"Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, 'He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us'?"
This verse concludes the previous thought (verse 4) James makes that whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. He questions the church with a blunt, "Do you not know?" to drive home a spiritual truth concerning our naivety toward the flesh and spirit war we face. We assume that we logically know the ramifications of conforming to the pattern of this world despite continual evidence to the contrary. Our failures prove that we do not grasp how easily we're consumed with worldly pleasures, because "like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly" (Proverbs 26:11).
We all struggle to some degree with understanding our propensity to sin and our infatuation with pleasure and comfort. Why do we continually fail? What drives our fleshly desires? Why are we not content with God's provision? In most cases, we easily fall victim to our past patterns of temptation that are tried, true and promise temporary satisfaction. They portray an illusion of peace, but in truth only bind our hearts to idols that suffocate the Spirit's conviction. We underestimate how weak our will is apart from Christ when we take our salvation for granted and pridefully rely on our own strength in fruitless attempts to destroy strongholds. We must recognize our foolish behavior whether in thought or action and spiritually invest where we are guaranteed the greatest return on investment. That is why Jesus so passionately encouraged his followers, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21).
The simple fact is that we serve a jealous God who will not share our heart's allegiance and devotion. Scripture even declares his name as "Jealous" (Exodus 34:14) and states plainly concerning idols, "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments" (Exodus 20:4-6). It is imperative we grasp how serious God judges idolatry. He will punish this sin that is pervasive in our hearts for generations to come if we do not extermimate it with intentional focus and determination. It is a cancer of the heart that will destroy us from within if we do not allow the Spirit of God to surgically remove this idolatrous virus from our lives.
At the core of what James is conveying is a elevation of worship. Do we worship the God of heaven or the things of this world? Perhaps more specifically, do we blend the two together under the assumption of peaceful harmony? Perhaps that is why Jesus taught His followers, "No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other" (Luke 16:13). Therefore, we cannot pledge allegiance to Christ but willingly crucify Him on the cross by our repeated mistakes. A spiritual intervention must take place, and that begins with surrender to what the Bible states as absolute truth. We are all addicts; we just don't perceive ourselves that way. We believe the label "addict" is reserved for those who struggle with substance abuse, etc., all the while failing to realize that our daily sinful thoughts and behaviors testify to our consistent violation of God's Law. But God is not content with idly standing by and watching us destroy ourselves. Rather, He admonishes our depraved minds with truth that affirms, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).
God is not looking to judge and condemn us. His desire is for our brokenness over sin through Biblical humility and repentance, for "the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Psalm 51:17). He is absolutely and unapologetically jealous though, which should compel our hearts to shout praise and adoration, because He could crush us according to our transgressions and be justified doing so if the only aspect of His character was Law. But He is more than Law; He is equally Love as well. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him" (John 3:16-17). Therefore, we are without excuse. The path of eternity has been paved and given freely as a gift of grace to those who place their faith, trust and assurance of salvation in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. May we embrace this truth by worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24) and rejoice unto God, for He is Jealous and worthy to be praised!
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
James 4:4 (Devotion)
"You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
The apostle Paul states in his letter to the church in Rome, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2-3). There is great comfort in these words because they address the spiritual warfare every born-again man or woman faces on a daily basis. We are called to live in this broken and sinful world yet not be consumed or identified by it. Our identity is in Christ and our eternal destination linked with Jesus in His death and resurrection (John 17:16).
The line of distinction between flesh and spirit is at times difficult to comprehend both in our personal lives and in how we interact with other Christians and non-believers. James understood this dilemma though, which is why he so vehemently called out the hypocrisy he saw all around him. To declare members of the church "adulterous" is a serious claim, but one that James felt called by God to address without hesitation. In this sense, adulterous is a word used to convey how we violate and defile our marriage with Christ when we (the church, His bride) choose intimate union with the various idols and manifestations of sin in the world over fellowship with God. We yield to the temptations of our flesh by choosing what is temporal over eternal. What is most concerning though is that James is addressing the CHURCH with this claim! Therefore, we who proclaim identity in Christ and fellowship with the Holy Spirit must be boldly convicted of the hypocrisy we demonstrate when we choose friendship with the world over devotion to Christ and His Word.
This verse of James should strike incredible conviction upon our hearts because it also pin-points our fear of persecution. Taking a stand for the absolute truth of Scripture is polarizing in our culture. In truth, the world wants nothing more than to disregard our standard of righteousness and turn it against us by declaring our doctrine as hate-speech. One may balk at that notion, but at the rate our culture is spiraling down into degradation, it is only a matter of time before agreeing with the Word of God and simply quoting what the Bible says will result in judicial ramifications and penalties. That is why Jesus proclaimed to His followers, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:18-19). Therefore, we are not to cower in fear of the enemy but embrace the cross of Christ as our comfort in times where we face a tempestuous fork in the road and must choose to sin or resist temptation. "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21) is the standard to which we must adhere if we truly are the followers of Christ we testify to be.
