Prove Yourselves

^{James 1:19-25}

¹⁹ This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; ²⁰ for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. ²¹ Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. ²² But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴ for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. ²⁵ But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

As a kid, there were times when after hearing something outrageous, we’d say something like, “prove it.” Did you ever have to prove that you knew the answer? Did you ever have to prove that you were strong enough to lift a heavy object? Did you ever have to prove that you could ride your bike with no hands? Did you ever have to prove that you were stronger than your best friend? Did you ever have to prove something?

At least twice in the New Testament the Bible uses the phrase “prove yourselves.”

James tells his readers that they need to prove themselves doers of the word, not merely hearers. Which is more difficult? We might hear that we should love our neighbor as ourselves. We might hear that we should pray without ceasing. But being a doer of these things is more difficult and more rewarding. James tells his readers that if they are effectual doers of the word, they will be blessed in what they do. Are you blessed in what you do? Are you doing this to earn your salvation? Or are you doing this because you are saved? What does it mean to be a doer of the word?

Paul tells the Philippians to prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world. What does Paul mean? Are you blameless and innocent? Do you appear as a light in the world? How do we prove these things?

What does it mean to prove yourself? How would you explain it to someone?