"Hearing is Good, Doing is Better"

“Be Ye Doers of the Word and Not Hearers Only”

(James 1) 

“It is not enough to know that God lives, that Jesus Christ is our Savior, and that the gospel is true. We must take the high road by acting upon that knowledge” 

(Dallin H. Oaks, “Be Not Deceived,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2005, 46).

James 1 verse 22 tells us to “be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” Unfortunately, many individuals today, fail to be “doers” and are only “hearers” of the word because they are “double minded” people (James 1:8). They waver or alternate between what is true and what is not, and what needs to be done and not. We can better understand what it is to be “double minded” by these two verses:

 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).

“And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word” (1 Kings 18:21).

These verses explain that we cannot have two masters. We either chose to follow the word of God, or we don’t. In order for us to be “doers” we must be committed to truly following the word of God.

James counseled us on a few things we could do to help us live the gospel of Jesus Christ: 

·      James taught us that we should be “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19).

·      He also said that we should separate from “all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness” in order to “save [our] souls” against Satan (James 1:21).

·      James continues to counsel us to not only hear the word of God, but to also live and act upon the gospel truths.

·       He advices us to be careful with the words that come out of our mouths

·      He exhorts us to care for others, especially the widows, and fatherless.

To live the gospel we must be committed to follow it. If any of us have doubts or need further guidance, there is no greater verse that encourages us to look for direction from God, than the one found in James 1; “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that waverth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed” (James 1:5-6). It is so comforting to know that if we faithfully ask the Lord for guidance, then it will be given to us. An important key to note is to “ask in faith.” Again, it requires action from our part to ask what we need to know, but to also have the faith to do what we are told to do.

We all at one point or another seek to know the truth of things, or need further guidance. If we are to know such truths we need to turn to the Lord, so that He may reveal them to us. Knowing these truths will help us know the truthfulness of the word of God, and help us to become not only hearers but also doers of the word of God.