There is a need to address how this verse applies in the sphere of evangelism. James is not conveying that because we cannot be friends with the world, we are to avoid proclaiming the Gospel. That would be inconsistent with Scripture and especially Jesus' Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). Moreover, James is not insinuating that we are to avoid non-believers altogether. What he is admonishing is that we cannot accept the false doctrine of relative truth and post-modernistic thinking our world perpetuates as our personal theology. The Bible is our standard for righteousness, and we must unashamedly be willing to suffer or even die for the preservation of it and our identification to it. Many past martyrs of the church were faced with that choice, and we have the same choice today.
Bottom-line: How do we apply James 4:4 in our lives? Look no further that Paul's letter to the church in Rome: "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:14-21). If we apply these truths, we will not only resist friendship with the world as James warns, but we will transition from being God's enemy to His instrument of love and peace to a world in desperate need of salvation.
The apostle Paul states in his letter to the church in Rome, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2-3). There is great comfort in these words because they address the spiritual warfare every born-again man or woman faces on a daily basis. We are called to live in this broken and sinful world yet not be consumed or identified by it. Our identity is in Christ and our eternal destination linked with Jesus in His death and resurrection (John 17:16).
The line of distinction between flesh and spirit is at times difficult to comprehend both in our personal lives and in how we interact with other Christians and non-believers. James understood this dilemma though, which is why he so vehemently called out the hypocrisy he saw all around him. To declare members of the church "adulterous" is a serious claim, but one that James felt called by God to address without hesitation. In this sense, adulterous is a word used to convey how we violate and defile our marriage with Christ when we (the church, His bride) choose intimate union with the various idols and manifestations of sin in the world over fellowship with God. We yield to the temptations of our flesh by choosing what is temporal over eternal. What is most concerning though is that James is addressing the CHURCH with this claim! Therefore, we who proclaim identity in Christ and fellowship with the Holy Spirit must be boldly convicted of the hypocrisy we demonstrate when we choose friendship with the world over devotion to Christ and His Word.
This verse of James should strike incredible conviction upon our hearts because it also pin-points our fear of persecution. Taking a stand for the absolute truth of Scripture is polarizing in our culture. In truth, the world wants nothing more than to disregard our standard of righteousness and turn it against us by declaring our doctrine as hate-speech. One may balk at that notion, but at the rate our culture is spiraling down into degradation, it is only a matter of time before agreeing with the Word of God and simply quoting what the Bible says will result in judicial ramifications and penalties. That is why Jesus proclaimed to His followers, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:18-19). Therefore, we are not to cower in fear of the enemy but embrace the cross of Christ as our comfort in times where we face a tempestuous fork in the road and must choose to sin or resist temptation. "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21) is the standard to which we must adhere if we truly are the followers of Christ we testify to be.
There is a need to address how this verse applies in the sphere of evangelism. James is not conveying that because we cannot be friends with the world, we are to avoid proclaiming the Gospel. That would be inconsistent with Scripture and especially Jesus' Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). Moreover, James is not insinuating that we are to avoid non-believers altogether. What he is admonishing is that we cannot accept the false doctrine of relative truth and post-modernistic thinking our world perpetuates as our personal theology. The Bible is our standard for righteousness, and we must unashamedly be willing to suffer or even die for the preservation of it and our identification to it. Many past martyrs of the church were faced with that choice, and we have the same choice today.
Bottom-line: How do we apply James 4:4 in our lives? Look no further that Paul's letter to the church in Rome: "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:14-21). If we apply these truths, we will not only resist friendship with the world as James warns, but we will transition from being God's enemy to His instrument of love and peace to a world in desperate need of salvation.
Friday, September 18, 2015
James 4:3 (Devotion)
"You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions."
One of the greatest mysteries of life surrounds the intentions of the heart. They are difficult to discern externally because they are a spiritual issue in purest form, and one that shapes the trajectory of our lives far more than we realize. Our intentions reveal a deeper discussion of spiritual identity and to whom we serve: God or self. For if our identity is in Christ, the intentions of the heart will align with the Word of God as it pertains to righteousness. But if our identity is wrapped up in our love of self, our heart's intentions will seek personal pleasure with no regard for the consequences that follow.
