James 1:19–20
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
In the Book of James, we are confronted with the uncomfortable truth of our divided hearts. James paints a vivid picture of the inner conflict we all experience - torn between the pull of the world and our professed devotion to Christ. Yet, he doesn’t leave us in that tension. He offers a clear and transformative path forward: wholeness comes not from merely hearing God’s Word, but from doing it. When we live out God's commands, we begin to experience a life of integrity - where our inner convictions and outward actions align.
One of the most revealing indicators of this alignment - or lack thereof - is found in our speech. Take a moment to reflect: what words have you spoken in the last 24 hours? No, really - pause and think about it. What do your words reveal about your heart? Were you quick to speak or quick to listen? Did your words give life? Were they filled with love, encouragement, and grace? Or were they marked by complaint, gossip, or criticism?
David Gibson captures this tension perfectly when he writes:
“It is a particular mark of our sinfulness that we are able to claim knowledge of God yet go on to speak about people made in his image in ways which, were others to hear us, they would be perfectly justified in saying, ‘You don’t really know God.’”
We often measure our faith by surface markers - church affiliation, theological knowledge, generosity, or the pastor we follow. But James offers a much simpler and more piercing test: “Let me listen to your words, and I’ll tell you how genuine your religion really is.” The disconnect between what we say we believe and how we actually speak is as absurd, James says, as someone who looks in a mirror, sees what needs changing, and then walks away unchanged.
True faith transforms our speech. And when our words begin to align with the heart of Christ, it’s a sign that we are becoming whole.
