James 4, Boasting About Tomorrow

James 4:13-17

Boasting About Tomorrow

Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

This is so incredibly humbling. My life is so small and so short compared to the big picture. We must consider God as the center for all our plans, so that it is always his will to be done, and not ours.

I know I must be conscious of God's will and how that must control my life. I am learning to be flexible and go where the Holy Spirit leads me.

As I prepare to leave for Kenya in less than 48 hours, so many emotions come over me. Anxiety, nerves, excitement. I pray it is God's will that I travel safely and, more importantly, effectively minister to the people there. It is going to be an amazing journey, and definitely not the one I had planned to take this summer, but I know it's where he wants me right now. It's hard not to boast about it, because it's so exciting, and I love serving our Lord overseas. 

I do not know what will happen tomorrow, but I pray it is God's will, and not mine.

James 4, Submit Yourselves to God

James 4:1-12
Submit Yourselves to God

4:1-3 Quarrels
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

I tend to have trouble asking God for help. It's not usually a pride issue, like some people have - it's more not feeling like I deserve his help. But I do. I'm always afraid that my motives are wrong, like what James writes about here. But I can't be afraid to ask God for help, even when I think my motives are wrong.

4:4-6 Friendship with the World
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

It makes me nervous thinking about being friends with the world, because it's so hard to tell with today's society if you're obeying the world, or obeying God. I always try to make glorifying God the main priority in everything I do. As long as I want to please him, I know I'm on the right track.

4:7-10 Purify Your Hearts
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to god and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

I read this as a "pep talk," though it's not very peppy. Change our joy to sorrow? What?! But it's just a reality check. We're ALL sinners. We can't change that. We should be filled with sorrow at our sinful ways. But God saves us from sin and forgives us, and we should be grateful.

4:11-13 Judging
Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you - who are you to judge your neighbor?

I know I need to watch my words towards others - not only to their faces, but also behind backs. We all struggle with this. We want to rant and vent about that person who makes our day miserable...but that's not what we should do. We don't know what kind of day they were having, or what's going on in their lives. We should focus more on bringing positive attitudes to others and brightening their days, instead of bringing them down with hurtful words.

James 3, Two Kinds of Wisdom

James 3:13-18
Two Kinds of Wisdom

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes fro wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

Here is this passage in a nutshell...

Wisdom from the devil:

• Bitter envy
• Selfish ambition

Wisdom from heaven:

• Pure
• Peace-loving
• Considerate
• Submissive
• Full of mercy and good fruit
• Impartial
• Sincere

Obviously, it's much easier to be full of unspiritual wisdom than wisdom from heaven, especially in our society. We must be constantly checking ourselves and our intentions. Do we want to please the world, or do we want to please God?

James 3, Taming the Tongue

James 3:1-12
Taming the Tongue

3:1-2 Teachers
Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

Today, I finished my last test in my Block 1 of education courses. For the past six weeks, I've been going to school 8am-4pm every day to take Core Teaching Skills, Exceptional Students in Secondary Education, and Educational Psychology. It has been an intense, enlightening, enriching experience. Of course, one of the main topics of discussion was how teachers should act with students, colleagues, parents, and administrators, as well as what qualities an effective teacher possesses. Of course, an effective teacher should be professional at all times, knowing the difference between colleague and friend, as well as student and friend. A teacher is kind, caring, has a serving attitude, can discipline, fun, and loving. Not everyone is made to be a teacher, which is why we're held to such high standards, as we should be. We are often the only positive model in a child's life. These two verses are also very true for anyone who teaches the Bible. We must watch our words and what we teach, because often one negative comment will stick much more firmly than a thousand positive comments.

3:3-8 Tongue as Fire
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

This passage is extremely harsh, yet so true. I've experienced hurt from words and I know I've hurt others with my words. I've posted before about my struggle with gossip and negatively. Not only is it a problem in the music field, but I've also found that teachers can be guilty of it, too. Sometimes, it's just best to leave the circle and not get involved. Other times, though, you have to be the one to shut it down and tell them to stop. Neither is easy, but both must be done.

3:9-12 Fresh Water and Salt
With the tongue we praise our Lord and father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring fresh water.

As difficult as it is, I think it's possible for someone to only speak positively, along with constructive criticism. It's a challenging task. Can you go a whole day without saying anything bad about anyone or anything?

James 2, Faith and Deeds

James 2:14-26
Faith and Deeds

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But some will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me  your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one god. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that this faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed god, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

It is very important to me to show my faith through what I do and say, even when I am not directly speaking about God. I try my best to show his light at school, when I teach, in band, at work, and in everything else I do.

