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James 1:25
25 But [de] whoso looketh [parakupto] into [eis] the perfect [teleios] law [nomos] of liberty [eleutheria], and [kai] continueth [parameno] therein, he [houtos] being [ginomai] not [ou] a forgetful [epilesmone] hearer [akroates], but [alla] a doer [poietes] of the work [ergon], this man [houtos] shall be [esomai] blessed [makarios] in [en] his [autos] deed [poiesis]. KJV-Interlinear
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 shall be blessed in what he does. NASB
We have two mirrors that we can peer into in life. The mirror on the wall, which reveals only the surface or the shallowness of humanity, and the mirror of the Word for God, which reveals the inner depths of the soul. The real you.
The person who examines himself by way of the mirror on the wall, no matter how closely he (or she) makes an examination of himself, will walk away with nothing more than a superficial view of himself and of life. The image disappears and is nothing more, when the reflection walks away.
Likewise, the person who treats their spiritual life in a similar manner (being a hearer only, a looker into the mirror on the wall), will walk away with nothing to show for it.
The hearer is the one who glances at the Bible, at doctrine, at Christ, at their spiritual life in general.
And here in our present verse, the one who is a doer, is the one who looks more intently, the one who leans down, as it were, to examine more closely, the mandates, principles, teachings of the scriptures. The doer studies what he is viewing, remembers what he is viewing, believes what he is viewing, adopts into his life that which he has been viewing.
The Law of Liberty here, refers to the content of the Bible.
Freedom being the environment which allows one to live without undue restrictions. And, freedom is comparable to victory in the battle against sin and death via salvation (faith in Christ).
Liberty being the function of being able to think or act without constraints. And, liberty is comparable to advancement in ones spiritual life through the daily study of the scriptures.
However, both being confined within boundaries by the laws of truth and justice, which are taught in the Bible.
Sin, crime and so forth, exist outside of these boundaries, and are never a part of freedom or liberty.
Both of these descriptions, hearer and doer, are described as people who are either forgetful, or effectual.
The hearer is one who is absentminded, has poor priorities, neglectful of their own life, delusional with respect to reality, and so forth. They lack spiritual growth.
The doer is one who is productive, capable, effective, able, powerful, successful, all with respect to their most valuable possession, their spiritual life. They advance to spiritual maturity.
And that brings us to the value of leading one of these two lifestyles. The hearer ends up in life with nothing. Remember, we all leave this world and take nothing physical with us. Only the content of ones soul moves on beyond this life.
The doer possesses doctrine and production from doctrine, in their soul. These things, which come from God, are the basis for blessing in eternity.
Therefore, being 'blessed in what you do' is a reference to your assimilation of Bible doctrine in your soul, and using it in your daily life. The key is in the using, not the mere looking or awareness. And thus by means of your spiritual growth, blessing is credited to you.
Blessings is not credited to you by means of your human effort or ability (lest you might be tempted to boast), but by means of the truth which becomes resident and used in your soul (by means of Gods grace).
