The Man In The Mirror

Near the end of the first chapter of James, the author admonishes his readers to be doers of the word of God rather than hearers only. He immediately lets us know that the one who hears the word but doesn't apply it to their lives is caught in a trap of self deception. They have convinced themselves that, because they have chosen to expose themselves to the life giving word of God, then they are, by virtue of that fact, righteous.

There is a problem with their logic. It is not enough to simply hear instruction if you refuse to act upon it. Hearing the word of God has never been a standard of salvation. However, acting upon what the word tells us has always been the cornerstone of salvation. Therefore we should all strive to be more than just hearers of the truth of God's word, we should each strive to apply it to our lives.

James follows that profound truth with a supporting example that, I believe, contains volumes of truth. He tells us that the person that hears the word but doesn't act on it "is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like." (James 1:23-24 ESV) This individual is distinguished from the doer of the word who looks in the mirror and sees his own reflection but doesn't forget what he has seen and so acts upon it.

The difference between the two is what I find interesting today. The first is an individual who studies the mirror for the sake of looking at the mirror. He's not nearly as concerned about what he sees in the mirror as he is with studying the mirror itself. The second man, however, isn't gazing intently at the mirror at all. He, rather, is captivated by what he sees in the mirror. It's his reflection that is cast by the mirror that has captivated his attention.

The world is full of people who claim to be students of the word of God. Educated men who have devoted themselves to the study of God's word as well as casual students who study the word from time to time. Most people who profess a faith in God attempt to spend at least some time each week reading the word of God. However, James has exposed us to a truth that there are two kinds of people that study the word.

First there are those that read the word or listen to the preached word for the sake of studying the word alone. They read for understanding and insight into the language and meaning of the word. They may dig deeply for some truth concealed in the word of God. However, for the most part, the object of their interest is the literary work called the bible. They hear the unmistakable voice of God's word but their focus is on the voice more than what the voice is saying.

Another group exists, though, that studies the word not for the sake of knowledge about the word but rather for the sake of knowledge about themselves. These seekers peer intently into the word of God in an effort to catch a glimpse of their own reflection in it. The purpose of their pursuit is not a knowledge of the scripture but rather a knowledge of themselves. They listen to the voice of the word in order to hear what it is saying about them.

There will always exist a gulf between the first and the second. The hearer only will change the word to fit their philosophy of life. Molding it and crafting it to fit in their world view. These individuals can take the bible and bend it to say anything they want it to say. They are masters at fitting the word into their view of life.

The doer of the word, however, will always be changed by the word. They read the word in order to see their life as it is reflected by the truths contained therein. Their life focus is to be molded to fit into the view of their life presented by the word. They remember the reflection of themselves that they have seen in the word and make the changes that conviction has dictated in their hearts. The hearer studies the word to find a way that is pleasing to them, the doer studies the word to make sure they are pleasing to the word. There is a vast difference between the two.

I am challenged today to do more than just read and research the word, rather I'm looking for the man in the mirror...