or associations. In summary, David vows that he would not know a wicked person, would have nothing to do with a slanderer, or one with a proud heart or a haughty look. A deceitful worker would not dwell in his house, and a liar would not be allowed in his presence.

In contrast to his separation from the wrong kind of influences, David says that his attention would be on the “faithful of the land,” and he would serve with those that “walketh in a perfect way.” David knew that one key to having a righteous walk with the Lord is CHOOSING OUR FRIENDS carefully.

I remember many years ago when I heard a godly man say to a group of teenagers, “You become like those you associate with.” Like David, we need to be cautious about the selection of our friends. Of course, we all know that we are to witness to and seek to win all those we can. To do so, we must be friendly and courteous to all. However, we are not to make close friendships or alliances with those who are not going the same direction that we are spiritually. David excluded many types of individuals from those he would spend his time with and chose rather to develop closer friendships with those who were godly and spiritual. We may even have to exclude people as friends – some who claim to be Christians. This is a common area of failure among both young and old. People choose friends based on their personalities, popularity, or hobbies. They build friendships based on common interests or activities. There is nothing wrong with having friends that we share things in common with, but those should not be the only factors considered.

We should make certain that those we are more closely associated with share similar spiritual goals and priorities. In seeking to position himself in a way that God would bless him, David made definite decisions about those with whom he associated

God spoke to Jeremiah and gave him a message for the people of Judah. Jeremiah was to remind God’s people that He had promised them great blessings in the Land of Promise if they would walk in obedience to Him. Jeremiah’s response to the message God gave him was “So be it.” Another word for “so be it” is AMEN. The word amen is found about eighty times in the Bible, more than fifty of those in the New Testament. It generally means “truth, truthfully, trustworthy, so be it.” Jeremiah was confirming, or expressing his agreement with the words of Jehovah.

There are two areas where an AMEN is needed and is appropriate in our lives. First, we are to personally say AMEN to what God says. God’s Word is always true. His promises are true, and His commands are perfect. They will be forever true and righteous, whether we agree with them or not. However, God wants us to affirm in our hearts what He says in His Word. He wants us to agree with what the Bible says. There is a sense in which our AMEN to God’s Word is a personal expression of our agreement and faith in what God says. When we read of the person and work of Christ, our hearts should say AMEN to God’s truth. When we read that we all are sinners, the response of our hearts is to say AMEN, or in other words, to verify that we know it is true.

There are three general responses to truth as it is presented in the pages of Scripture. Some heartily agree in their hearts, others disagree, and then many others have no response. This lack of response has virtually the same result as a negative response. We need to be quick to say, “so be it” to the Word of God. When God says we are to forgive those who offend us, our response should be AMEN. When we read that we are to love one another fervently, we say AMEN. When the Scripture says to be faithful in our church attendance, our hearts say AMEN.

Another place where an AMEN is appropriate and appreciated is in the public worship service. In both the Old and New Testaments, we find listeners saying AMEN to the words of the preacher.

Our AMEN not only agrees with God, it also lets others know that we affirm what God says.

We, of all people, should be filled with hope. Describing our position before our salvation, the Bible uses the phrase “having no hope, and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12). Without God, there isn’t any hope. This is the sad state of most in our world. But, our text tells us that He is “the God of hope” and that we “may abound in hope.” It would not be possible to list all the benefits that are ours because of our relationship to Jesus Christ and His love toward us, but one such blessing is “hope.” This is a word that has lost some of its meaning in recent generations.

For many, the word “hope” simply means “a desire or expectation.” In the Bible, however, the word “hope” means much more than that. It means “a steadfast confidence or assurance.” It is one thing to hope something happens, as the word is often used today, yet it means something more as it is used in the Scripture. For instance, when Paul wrote of the blessed “hope” of Christ’s return, he was not speaking of a desire that He might come, but an assurance or confidence that He will return. God is “the God of hope.” He, through His promises, gives us the foundation and basis of great and growing confidence, and He wants us to “abound in hope.” We are the most hopeful of people. Because of this great “hope” that is ours, we can be filled “with all joy and peace in believing.” We could never be full of “joy and peace” without the confidence we have in Christ. People without hope are also without “joy and peace.”

