Don't Kid Yourself

"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." 

-James 1:19-27

This fall I joined a ladies' study group that was using Beth Moore's guide to James.  I've found her study material to be intriguing and the book of James has received new life as I read through it for the study. As you all may have clued into, I've been struggling a lot lately with balancing works-based faith and faith-based works. It is important to note, however, that there is no such thing has "worksless" faith. We all know (or should know) that "faith without works is dead" (James 2:26 NKJV).

So faith and works are closely tied. However, all of the good things that can come out of good deeds can be completely undone by one pesky thing: attitude.

This passage was one of those times where I was struck to the core. I wrestle with my attitude constantly. In fact, my attitude is the #1 reason why I'm always stumbling about in my faith--just when I think I have it all together, I trip over my own ego.

The two ways my attitude trips me up the most are:
1) Perfectionism (expecting my good deeds to earn me respect from God and peers) and
2) Anger (putting on a "religious" face in public, but lashing out when I get frustrated). 

Obviously, this passage in James slapped me across the face a few times when it came to my temper. I actually find the word temper rather ironic. In reference to emotions it is about angry outbursts, but in reference to metallurgy, or other crafts, temper actually means to bring to a proper, suitable,  or desirable state by or as by blending or admixture. My temper does everything but bring about a "desirable state!"

As a friend of mine, you'd probably never know it! I present a pretty good image. I'm cheerful and good-natured. However, if you were family... you'd know the truth! I store up my frustrations to unleash them later on those I, oddly enough, love most. I fume and tantrum. I lash out verbally. Sure, I try to blame it on being hungry or tired, but this passage makes it clear--I'm deceiving myself. If I can't keep my tongue bridled and my temper under control I'm fooling myself if I think I'm a "good Christian." 

Now, I might not smash things or lash out on a daily basis, but it's often enough that God convicted me of it as I read this passage! It is an odorous "moral filth" in my life. This is an area that I'm going to be focusing on "cleaning up". I'm going to be putting a conscious effort into bridling my tongue so that I can be an example of Christ's love. 

I need to hear God's words and listen to all of them. I can't "cherry-pick" the pleasant verses that appeal to me on any given day. God has expectations of me and I need to be living up to all of them all the time. Sound difficult? It should. In fact, it's impossible. However, I know that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil 4:13). 

I need to clean up my heart and start living a life of "true religion"-- loving everyone and caring for the marginalized. It's my job to be humble. It's my job to love the unlovable. It's my job to stop focusing on me and start focusing on God and others. 

I've heard anger defined as the resulting emotion of "one's will being thwarted." Well, if that's the case, I need to replace my will with God's so that the only anger in my life will be God's righteous indignation at the evils of this world, rather than the selfish anger of not getting my own way. 

Spring cleaning has come early in my spiritual life. Let's hope I can maintain a clean heart. 

"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it."  

 --James 2:10