1-10
Again, we see in this chapter the directness of James. He pulls no punches, yet as his mentor, Jesus, he says it all with a heart of love for the sinful, unrepentant people he is addressing. He left off chapter 3 contrasting God’s wisdom, with the devilish wisdom of the world. He continues to contrast the way of God with the way of the world in Chapter 4.
He begins with several pointed questions. Don’t you know why you continue to argue and fight? Isn’t it due to your selfish desires? He says, You want what you can’t have so you hide jealousy in your heart. It doesn’t help so you argue and are even willing to kill to have your way. You wouldn’t think of asking God for it, but that’s because you know that your desires are wrong. You do not wish to glorify God, but only your selfish flesh.
He then accuses them of spiritual adultery due to their blatant unfaithfulness to God and His ways.
James then begins to show the stark contrast between the way these people were living, and the way Jesus taught them to live. Don’t you know, he asks, that loving the things of this world is the same thing as hating God? Whoever is a friend of the world, is an enemy of God.
Wow! That’s bold! It’s also exactly what these people needed to hear. It is also what so many need to hear in this day and age.
We have become a world without absolutes. There is no real right or wrong. It all depends upon the person. We all have to “live our own truth,” the philosophers say.
But that’s not what God says. Yes, He is a God of love and forgiveness, but He is also a God who is righteous and holy.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
It’s not this god, or that god. It’s not a smorgasbord.
It’s heaven or hell – Jesus or judgment.
James drives them back to the scripture in order to make the right choice. He says the scripture tells us that our human spirit, the old man within us, is desirous only for himself, but God can give us grace to overcome that spirit.
He then leads them through the steps of true repentance, starting and ending with submission to almighty God.
Draw near to God, he says, and not only will God draw near to you, but the devil will flee from you. Again, two polar opposites – stand against the devil and run to God. You can’t follow both at the same time.
You need to truly repent, he says. Purify your hearts and humble yourself before the Lord. Then will God exalt you.
11-12
Here James briefly touches on judging others.
We are not to speak evil about others because when we judge or criticize others, we are actually criticizing the law they follow.
If we are judging the law then we are no longer doers of the law, but have made ourselves judges. The only problem with that is, there is only one lawgiver and only one who is worthy to be the judge of that law. He is the only one who is able to mete out the judgments the law requires – salvation or condemnation. So who are we to judge anyone?
13-14
Here, James condemns, not the wise practice of planning ahead, but planning without involving God.
He emphasizes how foolish this is by pointing out the fragility of human life. Our lives are but a vapor, here for a moment, then gone. It is all in God’s hands and therefore it is only wise to acknowledge this and consult Him with our plans.
These men were doing no such thing, though. They were going about making their own plans and vainly bragging about the success they assumed these plans were going to create. James warns them that such bragging is evil.
Therefore, he says, whoever knows the right thing to do (i.e. to include God in all our decisions) and does it not, is sinning.
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
Final Thoughts
My key word for this chapter was humble, and I had two key verses, 6 an 10.
James is talking here to those who profess Christianity, but lack any proof of it in their life. He begs them to truly repent.
The key to repentance is the same today as it was in those days – humility and submission.
When we give ourselves over in full submission to the Lord, it is obvious in our life. We allow the Holy Spirit to take over our hearts and minds, and God’s desires truly become our desires. We no longer wish to be like the world, or find its vices enticing.
To live in total submission to God is to experience total freedom!
