James tells it
like it really is and sometimes it’s hard for us to hear. He gives more practical advice on how
Christians should act - things like fighting, anger, quarreling, showing
favoritism, controlling the tongue, boasting, patience and prayer. Remember your actions may be the only Bible
someone reads.
James 3 – Godly Speech & Wisdom
James warns that
many of us should not be teachers.
Why? Instructing in the Word of
God is such a serious responsibility that God will judge teachers more harshly
than others. Teachers are held to a
higher standard. People look up to teachers
as they are in positions of influence and authority. They are molding minds. God has given us an instrument called the
tongue and is to be used in the service of teaching, but we should be
cautious. Without preparation teaching
is like the blind leading the blind. He
said that we all stumble in many ways, because we are not perfect (James 3:1-2).
We should
realize that the smallest objects have great power. He used the examples of the bit in the
horse’s mouth which guides and controls the horse, a small rudder steers a
large ship and a small spark starts a forest fire. The tongue is small, but has great power and
can do harmful things. We should be
careful what we say. Words have a lot of
power. We always remember the negative
words, but most likely we will forget the positive words. Before speaking ask yourself, “Does it give a
blessing?” or “Is it going to better the other person?” So James said to watch our tongues. – (James 3:3-10). How can we do that? Recognize
we need to watch what we say and then ask God to help us control our tongues
and of course think before we speak.
One little word
of discouragement to someone can stay with a person the rest of their
lives. The childhood saying “Sticks and
stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me” isn’t really true. Experts say it take 5 positive comments to
offset 1 negative. When people are
called dumb, stupid, lazy, hopeless, etc, they never forget. Some of the sins of the tongue are: coarse jesting, gossip, lying, slander,
swearing, ungraceful speech, criticism, unkind words. “For by your words
you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” – (Matthew 12:37). Instead use the tongue to comfort, encourage,
warn, worship and pray.
When have you
been challenged with your speech?
Do your words
speak blessings and encouragement or are they hateful?
If we surrender
our minds to God, our tongues will follow.
Paul speaks of mind control, which will lead to tongue control. “Do not conform any
longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind. Then you will be able to test and
approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Rom. 12:2. Not only should we control what we say in a
negative way, but we should speak positively.
Say something to encourage someone this week. Praise God for how He’s provided, protected,
comforted, or guided you. Be a witness
to others how He has done this in your life.
“When
words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
but the heart of the wicked is of little value.
The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of
judgment.” –Prov. 10:19-21.
“Pleasant
words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.” – Prov.
16:24.
“The
tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its
fruit.” – Prov. 18:21
How has your
tongue been tattling on your heart?
Does your
tongue show who you really are?
Have you
surrendered you mind and tongue to God?
James tells us there
are two kinds of wisdom – earthly and heavenly.
Earthly wisdom harbors bitter envy, selfish ambition, is boastful,
denies the truth and is not from heaven.
It shows itself in inconsiderate actions, arrogance, selfishness and
bitterness. It is unspiritual and from
the devil. Heavenly wisdom is pure,
peace-loving, considerate, gentle, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit,
impartial, sincere and comes from heaven. True wisdom is evident by meek actions. It shows us how to do good works. Doing good works in a way designed to bring
attention to yourself shows lack of true wisdom. (James
13-18).
Wisdom is not
only knowledge, but application. When we
hear words of wisdom, it reshapes our thinking and focus. God’s wisdom is totally pure, because He is
holy. Man’s wisdom is competitive and
leads to strife and can make a person hard and stubborn. Take time to evaluate those places when you
have been stubborn. His wisdom is
impartial and brings strength and is sincere.
Man’s wisdom is insincere and fake.
How can we
gain more heavenly wisdom? God gives heavenly wisdom by the study of His
Word. The book of Proverbs is a good
book on wisdom. We can ask God for more
heavenly wisdom. Don’t try to please
everyone, only please God.
What kind of
wisdom do you have?
What sources
do you turn to for wisdom?
Have you ask
God for heavenly wisdom?
Where does
the Bible fall on that list?
Where is
disorder in your life?
Can you trace
it back to worldly wisdom?
Do you see
the wisdom of God as an option or an obligation?
Principle: Applying
God’s wisdom by His Spirit will change how we talk and think.
James 4 – Problem and Solution to Worldliness
We are to have
self-control. When we believe, we put on
a new nature. Our old nature is not
transferred instantly, but is a process.
The cause of all quarrels is inside our hearts and comes from our own
desires. James said that if we are
friends with the world, then we hate God.
We can’t be both friends of this world system in rebellion against God
and be friends of God at the same time. The
Holy Spirit in us yearns for our friendship with God. The Spirit convicts the Christian who lives
in compromise. He wants total devotion
of our hearts. – (James 4:4-5). The world
hates God and hates us for following Him.