James calls out a very simple message applicable to our prayers, therefore we must wrestle with whether we ask God with selfish motives. In some cases, selfish motives are understandable. For example, anyone who struggles with terminal illness can attest that asking God for either personal healing or the healing of a loved one is a selfish prayer request, but one that is pure and righteous. Where we tend to get off-track is when we place expectations that God must act in a specific way in order to be considered good, righteous or trustworthy as it relates to our request. Similarly, when a request becomes a negotiation or mandate, we also fall victim to placing unrealistic expectations. We cannot fathom how God would be glorified when sickness results in death, especially premature death. Questions of, "How could a good God allow this to happen?" plant seeds of doubt in God's sovereignty and undermine the miraculous work He does outside of our comprehension. In those moments, we must remember that "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1), and we can trust God because He is holy and worthy of praise even in the midst of our doubt.
James convicts us directly that our passions prevent our prayers from being answered. When we step outside the will of God as revealed in His Word in order to satisfy our flesh, we seek selfish glorify over Christ. That is a hard pill to swallow. Many times, we are blinded by our selfishness and do not realize how we are stifling the Holy Spirit from working through conviction in our hearts. We only see the object of our desire without the universal perspective God possesses, or we minimize our sin by keeping it locked up in the secret dwellings of our hearts and minds (or so we think). Jesus addressed this type of warped logic though when He declared, "But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28). In this example, Jesus radically calls out how deceived we become when we view sin as external. We completely miss the point that the internal manifestation of our fleshly passions (our heart's intent) condemns us, even if limited merely to our thoughts. And as James brings the issue full circle, our prayers are hindered because our hearts are not pure but consumed with self-gratifying pleasures that do not honor Christ.
Not all pleasure is sinful though, and we must be clear that the defining line between righteous and sinful pleasure is found in the pages of Scripture. "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:12-13). If we genuinely want to expose how pure or impure our prayer requests are to God, we need not look any further than His Word for answers, because the key to unlocking the wisdom of James 4:3 is found in how literally we apply every self-introspecting word of Psalm 139. For if we are truly aligned with God's will and our eternal identity in Christ through grace by faith (Eph. 2:8), then we will not be afraid to boldly pray, "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" (Psalm 139:23-24). But if we are blinded by our passions, we will continue to struggle understanding why our prayers are hindered, and fall further into a pit of frustration, doubt and despair from which we may never choose to recover.
One of the greatest mysteries of life surrounds the intentions of the heart. They are difficult to discern externally because they are a spiritual issue in purest form, and one that shapes the trajectory of our lives far more than we realize. Our intentions reveal a deeper discussion of spiritual identity and to whom we serve: God or self. For if our identity is in Christ, the intentions of the heart will align with the Word of God as it pertains to righteousness. But if our identity is wrapped up in our love of self, our heart's intentions will seek personal pleasure with no regard for the consequences that follow.
James calls out a very simple message applicable to our prayers, therefore we must wrestle with whether we ask God with selfish motives. In some cases, selfish motives are understandable. For example, anyone who struggles with terminal illness can attest that asking God for either personal healing or the healing of a loved one is a selfish prayer request, but one that is pure and righteous. Where we tend to get off-track is when we place expectations that God must act in a specific way in order to be considered good, righteous or trustworthy as it relates to our request. Similarly, when a request becomes a negotiation or mandate, we also fall victim to placing unrealistic expectations. We cannot fathom how God would be glorified when sickness results in death, especially premature death. Questions of, "How could a good God allow this to happen?" plant seeds of doubt in God's sovereignty and undermine the miraculous work He does outside of our comprehension. In those moments, we must remember that "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1), and we can trust God because He is holy and worthy of praise even in the midst of our doubt.
James convicts us directly that our passions prevent our prayers from being answered. When we step outside the will of God as revealed in His Word in order to satisfy our flesh, we seek selfish glorify over Christ. That is a hard pill to swallow. Many times, we are blinded by our selfishness and do not realize how we are stifling the Holy Spirit from working through conviction in our hearts. We only see the object of our desire without the universal perspective God possesses, or we minimize our sin by keeping it locked up in the secret dwellings of our hearts and minds (or so we think). Jesus addressed this type of warped logic though when He declared, "But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28). In this example, Jesus radically calls out how deceived we become when we view sin as external. We completely miss the point that the internal manifestation of our fleshly passions (our heart's intent) condemns us, even if limited merely to our thoughts. And as James brings the issue full circle, our prayers are hindered because our hearts are not pure but consumed with self-gratifying pleasures that do not honor Christ.
