The Wisdom of Being Quiet

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Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; ²⁰ for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. ²¹ Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:19-21)

Introduction

As we come to this passage we remind ourselves of the context of James 1, which is all about enduring trials of various kinds. And James has been showing us how we are to endure such trials, and we are to conduct ourselves while patiently enduring them. So these exhortations before us today show us the way of enduring trials.

The overarching instructions in these verses are instructions on hearing the word. And then in verse 22 and following, he instructs us about doing the word. But we cannot be doers of the word, without first hearing the word. So, vital to enduring trials is properly hearing the Word. So James instructs us on how we are to hear the Word.

“My Beloved Brothers…” “Let Every Person…”

James once again uses his favorite title, saying, “Know this, my beloved brothers…” What he is about to say is something that we are to know, which means we are to hear it, believe it, remember it, and do it. So often in our hearing, we hear in one ear and out the other, but suching hearing is not knowing. Knowing is remembering.

So James says, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person…” So James addresses the beloved brothers, speaking to their specific trials, temptation, and circumstances, and he does so with universal truth that everyone is to know.

So often in the midst of our own trials and temptations we can be tempted to think that our circumstances are unique and that no one else has experienced what we are experiencing, and therefore, the normal instructions that may be for everyone else, don’t apply to us in our situation. But this is not true. This type of thinking is to be given and held captive by the passion of the moment. So James instructs the beloved brother, and he instructs us that this is for everyone in every trial. Your situation is not so unique that these things do not apply to you.

Proverb Like Instructions

So what are we to know? What follows is truly the wisdom of Proverbs which James oozes with in this letter. This is exactly what we need in the midst of trials and suffering. What we need is wisdom, which James has earlier instructed us to ask for. And here we are given wisdom that we need, that every person needs, that is to be applied in every type of trial we face. So like the book of Proverbs is a father imparting wisdom to his sons, James speaks to us as brothers, saying, “Brothers, know this wisdom that our father taught us.” This is how we encourage and exhort one another.

Quick to Hear (the Word)

So James says, “…let every person be quick to hear…” Now what are we to be quick to hear? The context of this passage points us immediately to the Word – the implanted word. For in verse 21 it says that we are to receive with meekness the implanted word. Receiving this implanted word is to be quick to hear it. The implanted word would be the word of truth which James mentioned in verse 18 by which we are born again and made God’s first fruit creatures. This is the word of Christ, the word of the gospel, the Word of God. We are to be quick to hear the implanted word.

Now, being quick to hear implies that we are to be eager to hear. There is to be an eagerness or a desire to hear the word. We are to be always ready to hear. We are not always quick to hear, because we are not ready to hear. We must have this mind and attitude that we need the word, we need to hear, and learn, and be taught and exhorted, and encouraged, so always be ready and eager to listen, not thinking we don’t need to hear and listen. This is an attitude of humility and meekness, which our pride so often gets in the way of. 

Slow to Speak

Next James tells us to be slow to speak. Here he imparts to us the wisdom of being quiet. We often feel like when we are in the midst of a trial, or conflict, or an injustice, that we have to be first to speak, quick to speak and get our case and our word out there, and if we can beat the other person in talking, then we will win. But wisdom tells us to be slow to speak. We are not to be hasty to blurt out what we want to and shut the other side down.

So James tells us we are to be quick to hear, and then slow to speak, because we can’t listen if we are talking. We can’t be quick to hear if we are quick to speak. These commands go together. And this is wisdom.

Proverbs 10:19 says, “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.” So we think we can fix problems by being quick to speak, but in reality, quick words and many words add and multiply transgression. We say things in passion that do damage we can’t take back. Once the words are out, they are out.

Proverbs 17:27 says, “Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.”

I love Ecclesiastes 5:1-3, “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.”

The fact is that some of our sin problems come about because we talk too much. If you are a talker, beware that this may be a temptation you could be prone to. Now this does not mean that quiet people are not susceptible to these sins, for simply being quiet does not mean that we are listening. And being ready and quick to listen is the connected command to being slow to speak. It’s been said that we have two ears and one mouth for a reason.

Thomas Manton gives us more proverbs like wisdom, “It is good to be dumb at reproof, though not deaf. Do not let every proud thought be voiced… Thoughts may be revised with further information, but words cannot be recalled. Thoughts only stain our own spirits; words taint others… With thoughts we sin with our mind only; with words, with our mind and tongue.”

Slow to Anger

Next James tells us to be slow to anger. And this is connected to the previous two commands for being quick to anger can be seen in either not being eager or ready to hear or in being quick to speak. These instructions are given accordion to our fleshly weaknesses. We are often not ready to hear, so James says be ready. We are often quick to speak, so we are told to be slow to speak. We are often quick to anger, so we are instructed to be slow to anger. We are told these things because the inverse of them is our typical reaction in the flesh.

Proverbs 14:29 says, “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.”

We often are tempted to think that others make us angry. “What they did made me so angry. What they said made me so mad!” We think others provoke us, or our situation stirs us up, or our trial is to blame for our reaction. While provoking others is a real thing, (“A harsh word stirs up anger, but a soft answer turns away wrath”), it is not an excuse or a justification for our sin. We are still responsible for losing our temper. For what is the source of our anger? We just saw in the previous verses. It is our own desire. From our own desire we sin. From our own desire we are lured and enticed. We are responsible even if a harsh word is spoken to us. That proverb is about how we are to speak, not about justifying anger. 

