‘But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.’
Jam_1:25
This Scripture is part of a striking contrast between two men. One is likened unto a man taking a look at himself in a polished mirror, but who goes away and immediately forgets what manner of face he had; the other is likened to a man who, though he takes only a peep into the perfect law of liberty, is so influenced by what he sees therein, that he forms his whole life and action in correspondence with it. This latter man is in every sense worthy of our study and imitation.
I. Characteristics of a doer of the Work.
(a) The Word of God is his mirror. St. James represents it as the law which he looks into as the cherubim seemed to look into the Ark of the Covenant. Some people tremble when they think of Divine law, conscious that they have violated it. Hence they make a wide difference between the law and the Gospel. There is as much connection between the law and the Gospel as between the parent and child, the sun and light. The two are one, and both are designed to create and guard virtue and blessedness.
(b) The Word of God is the perfect law. It has been accumulating for ages, but, like its Author, it is perfect, as He is perfect; and therefore meets every requirement (Psa_19:7-11). The sun is full-orbed; the feast is infinitely plentiful. Woe to him who dares to add to it, or take from it (Rev_22:18-19).
(c) The Word of God is the law of liberty. It is a living power emancipating the soul (Joh_8:31-32). It is God’s grand instrumentality whereby He gives freedom from the bondage of Satan. It is a law, too, by which God puts man again under His government and establishes in him the principle of loving fear and personal holiness; and thus He makes it the very element of a good man’s life.
II. ‘Blessed in his deed.’—Such a man could not fail to be blessed. His portrait is admirably sketched in Psa_1:1-3. But in what does his blessedness consist?
(a) The peace of his soul. ‘Great peace have they who love Thy law, and nothing shall offend them.’
(b) The usefulness of his life. He is the salt of the earth, the light of the world, the city on the hill, the candle in the house (St. Mat_5:13-16).
(c) The reward of his action. This is threefold: it includes the approval of man (Job_29:11-25), the testimony of God (Heb_11:5), the felicity of heaven (Rev_22:14).
III. Practical lessons.
(a) Search the Bible.
(b) Love the Bible.
(c) Live the Bible.
Illustration
‘It is a name for the New Testament as true as it is beautiful—“the perfect law of liberty.” We must never, in looking at its grace, lose sight of its bindings; or forget its mercy, when we are thinking of its obligations. Christ is a Legislator, and the Gospel is the Statute Book. The New Covenant did not oppose law; it riveted it. And the law of the New Testament is exceedingly strict, stricter than the Old. First: you are to give God your whole “heart, mind, soul, and strength”; then you are to be so entirely unselfish, that you are to “love” every one with whom you have to do, that is, “your neighbour,” as much as you love “yourself”; you are to be always doing good works.’
THE DOER’S REWARD
‘This man shall be blessed in his deed.’
Jam_1:25
It does not define what ‘deed.’ The word is, ‘This man shall be blessed in his doing’; all his doing; whatever he does.
It will come to you in many ways. You have now honoured God, and God will honour you.
I. You will be ‘blessed’ when you are studying.—A light will be thrown upon God’s Word. It will become quite a new book to you; and the reading, or the listening, will be very different to what it used to be; not a thing to be done, but a thing to be enjoyed; a pleasure more than a duty. And those will be very happy times which you will spend with God over His Word,—the happiest; happier than any other conversation that you have in life; dearer to you than the letter of your dearest friend.
II. You will find it in your prayers.—Prayer will become very real. It will be confidential. It will be minute. It will be power.
III. You will find it in your work.—God will soon give you some token to show that He has been pleased with you. I do not know how He may show it,—what He may give you; some worldly success, it may be; or it may be disappointment. It may be a real sorrow. But whichever it be, there will be a sense of being loved and cared for. There will be a Presence. There will be an intention, which brings infinite things very near. There will be a peaceful, restful state of mind. It will follow you in all the details of common life.
And then you will be fulfilling great and worthy ends. You will be living to good purpose. You will be ‘blessed,’ and be a comfort to many.
