Implanting “the Word” Changes Lifestyle - 12/24/2023

After making his comments concerning controlling our anger, James makes a proverbial statement about one’s lifestyle displaying the righteousness of God. He states that for someone to save their soul they must put aside one lifestyle and receive with humility the word of God (James 1:21).

James is reminding his “beloved brethren” that a person must be willing to give up (or put away) their lifestyle of “filthiness” and “wickedness” and be willing to submit to “the word” of God and thereby change their lifestyle. This verse serves as a reminder to all Christians that they must continue to put aside evil behavior and to always receive God’s message if they want to be saved.

The “filthiness” James mentions has to do with “moral defilement;” it is making “dirty” the principles of righteous living. The word “wickedness” means having the attitude of doing wrong behavior without displaying any sorrow for such actions. These two words describe a person who has absolutely no regard for the lifestyle God would want them to be living.

The opposite behavior, the one James is promoting, is the one that is receiving God’s message with “humility.” It means the person has an attitude of submitting to this message of God, thus making it their own. They are going to embrace living the lifestyle taught by God.

The reason “the word” will save their souls is because it is “implanted;” it is established or firmly fixed in their mind. God’s lifestyle has become the lifestyle of the Christian; the way they live their everyday life. It is who they are.

The major objective of every person should be to save their soul. This can only be accomplished by living the lifestyle taught in “the word” of God. This message of God will cause them to quit living one lifestyle and motivate them to live another lifestyle. Focusing on God’s instructions and embedding them in one’s mind is essential to changing one’s lifestyle.

A person must exert immense effort to have this “word” lodged in their mind if it is going to be a continuous guide for their lifestyle. One must be determined to change their thinking if they want to change their lifestyle. It is not impossible, but it will require work.

This proverbial statement by James can give us the assurance that our souls can be saved. Humbling ourselves by submitting to God’s word and implanting it in our minds will give us the information and the motivation to change our lifestyle. Putting aside a lifestyle of “filthiness” and “wickedness” and practicing a lifestyle based upon “the word” implanted in our mind will demonstrate we are daily living God’s way. - cgm

Scriptural quotations from the NASB1995.