Now there are different ways anger manifests itself in different people or at different times in our lives. We most commonly think of having a hot or quick temper, and flying off the handle with yelling or worse throwing things or physical attacks. These are wicked sinful things that are to be repented of. But anger is also manifested through a low constant simmer, where it’s always lying right under the surface and we are short or passive aggressive, always on edge. And often that low simmer will eventually blow. We are to be slow to anger, whether it’s manifested in outward rage, or hidden inward rage.

Thomas Manton again tells us, “Anger is curbed by delaying it. Be slow to become angry. Many men are like gunpowder. They ignite at the least offense. When people are quick to become angry, they dishonor God and wound their conscience. Later they are sad about the effects of their sudden anger. Athenodorus advised Augustus, when he was overtaken by anger, to repeat the alphabet. This advice was good, as it tended to cool a sudden rage, so that the mind, being distracted, might deliberate later on.”

Proverbs 19:11, “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” Good sense is wisdom. It is one’s wisdom that makes him slow to anger.

Ecclesiastes 7:9, “Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.” Or another translation says, “Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.”

So these three connected exhortations are not only instruction for enduring the great big trials of various kinds that we face, but also the lesser or everyday various trials and temptations in our lives. 

These things apply in the life of the church. In his commentary on James, Thomas Manton goes to great lengths in applying these things to the worship of God, saying that everyone is to be quick to hear, ready and eager to hear the Word of God as it is taught and preached in the Church. He teaches us to examine our hearts, thoughts, and motivations as we enter worship. Are we ready and eager to hear and receive the word, or are we filled with anger or hardness of heart or cares of life that get in the way of hearing the word? He even says some may believe they are smarter or more knowledgeable than the preacher and so we are not ready to hear the word. He says we are to be ready to receive the word, even from lesser ministers who may divide the word differently, for the Spirit of God can still minister to us and teach us, for God often speaks through lesser vessels.

These things are also to be applied to our interactions with others. These three commands are the three big keys to having good relationships with others. It’s how to make friends and keep friends. So often we are impatient with others, we take offense easily, and we don’t apply these three commands. But these things show humility and love toward others, in considering others more important than ourselves. It is hard to be friends and maintain good relations with people who don’t listen well, who talk too much, and have a quick temper. We often walk around on eggshells around those who have quick tempers, never knowing when they will pop off about something we say or do. We are not to be this type of person, we should not be this type of person, these are things to be repented of and grow in. Listening and showing patience is showing love to the brethren.

Boys and girls, you are to apply these things in your life. Some of the people you may fight with the most are your own brothers or sisters, or your parents, but this ought not to be. Your first reaction and feeling may be to get mad and defend yourself with many words. Be quiet first and listen.

Other Notes

• Spouses, the same applies. If we don’t apply these things, the gunpowder goes off and it becomes all out war and sin and grief are multiplied.

• Change does not typically happen overnight, so we can’t fix it in a fit of rage.

• Thomas Manton says, “the worst thing we can bring to a controversy is anger.” If you want things to explode just come into the conversation hot with anger, off the top rope.

• V. 20 – What does “producing the righteousness of God” mean?

• The righteousness of God here has to do with setting wrong things, or unjust things, right. For example, we see this in Psalm 31:1, “In you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me!

• • • We often think that our anger is what will bring about the righteous resolution to our situation, and this is not true. We think we can make it right in our anger, and we are deceived.
    • This reactive anger is a lack of trust in Christ. We are to trust that His ways of meekness and patience are right and good and that He will make all things right. He will deliver us.

• Thomas Manton says, “Anger is not to be trusted. It is not as just and righteous as it appears to be. Of all the passions, we most often justify anger. Anger, like a cloud, blinds the mind and then rules it. So do not believe anger. People give credit to their passion, and that increases it. Anger is full of mistakes; it seems to be just and righteous when it does nothing to promote the righteous life that God desires.”

• V. 21 – “Put away…” – anger produces these sins. Our anger does not produces the righteousness of God, rather it produces filthiness and rampant wickedness. Angry people are nasty people – filthy. Angry people are given to their passions and are rampant in wickedness. When we are carried about by our angry desires, we are tempted to engage in even more wicked and filthy behavior.

• Live pure and godly lives in the midst of others as you endure trials.

• Meekness calls to mind the beatitudes. “Blessed are the meek for they shall in herit the earth.” Meekness is not weakness, it is strength under control which is humility. Quickness to anger is a lack of meekness.

• Meekness is humility (sinful anger is a form pride – it doesn’t listen and exercise patience).

• Jesus entrusted Himself to the one who judges justly. 1 Peter 2:23, “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.”

• • Silent like a sheep before its shearers. Patiently bearing injustice.
  • In Him was no sin, but He died, bearing our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

• Jesus will make all things right.

• The greatest wrong we’ve ever been a part of is our sin and rebellion against God. We’ve wronged God more than any others could ever wrong us. And Jesus has delivered us from this. By bearing our sins and enduring the righteous wrath of God, that we might be made at peace with God and delivered from our sins and the wrath and judgment of God. He is working this in us and will bring us to maturity, that we might display these things and be like Christ.