Not all pleasure is sinful though, and we must be clear that the defining line between righteous and sinful pleasure is found in the pages of Scripture. "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:12-13). If we genuinely want to expose how pure or impure our prayer requests are to God, we need not look any further than His Word for answers, because the key to unlocking the wisdom of James 4:3 is found in how literally we apply every self-introspecting word of Psalm 139. For if we are truly aligned with God's will and our eternal identity in Christ through grace by faith (Eph. 2:8), then we will not be afraid to boldly pray, "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" (Psalm 139:23-24). But if we are blinded by our passions, we will continue to struggle understanding why our prayers are hindered, and fall further into a pit of frustration, doubt and despair from which we may never choose to recover.
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
James 4:2 (Devotion)
"You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask."
There is an interesting dynamic between wants and needs. Wants convey desires that originate in the flesh with an insatiable appetite for more. Needs are constituted by those things essential for survival. It is common for all of us to shift wants into the category of needs. We are bombarded daily by marketing ploys and advertisements that elevate our emotions to the point where we crave and covet things that promise fulfillment or happiness. In truth, our desires often shackle and enslave our minds. But to what extent will we ensure our wants are met? Will we intentionally sin to fulfill our wants?
James further unpacks verse 4:1 that our passions are at war within us in verse 4:2. He pinpoints not only the object of our desire but to what extremes we go to fulfill our desires. Again, he piggybacks his previous discussion at the end of chapter 3 by highlighting the dangers of jealousy and selfish ambition. We seek selfish gain, so we take what is not ours. We see the blessings of others and become jealous, coveting the happiness they experience. But would we agree or admit that we fight, quarrel and even murder in order to satisfy our wants?
Consider first the issue of murder which can be looked upon two different ways. Yes, there is the unfortunate example where someone is so consumed with jealousy that physical murder is committed. But is that really the interpretation James is articulating? More probable is that James is echoing Jesus' sermon on the mount that a man with unrighteous anger in his heart toward his brother is as liable to judgment as a man who commits murder (Matthew 5:21-22). Similarly, James could be emphasizing Jesus' teaching that "what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander" (Matthew 15:18-19). In either case, murder is a strong word James uses to heighten how truly devious our hearts become when obsessed with selfish desire. In those moments, sinful attitudes are made and actions are taken without hesitation, causing damage that will ensue both internally in our sinful hearts and externally through those who undeservedly reap the consequences of our sin.
James further calls out that we covet but cannot obtain. In many cases we do obtain what we covet, but the fact that James highlights that we CANNOT obtain is important to understand. At times, we cannot obtain what we covet because the Lord chooses to protect us from committing sins that will result in devastating consequences. In other instances, He releases His grip of protection and gives us the object of our desires, just as He did for Eve in the garden of Eden so that she understood the consequence of her actions (Genesis 3) when she chose to disobey God and sin. In this verse though, James challenges the church to recognize that fights and quarrels evolve from hearts that are so bent toward covetousness, there is no resolution but to fight and quarrel. Rebelliousness rises to the surface out of frustration and we lash out at those who oppose our initiatives.
In the end, God understands and meets our needs, but we are NOT to be anxious over anything (Matthew 6:25-34). What James encourages is that on occasion God meets our wants and desires when we ask in humility and trust that His will is best regardless of our selfish ambition. He echoed the same point in chapter 1, stating that we lack wisdom because we simply do not ask God for it. But like wisdom, we must ask in faith believing He always has our best interest in mind when He answers yes, no or maybe. For if we place expectations on God, we begin to paint Him in a box according to our will and limited perspective. But if we submit under His authority and obey His Word, we relinquish control and give Him free reign to orchestrate our life in such a way that selfish desires are of no value compared to the freedom of living in submission to His will.
There is an interesting dynamic between wants and needs. Wants convey desires that originate in the flesh with an insatiable appetite for more. Needs are constituted by those things essential for survival. It is common for all of us to shift wants into the category of needs. We are bombarded daily by marketing ploys and advertisements that elevate our emotions to the point where we crave and covet things that promise fulfillment or happiness. In truth, our desires often shackle and enslave our minds. But to what extent will we ensure our wants are met? Will we intentionally sin to fulfill our wants?
James further unpacks verse 4:1 that our passions are at war within us in verse 4:2. He pinpoints not only the object of our desire but to what extremes we go to fulfill our desires. Again, he piggybacks his previous discussion at the end of chapter 3 by highlighting the dangers of jealousy and selfish ambition. We seek selfish gain, so we take what is not ours. We see the blessings of others and become jealous, coveting the happiness they experience. But would we agree or admit that we fight, quarrel and even murder in order to satisfy our wants?