We have an unchanging and eternal relationship with our trustworthy Creator, and we have His perfect Bible as our source of information. Our text gives us not only the benefits that are provided in Christ, but also the source of those benefits.

The “power of the Holy Ghost” makes these benefits a reality in our lives. It is through His indwelling presence and His activity in our hearts that we are able to enjoy the inheritance that we have as God’s children.

We also see in our text the activity that makes spiritual reality a part of our experience. These benefits are ours “in believing.” It is as we believe God’s Word and receive by faith His promises that we appropriate the many blessings He has promised us in His Word.

All of us need to understand the seriousness of our testimonies before the ungodly. This verse of Scripture clearly speaks to this subject. The Bible calls it “a righteous man falling down before the wicked.”

The first thing we are made to think of is the possibility that this can happen. It is possible that a righteous man, a Christian, can fall spiritually, even before the unsaved. Not only is it possible, unfortunately, it happens all too often. It is so vitally important that we remember that others are watching our lives, listening to our conversations, and measuring our decisions and priorities. The wicked know who the righteous people are. They may not believe what we believe, and some may not respect the positions that we take. But they are watching. Some may be watching out of curiosity while others may watch to see how genuine our faith is. Still others watch with the specific goal of catching us in some inconsistency or failure. As cynical as it may sound, there are some who would like nothing more than to see a godly person fail. This is part of the purpose of our existence: to let others see the reality of Christ working in our lives.

We should not grow weary of being under the world’s microscope. We are here to shine as lights in a dark and corrupt world. We are not perfect, but we are sincere followers of Jesus Christ. We want our lives to be lived according to His Word and His will. When that is the case, our lives will be the objects of scrutiny.

What should we do if we make a mistake before the ungodly? What if we say or do something in the presence of a lost family member, friend, or work associate? We need to make it right with them. They are watching to see how we will deal with our failures. The only way to correct the problem is to confess our sin and ask their forgiveness. If we act as though it never happened, we give them more reason to consider us hypocrites. But when we humble ourselves and seek to honor the Lord, even when we have fallen, it does two things. First, it removes any opportunity for them to accuse us. Second, it actually makes our testimony stronger before them. If we fail to do this, our testimony becomes “a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.”

Our witness can be either a reservoir of life, or a contaminating well.

Jonah did not want to take God’s Word to Nineveh and to the Assyrians. Even though they were a cruel and corrupt people, God wanted to reach them with His call for repentance. Jonah was the instrument He wanted to use. Rather than obey God’s command and call, he decided to take a boat to Tarshish, running from the will of God. The world, the flesh, and the devil are always trying to get us to leave God’s will.

Jonah’s experience reminds us that direct disobedience is a serious offense with certain consequences. A storm interrupted Jonah’s peaceful voyage. Sailing should always be rough for a prodigal. The tempest was so severe that the mariners were fearful and began to cry out to their false gods. As they were frantically lightening the ship and vainly calling out to their gods, it was discovered that Jonah was asleep in the lower parts of the boat. The shipmaster awakened the disobedient prophet, urging Jonah to “call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.”

It is interesting that the person most responsible for this terrible storm was the least concerned about his responsibility. It seems that this is still sometimes the case. Those who are running from God may appear to be less anxious about the difficulties they are causing, rather than those who are affected by their actions. How many storms have come to families, churches, marriages, and other relationships as a result of Jonahs? A true Christian and servant of God cannot abandon God’s will without serious consequences.

When the storms come, the one who is most rebellious often seems the least interested. “What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise.” The backslider needs to be awakened from his sleep. Our spiritual enemy wants us to slumber while some vessel carelessly takes us away from God’s will. We cannot afford to sleep on a voyage going in the opposite direction from where we should be moving.

Perhaps you see yourself drifting from the place God would have you to be or to serve. WHAT MEANEST THOU, O SLEEPER? The storm you have brought brings danger to those around you. And while you are sleeping, people are dying without the message you are to deliver.