If you choose to be a friend of the world, you become an enemy of
God. As believers we are in a
relationship with the Lord. Being
friends with the world is an adulterous relationship.
Pride is a great
sin. “God opposes the proud, but give grace to the
humble.” – James 4:6. We are to rid
ourselves of worldly thinking. We are to
submit to God and resist the devil. “Come near to God and He will come near to you… Humble yourselves
before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” – (James 4:8-10). True
submission is outward and inward.
You can go to Bible study and church, but you also need confession.
Why should we
submit to God?
Because He
created us.
Because His rule
is good for us.
Because all
resistance to Him is futile.
Because
submission is absolutely necessary to salvation.
Because it’s the
only way to have peace with God.
Because He gave
His son to die for what we deserve.
What does it
mean to draw near to God?
We are near to
Him when we worship, praise and pray to Him.
We enjoy
communion with Him.
We seek and follow
His ways in the course of your life.
It helps us
resist the devil.
It helps us to
become more like Jesus.
It helps us to
think of eternal things.
We depend on
Him.
How can we
draw near to God?
We can get to
know Jesus.
We can get in
His Word.
We can get to
praying.
We can praise
and worship Him.
We can go the
church regularly.
We can be thankful
and stop complaining.
We can make Him
the center of our life.
When was the
last time you brought a sin to God?
What kind of
worldly thinking do you have?
Are you
depending on God or on yourself?
We are not to
slander each other. We are not to judge
others. When we do that, we put
ourselves in the same place of judgment.
People are criticized for their appearance or if they don’t meet the
right standards. They compare one person
to another or to themselves. People want
others to measure up to their own standards.
Only God can judge and only He knows the heart. Christians are to speak the truth in love. (James 4:11-12).
James warns
about boasting. We should not have the
kind of heart that lives and makes plans apart from the awareness of God. We should be aware of our limitations. He wants us to realize that human life is
fragile. We live this life that He gives
us only by His permission. We can plan and do things, but we need to do in on
the reliance of God. It is arrogance and
prideful when we move about being independent of God. James said it is easier to think about and
talk about humility and the dependence on God than to actually live it. If we know what we should do and don’t do it,
it’s a sin. (James 4:13-17).
Principle: As
we humbly surrender our desires and plans to the Lord, He will lead us by grace
into His perfect will.
James 5 – Patient Endurance
James gave a
warning to the rich. There are 4 crimes
of the rich man mentioned in James 5:1-6: hoarding wealth, failing to pay workmen
(theft), living in self-indulgence, condemning and murdering innocent men. Are these actions the actions of
Christians? We are not supposed to
judge, but these actions are not how Christians are supposed to act. Remember James was writing to all Christians
so he is reminding them how to act. None
of us are perfect and will never be until we reach heaven. That’s why we need scripture and the Holy
Spirit to convict us and guides us.
Wealth in itself is not sinful.
It’s one’s attitude toward it and how you use it. God always knows how we are being treated and
how we treat others.
Jesus is coming
so be patient and stand firm. We are not
to grumble against each other or we will be judged. Be an example of patience when faced with
suffering. We are also not to swear. – (James 5:7-12).
There are many
lessons in James about prayer. You are
to pray when in trouble, call the elders of the church to pray over you when
you are sick. A prayer offered in faith
will make you well. Confess your sins to
each other and pray for each other so you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous man is powerful
and effective. – (James 5:13-18). I think this is talking about spiritual
weakness or a sick soul and spiritual healing not physical; however it isn’t
limited to physical healing. We can
never limit God. With God all things are
possible.
We as Christians
have the privilege to bring those back who have wandered from the faith. If we turn a sinner from the error of his
ways, it will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. – (James 5:19-20). There are times when a Christian has been
deceived by immoral friends or false teachers.
Maybe he has strayed from the truth in worship, doctrine or morals. This could happen to any Christian. We can have an impact on him by turning him
back to God. Then the person sees his
sins and is restored. He is forgiven by
God. These verses show God’s heart. He will come after us when we wander away,
because He loves us so much.
Prayer is a
privilege and at great cost, the life of Jesus Christ and with that comes a
great power. Prayer will change your
heart.
Principle: Humbly
surrendering to the Lord in prayer provides us with strength, hope and love for
others.
How are you
praying today for someone in trouble?
Who is in
your path that is drowning? Will you say, ‘I am here to help’?
Are you known
as a person of prayer?
Wow! What a
study of the Acts of the Apostles we’ve had this year with Acts, 1 &2 Peter, Hebrews, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 Corinthians
and James. We have an Unstoppable
God! Join me here in the fall when we
will study the book of Genesis. Until then join my posts throughout the
summer. -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.
__________________________________________
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