I had a feeling I was haggling with a scammer on the other end of the line. But what were the odds? My internet was down, and the “gentleman” had phoned to offer some much-needed reprieve.

I didn’t initiate the call; he did. I tumbled into his trap, hook, line, and sinker, gullibly wiring some money to him.

I was distraught on realising I had been swindled in broad daylight. I had previously disdained people who are easily lured.

I informed anyone who cared to listen that I wasn’t the type who gets scammed. I was woven from a different fabric.

I was perceptive, complete with a razor-sharp sixth sense. Above all, I was a woman guided by the Holy Spirit. I could smell mischief all the way from Timbuktu.

By the time the scammer was done with me, my confidence in the flesh lay in tatters- as it should (Philippians 3:3).

It’s unfortunate to be deceived by a random stranger, but isn’t it downright tragic for you to deceive yourself?

Deceive yourself? Does that sound like an oxymoron?

James shows us how we unknowingly sabotage our lives.

Doers not Hearers

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was”. (James 1:22-24).

We deceive ourselves when we merely hear God’s word but fail to put it into practice.

James likens us to a man taking a peek at his face in a mirror. He grunts as he runs his hand through his unkempt hair.

He archs a brow at the sight of his overgrown beard. Nonetheless, he saunters away without lifting a finger. He goes about his day draped in confidence, deceiving himself.

Faith Without Works is Dead

When Abraham offered Isaac on the altar, ready to wedge a knife into his youthful body, his faith was not isolated from his works.

His faith and works were fused, mingled, totally enmeshed.

This caught God’s attention, and Abraham was justified; his faith was perfected.

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“Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?” (James 2:21-22)

With a clenched jaw and trembling hands, Abraham was ready to slay his own flesh and blood if only to obey his God. He went the whole nine yards and then some.

He was not a fire-spitting, demon-chasing hearer but a resolute doer of the word.

Having set us this standard, is there any excuse we can front for our reluctance to obey?

If all we do is gobble up God’s word and fail to follow through with our actions, we are on to a lot of hogwash.

Obedience is where the rubber meets the road, where our humanity gets enmeshed with divinity. It is not the hearer who is justified and blessed but the doer.

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Look Intently Into God’s Word

“But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:25)

The believer who follows through with obedience does not receive the word of God casually. They scrutinize, internalize, savour, and study every word and instruction.

They receive the implanted word with meekness, acknowledging it carries potential to save their souls, to overhaul their lives (James 1:21)

With the high mandate of leading the Israelites into the promised land, God commanded Joshua to meditate upon the book of the law day and night (Joshua 1:8).

Day and night.

Only then would Joshua be poised right in order to execute what was written in it.

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In the parable of the sower, Jesus taught that the good ground belonged to the one who heard the word and understood it.

“But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” (Mathew 13:23)

We are not to receive the word of God flippantly.

We need to brood over, ruminate, churn, and carefully meditate on the scriptures. Only then can we understand it and become doers, thus bearing fruit.

Rock Verses Sand

“Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it fell. And great was its fall.” (Mathew 7:24-27).

Every day we are building our lives: marriages, families, careers, businesses, etc.

Our stability in every facet of our lives is hinged on our obedience to God’s word.

We can be sure that the rain, floods, and winds will pound.

Health challenges, financial insecurity, and strained relationships, among other plights, often spring up unannounced.

When we go through life’s wringer, it’s not the scriptures we have fiddled with that will buffer us.

It is the scriptures we have internalised, understood, and obeyed that will bulwark our lives.

Reflection

What’s the last instruction you received from God’s word?

Did he nudge you to forgive, seek him first, uphold integrity in your business, or serve in your church?

Did he prompt you to be more diligent in your work, dedicate more time to prayer, study his word regularly, or spread the good news?

Have you gone back and looked intently into that instruction?

Have you chewed on it and made it the rejoicing of your heart? (Jeremiah 15:16)

Don’t deceive yourself much longer; obey the word. Put it into practice.

Your obedience will catch God’s attention and approval, fortifying your life.