be a doer

“Fret not thyself” or be a doer

I am approaching this study in James’s epistle from a some what unorthodox angle…but then I have always done that in any study I suppose. Rather than a verse by verse, I feel to apply the epistle to our life struggles and perhaps that will mean running around a little through this epistle. Anyway here goes my thoughts for this entry.
When I read this first chapter it seems as though James jumps from topic to topic as well.and a thought came to me from Psalm 37. Verse 1 says, “Fret not thyself”
If we were writing this to a friend say, we would probably say it like this: “don’t sweat the small stuff.” That’s the modern saying. Now James isn’t talking about small stuff, however. He’s discussing some pretty big issues. For example in verses 19-27, “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters; (I am reading from the New Living Translation) You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry.” Wouldn’t we save ourselves one pile of trouble if we approached our problems with this attitude? Sort of a carry over from verse 3
This time from the New King James; “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” Now back to the NLT and verse 20 “Human anger does not produce the righteousness, God desires. 21: So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the Word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
22 But don’t just listen to God’s Word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the Word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget What you look like. 23 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. 26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are only fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless “ You can read the rest for yourself. James says be doers, David in Psalm 37 says “don’t fret” And you and I if we follow their advice can truly say “don’t sweat the small stuff.”Let your faith be unwavering. Proverbs 3, 5,6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path."