Priorities!

Priorities!

Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving];
JAMES 1:19 AMP

James writes here to people referred to as his beloved brothers and sisters, that is, people with blood connections. Here, it is not about natural birth, but about the new birth made available in and through Christ. When a person comes to know and accept Christ as Lord and Saviour, he becomes a part of a large family bound by the blood of Christ and called into a new life. If I cannot point to a time when I made that decision, or when a change in pursuits and priorities happened, then maybe I do not yet belong to the family. It is not too late to be sure.

However, if I am sure of my family lines, there is a code of expected behaviour. First, I must be quick to hear. A child of God needs to know and heed God's voice as he leads, and there are several ways and channels through which God speaks. He could speak through a trial or even through pain. Closely related to this is the charge to be slow to speak. Both senses cannot be put to use at the same time. Even in regular human relationships, you cannot hear and speak at the same time. I must learn the wisdom of knowing when to speak, what to say, and when it is best to just listen.

I am also charged to be slow to become angry. Anger, it is said, resides in the laps of fools. It is easy to destroy lives through the wrong application of anger. I note it does not say do not be angry, but be slow to become angry. Anger is a human reaction, but the danger is in not being able to control your thoughts and action when it comes. Whoever you give control of your heart to determines your actions and reactions. If I am struggling with letting go and letting God rule, then maybe I have not truly surrendered to God.

It is a call to a life of accountability; where I am held to a higher standard than those around me, simply because of the faith I profess. If i claim family lineage with Christ, his nature must be evident in my life. Is my life showing him off? His time of favour is here.