One thing our team leader in Swaziland told us was that we were being Jesus to these kids for the week. I was shocked when I first heard the words leave his mouth. That's really bold, isn't it? To claim to be the Messiah? But as the time went on and I interacted with the kids, I began to see what Scott meant. We were being the physical hands and feet of Jesus - serving and loving the Swazis the way he would have if he were on earth right now. We were showing them ultimate respect and love by obeying what God was telling us to do.

When people see me, I don't want them to see Rachel. I want them to see God's light shown through me. They may not remember me or my name or maybe even what I did, but I want them to remember Christ and what he did for us.

James 2, Favoritism Forbidden

James 2:1-13
Favoritism Forbidden

2:1-7 Rich vs. Poor
My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?

I was once told that God shows favoritism and bias towards the poor. That completely blew my mind. We tend to think (or, at least in the environment I grew up) that God loves everyone equally and unconditionally. But it's very evident throughout Scripture that God does show at least some level of preference towards the poor. I think part of that is because they are so grateful for everything they have, and they take very little for granted, especially God's love and blessings. This passage says we aren't to show favoritism towards the rich - but are we to show favoritism towards the poor?

I was blessed to witness the paradox of poor in material, yet rich in faith, in person when I went to Swaziland last year. That whole experience was completely life-changing, and of course I could talk about it for days, but I'll save you from boredom. Anyway, it was amazing to spend time with the Swazis, who have virtually nothing compared to a great majority of our western society, but yet have the greatest, deepest, purest faith of anyone I have ever met. With their simple lives, they don't have the distractions we have every day here (television, media, extravagant shops, even school and work to an extent) to keep them from thinking about and acting out their faith. It was a beautiful paradox to witness, and I wish everyone could spend time in a culture like that.

2:8-11 Whole Scripture
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

Can you imagine if our society was like this? "If you steal a candy bar, or jaywalk, you will be considered the same as a murder!" There would definitely be an improvement in pedestrian behavior! This passage does bother me a little, because there are certain parts of Scripture I don't necessarily agree with - does that make me a bad Christian? Am I holding the values of man above God? All I know is that I am trying to glorify God with everything I do, and he is always at the forefront of my intentions - even when I don't always agree with what is said in Paul's letters.

2:12-13 Judgement
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgement!

It's interesting thinking about "the law that gives freedom." Doesn't law take away freedoms? The freedom Paul writes about is eternal life with Christ. That is the ultimate freedom - freedom from death. We are free and forgiven of our sins through Christ's death. That doesn't mean we can run around acting like heathens - we still have to keep a close watch on our words an actions so we can obey God fully. "The law is no longer an external set of rules, but it is a 'law that gives freedom' - one we joyfully and willingly carry out, because we love God and because we have the power of his Holy Spirit to carry it out." I am joyful and willing to carry out the law!

James 1, Listening and Doing

James 1:19-27
Listening and Doing

1:19-21 Anger
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

One thing I have been struggling with (over the past year, but particularly in the last few weeks) is the competitiveness and negativity within my field of music education. There are so many tight, harmful gossip circles and it's so easy to get sucked into the negative atmosphere. I try to be a light for God's love in the darkness, but it's often easier (and ever so tempting) to just join the gossip. I've been starting to pray more for guidance through this. Should I leave those social circles altogether (which is hard, because I spend so many hours with these people ever day, and I consider many of them to be my close friends), or do I stay with them in an effort to shut down the hate groups and show God's love?

1:22-25 Don't Just Listen - Do
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does.

I know so many who are guilty of this, including myself. I think that's something Christians often get in trouble for, too. We have this great Holy Book that shows us how to live and gives us great life with Christ, but it doesn't do any good if we just ignore it, or forget what it says after Sunday morning. I do my devotions every morning when I get up for school (around 6:30). Sometimes, I'm only half awake, even with the coffee, and I barely remember what I read after hours of lectures and tests and avoiding gossip. I want to know the Word better and be able to accurately recite passages and wisdom from its depth of Truth. I don't want to just read every day - I want to be a walking visual of what's inside.

1:26-27 Basic Religion
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Wow. Just wow. These two verses really sum up everything I want to stand for in my faith, my teaching, and my everyday life (which usually involves faith and teaching). Keeping a "tight rein" on the tongue goes back to the gossip theme for the day/month/year. According to my Bible's footnotes, "To keep ourselves from being polluted by the world, we must commit ourselves to Christ's ethical and moral system, not the world's. We are not to adapt to the world's value system, which is based on money, power, and pleasure. True faith means nothing if we are contaminated with such values." Couldn't have said it better myself.