Consider first the issue of murder which can be looked upon two different ways. Yes, there is the unfortunate example where someone is so consumed with jealousy that physical murder is committed. But is that really the interpretation James is articulating? More probable is that James is echoing Jesus' sermon on the mount that a man with unrighteous anger in his heart toward his brother is as liable to judgment as a man who commits murder (Matthew 5:21-22). Similarly, James could be emphasizing Jesus' teaching that "what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander" (Matthew 15:18-19). In either case, murder is a strong word James uses to heighten how truly devious our hearts become when obsessed with selfish desire. In those moments, sinful attitudes are made and actions are taken without hesitation, causing damage that will ensue both internally in our sinful hearts and externally through those who undeservedly reap the consequences of our sin.
James further calls out that we covet but cannot obtain. In many cases we do obtain what we covet, but the fact that James highlights that we CANNOT obtain is important to understand. At times, we cannot obtain what we covet because the Lord chooses to protect us from committing sins that will result in devastating consequences. In other instances, He releases His grip of protection and gives us the object of our desires, just as He did for Eve in the garden of Eden so that she understood the consequence of her actions (Genesis 3) when she chose to disobey God and sin. In this verse though, James challenges the church to recognize that fights and quarrels evolve from hearts that are so bent toward covetousness, there is no resolution but to fight and quarrel. Rebelliousness rises to the surface out of frustration and we lash out at those who oppose our initiatives.
In the end, God understands and meets our needs, but we are NOT to be anxious over anything (Matthew 6:25-34). What James encourages is that on occasion God meets our wants and desires when we ask in humility and trust that His will is best regardless of our selfish ambition. He echoed the same point in chapter 1, stating that we lack wisdom because we simply do not ask God for it. But like wisdom, we must ask in faith believing He always has our best interest in mind when He answers yes, no or maybe. For if we place expectations on God, we begin to paint Him in a box according to our will and limited perspective. But if we submit under His authority and obey His Word, we relinquish control and give Him free reign to orchestrate our life in such a way that selfish desires are of no value compared to the freedom of living in submission to His will.
Sunday, September 13, 2015
James 4:1 (Devotion)
"What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?"
Dissension among the Christian body of believers is as much an epidemic in the church today as it was when James penned these words roughly 2,000 years ago. Thousands of churches have split over the years and across the globe because of our inability to come together and resolve our differences, and we are suffering the consequences of those actions today as relative truth, post-modernistic thinking, political correctness, and personal preference have become the philosophical pillars of our culture. In most cases, dissension within the church walls falls into the category of superficiality through debating issues that are not pillars of our theology. We focus ridiculous amounts of time and energy debating preaching styles, song choices and dress codes for Sunday worship that are not doctrinal issues of great concern, while Biblical counseling, mentoring and discipleship, and caring for the homeless, widows and orphans (to name a few) are treated as peripheral areas of concern that are not as important in comparison. How can this be? Have we truly forgotten who we are in Christ and the purpose for which He died?
Quarreling and fighting breeds contempt for one another. Like cancer, it eats away at the core of our faith community and suffocates our spirit of giving and sharing with selfish ambition and idolatrous passions of the flesh. It prioritizes me-centered attitudes that seek personal fulfillment over communal benefit. Simply put, it draws us away from the reality that God sanctifies us through the interpersonal relationships we have with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. But rather than patiently seeking wisdom and discernment from the Lord in times of debate and working through differences of opinion, we often pull away from the community at large, recruit like-minded others who will support our selfish ambitions, and come full circle to leverage our desires as an ultimatum rather than a humble consideration to pray about. There is nothing wrong with differences of opinion though. Diversity ensures that we represent all angles of a debate, but it must be presented with common courtesy and respect for all individuals voicing their opinion.
It must be noted that if we are to quarrel, let it be concerning areas of great consequence where the Word of God is being twisted and disregarded as absolute truth. For if we believe that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6), and we testify that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1), then why do we question the authority of Scripture and easily stray from the path of righteousness? Conversely, why do we focus so much attention on extra-biblical rules that are man-made, not God-mandated (i.e. dress codes, etc.)? In many ways, we have lost our spiritual compass. And until we wake up and realize how fractured we are as the faith majority in our country, minority agendas that oppose Biblical truth will continue to gain strength and acceptance within the culture despite our overwhelming population of Christians.
Yet even today, we have succumbed to not only focusing far too much attention on the peripheral aspects of Scripture, we have even begun to boldly refute portions of Scripture and justify sin. Look no further than the hottest topics of debate in our culture today (homosexuality, same-sex marriage, abortion, euthanasia, etc.) as proof that even Christians are incredibly confused on what Scripture clearly states as right and wrong. We cannot allow naive ignorance to define who we are though. We must take a stand for absolute truth, but it must be as a unified church and not fractured by foolish quarreling and fighting. We cannot allow secular thinking and justification of sin based on feelings and emotion to guide our theology either, regardless of how logical it sounds or how much sense it appears to make on the surface. Truth is truth and sin is sin, and we have a responsibility to not only know the difference but to defend truth in the face of persecution.
