1. 1. James 1:16-27 Be doers of the word Copyrighted material that appears in this article is included under the provisions of the Fair Use Clause of the National Copyright Act, which allows limited reproduction of copyrighted materials for educational and religious use when no financial charge is made for viewing. Catholic Lectionary. (2009). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
2. 2. Brothers and sisters 17 all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. 18 He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 21 Therefore, put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls. 22 Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
3. 3. Verse 17 all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, (cf. Jn. 3.:27). These good gifts are because of Gods grace, kindness and generosity. You might be a gifted mechanic, a gifted musician, a hard worker or an intelligent person but you didnt find those gifts under a rock, God gave you those skills. We can only thank God for those gifts by further developing our skills and thus becoming better at what we do and fulfill Gods purpose in giving us those gifts. What mother among you didnt find it easier to care for her second child, Why? Because you developed the motherly gifts given to you by God. God is the ultimate good giver of gifts because there is no variation or shadow due to change, in Him.
4. 4. Unlike humans God, the Father of light, is not moody, doesnt have bad days, isnt grouchy, He is always stable. 2 Timothy 2:13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful for he cannot deny himself. Satan on the other hand is the father of darkness who brings on sin and eternal death. Father of lights, our unchanging God, gives us salvation and eternal life. Verse 22 Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. You wont grow closer to God by just attending church, tithing, and listening to a homily. By simply listening to biblical readings and homilies doesnt mean you have acquired understanding unless you internalize the truth and become a better Christian who makes every effort to follow in Christs path.
5. 5. Everything that God gives us is good but we can take the good gift and use it for an immoral purpose thus we would be defiling Gods gift and His intention in giving the gift to us. In order to be a moral Christian we need to be doers of the word, and not hearers only (v. 22). We need to put into action the words of truth. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing.(James 1.25 RSVCE) James 2:26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead.