The Apostle James also known as the brother of Jesus, the day of Jesus Resurrection is one of the apostles that sets out on the road to Emmaus and is joined by Jesus. James was one of the first apostles to begin to spread the word of Jesus resurrection from the grave, and to also spread all of Jesus teachings. One such teachings by James, we will examine carefully today using a personal life example of my own to illustrate it.
Are you simply a hearer of the word of God, or, are you also a doer, living The Word?
JAMES: 1: 22-24 and 26: "But ye be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway, forgetteth what manner of man he is." "If any man among you seem to be religious and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, that religion is vain."
How many of my Christian brothers and sisters are in the position whereby they have to report for work on their Sunday, their Sabbath, because the company they work for requires it, so you do it.
How many calling themselves a "Christian" go on Sunday to church, listen attentively, or half heartedly, or maybe even not at all, say they’ve fulfilled their Sunday Sabbath obligation and go about their usual everyday routine which may include going to the office, or working at home rather than spending time with family as God intended.
I was employed by the largest grocery store chain in all of Canada for over twelve years. It was so big that it had ten divisions. While I was employed with the head division, I was asked to go and work at one of the lesser divisions. They needed my expertise there I didn’t need them and I didn’t have to go. In this division it was mandatory that you be available to work Sundays.
I sat down with management and I laid my cards on the table. First this store needed me to get things running smoothly. Second I refused to work on Sunday, and I played religion as my trump card I told them I was a Christian/Catholic, which they already knew, and I told them that My God requests of me to work six out of seven days, and that the seventh day was God’s. Furthermore I was now singing with not one but two church choirs back to back at Sunday Service and was not therefore available to work not on Sunday.
Management began to hum and haw about all of this. They didn’t like what they were hearing so I reminded them of two important things. First if they made God happy he would bless their business, and second, They needed me at this store, I didn’t have to move over. Again they hummed and hawed, then the store manager asked me. "Do you really believe that God will increase my business?" I answered "Yes" so he agreed with my request. Surprise of surprises every Sunday, the stores profits rose higher than the last week. I never rubbed this in with an "I told you so" though for I knew it was not me but God that increased his sales. All I did was to do my job every day to the very best of my ability.
As Christians, we all have circumstances or things in our lives, where we have to take a step back and ask ourselves two important questions. Does this fit into my Christian life? AND What would Jesus do or expect in this situation? If your answer to does it fit is "YES" then I guarantee Jesus will show you the way.
As a good Christian, I owe it to My God to set aside one in seven days for Him. No not because God Commanded it but because He deserves that much and more from me for all that He has done for me in my life. I could have been one of those who talked the talk but did nothing to show my thanks and devotion to my God but I chose not to.
If you only listen to and read God’s word and don’t apply it to your life, can you really call yourself a "Christian"?