The solution to our quarreling and fighting attitudes is simply love and forgiveness. For love focuses our attention on Jesus and the sacrifice He made on our behalf, while forgiveness heals wounds that unhealthy conflict resolution creates. If we focus our attention on coming together on doctrinal truth (i.e. Eph. 2:8-9, Heb. 4:12, 2 Tim. 3:16, etc.), the peripheral differences of opinion that continually plague our unity are put into perspective so that we can reconcile and restore our relationships to one another in submission to Christ. Yes, we will certainly continue to agree to disagree on interpretive grey areas of Scripture (i.e. rapture, tribulation, Christ's return etc.), which are completely acceptable because Scripture does not clearly define the answer to some questions. But where Scripture is black and white, we must fall in line under its authority and obey its commands rather than quarrel, fight and fracture the body. There is no excuse for not standing united on doctrine regardless of denomination because the Word is absolute truth. And if we call ourselves Christians then we better take that identity very seriously, because Jesus died in order that we would have the opportunity to stand for righteousness and choose love and forgiveness over frivolous quarreling and fighting within the church.
Dissension among the Christian body of believers is as much an epidemic in the church today as it was when James penned these words roughly 2,000 years ago. Thousands of churches have split over the years and across the globe because of our inability to come together and resolve our differences, and we are suffering the consequences of those actions today as relative truth, post-modernistic thinking, political correctness, and personal preference have become the philosophical pillars of our culture. In most cases, dissension within the church walls falls into the category of superficiality through debating issues that are not pillars of our theology. We focus ridiculous amounts of time and energy debating preaching styles, song choices and dress codes for Sunday worship that are not doctrinal issues of great concern, while Biblical counseling, mentoring and discipleship, and caring for the homeless, widows and orphans (to name a few) are treated as peripheral areas of concern that are not as important in comparison. How can this be? Have we truly forgotten who we are in Christ and the purpose for which He died?
Quarreling and fighting breeds contempt for one another. Like cancer, it eats away at the core of our faith community and suffocates our spirit of giving and sharing with selfish ambition and idolatrous passions of the flesh. It prioritizes me-centered attitudes that seek personal fulfillment over communal benefit. Simply put, it draws us away from the reality that God sanctifies us through the interpersonal relationships we have with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. But rather than patiently seeking wisdom and discernment from the Lord in times of debate and working through differences of opinion, we often pull away from the community at large, recruit like-minded others who will support our selfish ambitions, and come full circle to leverage our desires as an ultimatum rather than a humble consideration to pray about. There is nothing wrong with differences of opinion though. Diversity ensures that we represent all angles of a debate, but it must be presented with common courtesy and respect for all individuals voicing their opinion.
It must be noted that if we are to quarrel, let it be concerning areas of great consequence where the Word of God is being twisted and disregarded as absolute truth. For if we believe that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6), and we testify that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1), then why do we question the authority of Scripture and easily stray from the path of righteousness? Conversely, why do we focus so much attention on extra-biblical rules that are man-made, not God-mandated (i.e. dress codes, etc.)? In many ways, we have lost our spiritual compass. And until we wake up and realize how fractured we are as the faith majority in our country, minority agendas that oppose Biblical truth will continue to gain strength and acceptance within the culture despite our overwhelming population of Christians.
Yet even today, we have succumbed to not only focusing far too much attention on the peripheral aspects of Scripture, we have even begun to boldly refute portions of Scripture and justify sin. Look no further than the hottest topics of debate in our culture today (homosexuality, same-sex marriage, abortion, euthanasia, etc.) as proof that even Christians are incredibly confused on what Scripture clearly states as right and wrong. We cannot allow naive ignorance to define who we are though. We must take a stand for absolute truth, but it must be as a unified church and not fractured by foolish quarreling and fighting. We cannot allow secular thinking and justification of sin based on feelings and emotion to guide our theology either, regardless of how logical it sounds or how much sense it appears to make on the surface. Truth is truth and sin is sin, and we have a responsibility to not only know the difference but to defend truth in the face of persecution.
The solution to our quarreling and fighting attitudes is simply love and forgiveness. For love focuses our attention on Jesus and the sacrifice He made on our behalf, while forgiveness heals wounds that unhealthy conflict resolution creates. If we focus our attention on coming together on doctrinal truth (i.e. Eph. 2:8-9, Heb. 4:12, 2 Tim. 3:16, etc.), the peripheral differences of opinion that continually plague our unity are put into perspective so that we can reconcile and restore our relationships to one another in submission to Christ. Yes, we will certainly continue to agree to disagree on interpretive grey areas of Scripture (i.e. rapture, tribulation, Christ's return etc.), which are completely acceptable because Scripture does not clearly define the answer to some questions. But where Scripture is black and white, we must fall in line under its authority and obey its commands rather than quarrel, fight and fracture the body. There is no excuse for not standing united on doctrine regardless of denomination because the Word is absolute truth. And if we call ourselves Christians then we better take that identity very seriously, because Jesus died in order that we would have the opportunity to stand for righteousness and choose love and forgiveness over frivolous quarreling and fighting within the church.
