120. James- Chapter 1 - We are to be Doers of the Word - September 15, 2022

Welcome to Wisdom Today with Bill Kelley.  Today we will be going over Proverb 15.  I will then key in on verse 9: The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But He loves him who follows righteousness.  The second part of this verse is how God would have us to live our lives.  The first part talks about what God hates.  I then refer the audience to 2 Peter3: verse 9 which says:  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness,  but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  God would have every live righteous lives, receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and be saved.  However, the reality is that He (God) has given everyone a free will - and as long as men have a free will there will be those who reject Jesus, God, the Bible, and everyone who believes the way that we (Christians) do.  I will then go back to our study of James and complete Chapter 1: beginning in verse 21 and continuing through the end of the chapter.  I will read these verses in their entirety, and go over three points which I believe we can glean from these:  1.  Receive the Word - the first part of verse 21 goes back to our proverb of the day (verse 9) and speaks of evil people who do wicked things.  This is NOT how God wants us to live our lives.  Instead He wants us to be righteous (to include be familiar and reading His Word on a regular basis; 2. Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.  I believe this is where many Christians miss it.  Many people go to church on a weekly basis, hear a good message from the pastor - only to forget what he says to them (from scripture) and NOT do the word (and implement what they heard on Sundays into their everyday lives); 3.  We need to consider the poor - remember Jesus always had compassion on the poor (if He had compassion for them, we should also); be aware of people around you who have a need and do what you can to meet that need (and you will build up your heavenly account in Heaven!)