Devotions: Achieving Righteousness

This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

James 1:19-20 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

This should already be known, but it is worth repeating. That is basically how James started this verse. This information is vital. In order to achieve the righteousness of God, we must be quick to listen, slow to talk and slow to become angry. I believe this progression is key. If we do not first listen, we will misunderstand. If we are quick to talk, to tell our side perhaps, we are working in pride and selfishness and will act based on assumptions. If we are quick to lose our tempers, we will make mistakes. Anger is irrational. It is driven by emotion which does not think. We do not think clearly when angry, similar to being drunk. Our thoughts are muddled. If we don’t listen, we will jump to talk and misunderstand. We will act based on our assumptions and misunderstanding and behave rashly. It’s a snowball affect. If we are quick to listen, we are exercising patience and humility. Then our minds will be clearer to understand the truth and we will be less likely to say or do something we will regret. God’s righteousness is not rash, prideful or selfish. That is why it can not be achieved by anger; they are contrary to each other. If we are to act in righteousness we need to listen. We need to humbly put the other person first to hear their side of the story. We must attempt to understand before we pass judgment or make a move. Do you struggle with anger? Are you quick to speak? Ask God to help you be humble, to desire to understand more than to be understood.

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