Saturday, September 12, 2015
James 3:17-18 (Devotion)
"But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."
Noah Webster defines faith theologically as "the assent of the mind or understanding to the truth of what God has revealed. Evangelical, justifying, or saving faith, is the assent of the mind to the truth of divine revelation, on the authority of God's testimony, accompanied with a cordial assent of the will or approbation of the heart; an entire confidence or trust in God's character and declarations, and in the character and doctrines of Christ, with an unreserved surrender of the will to his guidance, and dependence on his merits for salvation. In other words, that firm belief of God's testimony, and of the truth of the gospel, which influences the will, and leads to an entire reliance on Christ for salvation." Wisdom requires belief in its source. And without saving faith, the wisdom of God is void of meaning. Wisdom forces us to reconcile what we believe about divine revelation and the inerrant entirety of Scripture. It also magnifies to what degree we submit to the authority of Christ, obey and apply the teachings of Scripture, rely on the convicting promptings of the Holy Spirit, and surrender our personal will. Because without establishing the foundation on which wisdom derives, we cannot begin to understand the many facets that comprise wisdom.
James begins his discussion of wisdom by elevating purity as its greatest attribute. Purity conveys perfection. It is not influenced by the world, unclean or carnal in any way, but convicts in order to draw out a pure application of Scripture that glorifies God. It enables man to live free from the impure lusts of the flesh, pride and selfishness without fear of condemnation and judgment. Wisdom is also peaceable in that it resists division in the body of Christ by promoting healthy dialogue in order to bridge gaps. It does not allow fights and quarrels to pull believers away from one another but unifies and unites the church under the supreme authority of God's Word. Gentleness further identifies wisdom through the Spirit's conviction and in conjunction with humility. It is meek, mild-mannered and even-keeled, but also full of mercy choosing to forgive rather than condemn. It listens to understand so as to be open to reason with a teachable heart, willing to yield personal preference for the unity of the body. It is not easily swayed but maintains fair and equitable standards to solidify its impartiality and justice. Wisdom is sincere and not boastful or manipulative in order to gain an advantage for leverage. It opposes hypocrisy and produces fruit that testifies to the truth of Scripture. In all, wisdom from above produces character and integrity that sets it apart from the wisdom of man and the world
But what good is it for man to simply know what wisdom looks like according to James without applying its standards of righteousness? The harvest is what we seek, for it has the power to destroy strongholds that bind our hearts. Make no mistake, we are constantly at war with our flesh. Dissension is always our adversary, for Satan seeks to spoil the harvest by planting tempestuous weeds among spiritual wheat. And the longer we allow relative truth to drown out the wisdom of God found in Holy Scripture, the longer we remain in spiritual unrest and turmoil. Peace is our only option, but we must sow peace in order to reap the reward of our labor despite the jealousy and selfish ambition our flesh prioritizes. James previously warned us of these dangers in order to come full circle at the end of this passage and clarify the harvest we strive to attain. In the end, if we seek true wisdom from above and not the wisdom of man or the world, we will attain a spiritual blessing that far exceeds monetary value. It is a priceless gift given freely by our Creator God, and one that is entrusted to His followers with expectation of application. Our response is simply to not take that gift for granted but to share it freely and apply it universally at all times and in all occasions. Because as Jesus reminded His disciples in Matthew 13:24-30, wheat and weeds will grow together in our lives. But when the day of harvest arrives, the fruit of the wheat (God's wisdom) will be counted as righteousness while the weeds (man's wisdom) gathered and burned in judgment.
Noah Webster defines faith theologically as "the assent of the mind or understanding to the truth of what God has revealed. Evangelical, justifying, or saving faith, is the assent of the mind to the truth of divine revelation, on the authority of God's testimony, accompanied with a cordial assent of the will or approbation of the heart; an entire confidence or trust in God's character and declarations, and in the character and doctrines of Christ, with an unreserved surrender of the will to his guidance, and dependence on his merits for salvation. In other words, that firm belief of God's testimony, and of the truth of the gospel, which influences the will, and leads to an entire reliance on Christ for salvation." Wisdom requires belief in its source. And without saving faith, the wisdom of God is void of meaning. Wisdom forces us to reconcile what we believe about divine revelation and the inerrant entirety of Scripture. It also magnifies to what degree we submit to the authority of Christ, obey and apply the teachings of Scripture, rely on the convicting promptings of the Holy Spirit, and surrender our personal will. Because without establishing the foundation on which wisdom derives, we cannot begin to understand the many facets that comprise wisdom.
