What Does "Doer of the Word" Mean in James 1:22?

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; or he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.  But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." Jame 1:22-25

We are saved by faith in Christ alone. We don’t do good things to make God find favor in us. Moreover, our good deeds are filthy rags when compared to God’s righteousness. However, after we believe, God wants us to do many good things. He wants us to be doers of the Word.

We should be doers of the Word because we are God’s masterpiece created anew in Christ Jesus and He prepared good things for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). Staying active in these good works will keep us from becoming lukewarm. So, we should always fan into flames the spiritual gifts God has given us and follow the second greatest commandment which is to love thy neighbor. Yes, being a doer of the Word makes God’s Word visible to other people. So, we should never grow tired of doing what is good.

Verse in Context

James 1:22 tells us not to just listen to God’s Word. We must do what it says. Or else we are only fooling ourselves. This scripture is in the middle of a passage entitled Listening and Doing (James 1:19-25). The passage begins by telling us we should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry because human anger isn’t typically productive. It often causes more harm than good. Then we should take in God’s Word because it can save our souls. And then we take action and follow what God’s Word says to do. Jesus also told us to be a doer of the Word when He said, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them” (John 14:23). And He also said, “But even more blessed are all who hear the Word of God and put it into practice” (Luke 11:28). Don’t you want to be more blessed?

What Does it Mean to Be a Doer of the Word?

To be a doer of the Word means to do more, take action, and be proactive. We do this out of gratitude for what Christ has done for us. We shine our good deeds to proclaim the Lord’s glory, not to gain His favor. We prove by the way we live that we have repented of our sins and turned to God (Matthew 3:8). Taking action and being a doer of the Word can make people take notice because we are living differently from the average person.

Some of the most important things we can do are helping to lighten the burdens of others, freeing people that feel trapped by something, easing oppression, removing chains that bind people, sharing food with the hungry (physical and soul food), and giving people in need a warm place to stay or warm clothing (Isaiah 58:6-7).

15 Ways to Be Doers of the Word

1. Repent (Matthew 4:17). Repent of wrongdoings as quickly as you realize that they were wrong. Repent of seeking your way more often than you seek God’s ways.

2. Teach other people how to be a disciple of Christ. Share what you are learning from the Bible. Tell others your story of knowing Jesus so that they might follow your example.

3. Feed the hungry, give a drink to those who are thirsty, provide shelter and/or clothing for the poor, and care for the sick or imprisoned (Matthew 25:34-36). For Jesus said that when you do these things, you do them unto Him as well.

4. Love one another (John 13:34). Always look for the many ways you can show you care and help someone in need.

5. Show and practice hospitality (Romans 12:13). Invite people into your home. When you can’t do that, invite them to your table at a restaurant. Or simply gift them with your presence wherever you are. Loneliness has become a pandemic in our current world. People need the company of others, especially when they don’t feel they deserve it.

6. Do not fear. Don’t let fears get in the way of good works that you should be doing. Fear is not an excuse. Even when you feel fear, do the thing that scares you anyway.

7. Pray for your enemies (Matthew 5:44). Let go of hatred in your heart by forgiving others and loving them even when they don’t understand what they are doing. Seek to be at peace with others as much as possible.

8. Overcome the evil in the world with the goodness of God (Romans 12:21). The darker the world gets, the brighter a good deed shines.

9. Pray at all times (Luke 21:36). We need God in our bad times, but we also need Him in our good times. Lift your worries, cares, and your thankfulness to the Lord. Lift others’ problems to the Lord. Speak to God consistently each and every day.

10. Show honor and celebrate other people (Romans 12:10). Acknowledge their good deeds. Fight the natural tendency toward selfishness and pride by lifting other people up. Rejoice when others receive good news and weep when others receive bad news (Romans 12:15). Let people know that they aren’t alone. 

11. Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). Do what you can to lighten their load. Fulfill one of their to-do’s. Bring them a meal when they don’t have time or energy to do so for themselves.

12. Show patience and be kind. When you don’t understand another person’s motives, ask them to help you understand. Remember that everyone is broken in some way. Then, point them to the Savior that wants to heal their brokenness.

13. Encourage others as much as you can. This life can feel long and leave us tired. Encourage them to never give up hope. Stir up others so that they too will seek to do good works in the world. The more people who do this, the better. 

14. Praise the Lord. Praise Him within your heart as well as out loud for all to hear. God will work all things for good for those who are called by His name. And nothing can separate you from the love of Christ. So, rejoice forevermore.

15. Never lack zeal for serving the Lord (Romans 12:11). Nothing you do for the Lord will go unnoticed by Him. He sees it all, even when you don’t feel His favor.

Conclusion: Do All Things with Love

Keep a soft, tenderhearted heart by seeking to love God above everything else. Then go forward to love and care for your neighbors. Your neighbors are everyone else other than you. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). Be a doer of the Word with much love in your heart. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).

Pray with me:

Dear Father God, thank You for sending Your Son to die for my sins so that now I have the opportunity to love You and love others. You replaced my heart of stone with a softened heart of flesh so that I can stay humble and open to Your Word and ways. Left to my own devices, I am selfish, only thinking of how I can improve my life. But following Your ways means that I get to see a new and better way. Doing things for others is the way for me to live my best life. I am much better served when I get my thoughts off “me” and onto someone else. Jesus, thank You for being an example of how to live a life for others. Amen.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/LoveTheWind 

Jennifer Heeren loves to write and wants to live in such a way that people are encouraged by her writing and her attitude. She loves to write devotional articles and stories that bring people hope and encouragement. Her cup is always at least half-full, even when circumstances aren’t ideal. She regularly contributes to Crosswalk. Her debut novel is available on Amazon. She lives near Atlanta, Georgia with her husband. Visit her at her website and/or on Facebook.