In our fast-paced, information-saturated world, it’s easy to fall into what I call “spiritual obesity” – consuming endless spiritual content without putting any of it into practice. This powerful sermon from James 1:19-27 challenges us to examine whether we’re merely hearing God’s Word or actually doing what it says.

The core message is striking: We can attend every Bible study, listen to countless sermons, and accumulate vast biblical knowledge, yet still have what James calls “worthless religion.” Just as someone can look in a mirror and immediately forget what they look like, we can hear God’s truth and walk away unchanged.

Three key takeaways stand out:

1. Pride Blocks Action Our human tendency toward pride makes us quick to speak and slow to listen. We often think our opinions matter more than they do, failing to realize that true wisdom comes from humbly receiving “the word planted in you” (James 1:21). This pride can manifest in constantly consuming spiritual content while never allowing it to transform our lives.
2. Busy ≠ Faithful The sermon pointedly notes that Satan is happy to keep Christians busy with endless church activities if it prevents real transformation. We can become spiritually obese – overfed on teaching but undernourished in practice. As James writes, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress” (1:27).
3. True Religion Shows Authentic faith isn’t measured by how many Bible studies we attend or how much Scripture we know – it’s demonstrated in how we care for the marginalized, manage our speech, and live out God’s Word. The sermon challenges us to examine whether we’re using our resources and abilities to serve others or just building our own kingdoms.

The call to action is clear: Stop merely accumulating knowledge and start applying what you already know. For many of us, we don’t need more Scripture intake – we need more Scripture application.

What’s one way you can move from hearing to doing this week? How can you care for the widows, orphans, and refugees in your community? True transformation happens when we stop being spiritual consumers and start being doers of the Word.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” – James 1:22