From The Pulpit: "Doers of the Word

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  For it any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass. James 1:22-23

By: Rev. Mike Scott

One of the central figures of the Protestant Reformation was Martin Luther, a man firmly persuaded that salvation is by grace alone. This conviction placed him in sharp conflict with the Roman Catholic Church, which emphasized the sacraments and the administration of last rites for those nearing death. Because Luther was so deeply committed to the doctrine that salvation is received through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, he struggled with the Epistle of James. James repeatedly stresses the necessity of laboring in the Kingdom of God—of putting faith into visible action. Owing to this strong emphasis on works, Luther famously referred to James as “a right strawy epistle.”

Yet the truth is that James harmonizes beautifully with the rest of the New Testament’s teaching on salvation. Once a person has been saved by grace, that individual is called to devote himself wholeheartedly to advancing God’s Kingdom here on earth. We are saved to serve. In these verses James exhorts believers to be doers of the Word. He offers insight into our duty, our discipline, and our discovery.

First, James speaks of our duty. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only” (v. 22). One clear expression of this obedience is sharing the Word with others. It has been wisely said that evangelism is simply “one beggar showing another beggar where to find bread,” and there is profound truth in that statement. If we know Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour, we have found the Pearl of great price, the Lily of the valley, the Answer to life’s deepest questions, and the richest of all treasures. To know Him and yet refuse to share Him is sin before a holy God. Indeed, James later writes, “Let him know, that he which converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins” (James 5:20).

Another way we demonstrate obedience to the Word is by ministering to those in need. Our world is filled with hurting and broken people who long for the compassion Christ alone can provide. As His followers, we are called to extend that compassion. While we cannot remove all suffering, we can certainly make a difference in the corner of the world where God has placed us. We may serve in a soup kitchen, support worthy causes, care for a sick neighbor, or simply listen and pray with someone burdened by life’s trials.

Some dismiss such efforts as a “social gospel,” contrasting them with evangelism. Yet Scripture clearly commands kindness and generosity. Solomon declares, “He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor” (Proverbs 22:9), and again, “If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink” (Proverbs 25:21). The prophet Isaiah likewise proclaims that when we minister to the hungry and afflicted, “then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday” (Isaiah 58:10). True obedience embraces both proclamation and compassion.

James then addresses our discipline. When we fail to practice what we hear, we are “deceiving [our] own selves” (v. 22). The Greek term suggests faulty reasoning—an internal self-deception. We may imagine that filling our minds with doctrine excuses us from living it out. But sound theology without a tender heart reveals a misunderstanding of the Gospel.

Christ taught not only with words but with works, and the early church followed His example.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus commands, “Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away” (Matthew 5:42). He instructs elsewhere, “Sell that ye have, and give alms” (Luke 12:33). In the parable of the Good Samaritan, He commends practical mercy shown to a wounded stranger. Those who bear His name are to be loving, caring, and generous.

Our Lord’s life embodied this principle. His first miracle—turning water into wine at Cana—spared a young couple from embarrassment. The Gospels repeatedly show Him feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and lifting the downtrodden. He Himself declared, “The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). His ultimate act of service was the sacrifice of Himself upon Calvary’s Cross.

The book of Acts records that the early believers “had all things common” and distributed to every man as he had need (Acts 2:44–45). Later we read that none among them lacked, for those with possessions sold them to supply the needs of others (Acts 4:34–35). When we fail to be doers of the Word, we not only withhold help from others but also deprive ourselves of the blessing that accompanies cheerful giving (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Finally, James speaks of discovery. He compares the hearer-only to a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror (v. 23). A mirror faithfully reveals our condition. If we see a blemish, we may correct it—or ignore it and walk away unchanged. In the same way, the Word of God serves as a mirror to the soul. It exposes our sins, weaknesses, and neglected duties. The question is whether we will respond.

Being a doer of the Word involves personal transformation as much as outward ministry. If we hear Scripture without obeying it, we forfeit its sanctifying power in our lives. As James later writes, “faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17). Genuine faith expresses itself in action.

In conclusion, James reminds us that hearing the Word is not enough; we must live it. When Scripture is put into practice, lives are changed. Souls are rescued, barriers are broken, suffering is eased, and “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts” (Romans 5:5). It has often been said that people do not care how much we know until they know how much we care. Therefore, let us commit ourselves to being doers of the Word, touching as many lives as possible with the glorious Gospel of Christ.