Posts

Why do we fight? James 4:1-6 Part 7

Image
Read James 4:1-6 In the end of chapter 3 James told us that peacemakers sow a harvest of righteousness; true wisdom is seen in peace, humility, mercy, love and submission to God. Thus, what follows in today’s passage, is behavior that is not in line with true wisdom, in fact, it is the opposite. James goes right to the heart of the problem and asks us – What causes fights and quarrels among you? He doesn’t go into detail about what they were fighting and quarreling about, but instead, he nails the source of the problem immediately – our heart’s desires.  Fights and quarrels come from a hedonistic attitude. Hedonism is the theory that we should seek pleasure and satisfaction of our desires above all else. It says this is the aim of human life and the highest good, however, the Bible says, “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world to abstain from sinful desires which war against your soul.” (1 Peter 2:11). Restlessness and unfulfilled desires cause us to fight and a
Post a Comment
Read more

Two kinds of wisdom James 3:13-18 Part 6

Image
Read James 3:13-18 There are those in life that think they know it all, yet they act like fools. By looking at someone’s actions and behaviors you can see the true measure of a person’s character. James tells us that there are two kinds of wisdom: wisdom from God and Satan’s “wisdom”. Our text today takes a look at what they each mean and how to identify them. Our passage seems to be a culmination of what James has been teaching us so far in this letter.  Looking back to chapter one we can see that true wisdom is from God and if we ask Him for this wisdom, He will give it. James has taught us that true wisdom is not simply gaining worldly knowledge but gaining practical insight into the wisdom that God gives us in His word. We also learned that true wisdom absorbs God’s word and is seen in your actions. It is shown in how we take care of those in need, not judging by appearance but with mercy and by the law. True wisdom will be reflected in all you say and do and the attitude in which
Post a Comment
Read more

Taming the tongue James 3:1-12 Part 5

Image
  Read James 3:1-12 Words are powerful. So powerful that God spoke, and the world was created. So powerful that Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Think about that. God’s word pierces to the division of the soul and the spirit, joints and marrow and discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart! God’s Word can impact the whole body, mind and soul! Our text, however, brings our attention to man’s words. Is what we say important? Does it impact our lives or the lives of others? James would say, “Absolutely!” What we say, and how we use our tongues is so important that James dedicates twelve verses to talking about it. He begins with those whose words are meant to impact others, teachers. Teachers’ words are used to shape the minds of others, particularly our young. In Matthew 5:19 Jesus said, “An
Post a Comment
Read more

Faith and deeds. James 2:14-26 Part 4

Image
Read James 2:14-26 In today’s text, James teaches us that faith without deeds is not a genuine saving faith but rather it is a mere acceptance of the truth; without actually trusting in our Saviour Christ Jesus. True faith will change our actions as well as our thoughts and heart. If we are unchanged by our faith, and how we treat others doesn’t change, then we are simply acknowledging the truth, that God is the one and only God. In Matthew 7:26 Jesus says, “But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.” What good is acknowledging the truth if you don’t act upon it? Wisdom is taking knowledge and putting it into practice. This isn’t the first time James has made this point. Our text is an expansion on his words in James 1:22, where he wrote, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James follows this with an example in verses 15-16, reflecting the teaching of Chris
Post a Comment
Read more

Showing Favoritism James 2:1-13 Part 3

Image
Read James 2:1-13 James starts chapter two with the command not to show favoritism and goes into an explanation of what this means and why we ought not to do it. We are not to judge by appearances and not show partiality to the rich or the poor. This command goes back to the original law in Leviticus 19:15, where it says, “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great but judge your neighbor fairly.” Jesus reiterated this in John 7:24 when He said, “Stop judging by mere appearances and make a right judgement.” James gives us an example of when we might be inclined to favoritism in verses 2-4 when he wrote, “For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person but you say to the poor one, ‘You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor’ – well, doesn’t this discriminatio
Post a Comment
Read more

Listening and Doing. James 1:19-27. Part 2

Image
Read 1 James 1:19-27 James starts off our text with once again calling the readers “my dear brothers”. He reminds them that what he is going to tell them, he is saying in brotherly love. He gives them concise instructions, telling them they ought to be “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” Man’s anger is not the righteous anger of God, but rather a sinful emotion, with sinful reasoning. Our section of text is about guarding our tongues but also our ears because what you absorb and take in affects what comes out. Proverbs 10:19 says, “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.” We can also turn to Proverbs 17:27 where it says, “Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.” The bible has many more passages about holding our tongues. Wisdom is listening first and thinking before you speak. To be wise, one must listen to God’s word and “put away all filthiness”, as
Post a Comment
Read more

Trials and Temptations James 1:1-18 Part 1

Image
  Read James 1:1 – 18 The book of James was most likely written to the early Jewish believers. This is partially due to the use of the phrase, “The Twelve Tribes.” It is believed to have been written by Jesus’s brother James, prior to 50 A.D. because there is no reference to the controversy over Gentile circumcision, but also, because of it’s use of certain Hebrew and Greek words. James writes and addresses the readers as brothers to show that although he has many rebukes for them, he is admonishing them in brotherly love. In verse 2 James directly refers to Christ’s teachings in Matthew 5:11 when he tells the reader, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds…” James goes on to say that the reason for joy is that trials test your faith and develop perseverance. We must learn perseverance in order to attain maturity of faith. God wants us to draw close to Him and when we go through trials we learn to rely on God and learn where our focus should be.
Post a Comment
Read more