James begins his discussion of wisdom by elevating purity as its greatest attribute. Purity conveys perfection. It is not influenced by the world, unclean or carnal in any way, but convicts in order to draw out a pure application of Scripture that glorifies God. It enables man to live free from the impure lusts of the flesh, pride and selfishness without fear of condemnation and judgment. Wisdom is also peaceable in that it resists division in the body of Christ by promoting healthy dialogue in order to bridge gaps. It does not allow fights and quarrels to pull believers away from one another but unifies and unites the church under the supreme authority of God's Word. Gentleness further identifies wisdom through the Spirit's conviction and in conjunction with humility. It is meek, mild-mannered and even-keeled, but also full of mercy choosing to forgive rather than condemn. It listens to understand so as to be open to reason with a teachable heart, willing to yield personal preference for the unity of the body. It is not easily swayed but maintains fair and equitable standards to solidify its impartiality and justice. Wisdom is sincere and not boastful or manipulative in order to gain an advantage for leverage. It opposes hypocrisy and produces fruit that testifies to the truth of Scripture. In all, wisdom from above produces character and integrity that sets it apart from the wisdom of man and the world
But what good is it for man to simply know what wisdom looks like according to James without applying its standards of righteousness? The harvest is what we seek, for it has the power to destroy strongholds that bind our hearts. Make no mistake, we are constantly at war with our flesh. Dissension is always our adversary, for Satan seeks to spoil the harvest by planting tempestuous weeds among spiritual wheat. And the longer we allow relative truth to drown out the wisdom of God found in Holy Scripture, the longer we remain in spiritual unrest and turmoil. Peace is our only option, but we must sow peace in order to reap the reward of our labor despite the jealousy and selfish ambition our flesh prioritizes. James previously warned us of these dangers in order to come full circle at the end of this passage and clarify the harvest we strive to attain. In the end, if we seek true wisdom from above and not the wisdom of man or the world, we will attain a spiritual blessing that far exceeds monetary value. It is a priceless gift given freely by our Creator God, and one that is entrusted to His followers with expectation of application. Our response is simply to not take that gift for granted but to share it freely and apply it universally at all times and in all occasions. Because as Jesus reminded His disciples in Matthew 13:24-30, wheat and weeds will grow together in our lives. But when the day of harvest arrives, the fruit of the wheat (God's wisdom) will be counted as righteousness while the weeds (man's wisdom) gathered and burned in judgment.
Friday, September 4, 2015
James 3:14-16 (Devotion)
"But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice."
A common practice of defining a topic or subject is to examine its complete antithesis. James uses this strategy to perfection in this passage by defining what wisdom is not, in order to magnify how precious true wisdom from heaven is. To begin, we must keep in mind Proverbs 3:5-8 which states, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones." What this reminds us is that wisdom begins with: 1. Trust in God as the sovereign and holy author of wisdom, 2. Abandonment of human logic and reasoning which is severely limited, and 3. Acknowledgment that the Lord is perfect and we are sinful. If we follow this recipe for success we will gain true, spiritual wisdom, but that hinges upon not thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought. The minute we elevate self, we diminish God, because jealousy and selfish ambition have taken root and quenched the Spirit's conviction.
Why jealousy and selfish ambition are so dangerous is that they twist wisdom into a "me-centered" funneling tool. True wisdom from God is not self-serving but God-glorifying. Wisdom at times will go against what we want or think will make us happy, but we know at times that God does not give us what we want because He sees what we do not and knows the condition of our heart. He knows whether our heart is pure. He knows what our intentions are before He grants our request for wisdom. And He knows for certain whether we are being drawn away from Him by our flesh, or drawn closer to Him by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit.
Self-exaltation is also a huge area of concern James calls out because heavenly wisdom is not meant to position ourselves as better than others. Regardless of how spiritually mature or immature we are, we are all sinners in need of a Savior. Moreover, boasting by telling people how wise we are does not make us wise. True wisdom is defined by our reverent posture before God, exemplified by our application of His Word. Similarly, twisting God's Word to minimize or justify our sinful behavior not only leads others astray, but is demonic and evil. We are fools if we believe God honors that type of behavior! We are called to be responsible with Scripture, not only by how we communicate its absolute truth, but how we live that out in a world opposed to its wisdom. The minute we lose sight of our position before God and begin to elevate and exalt our personal knowledge and ability, we are solidifying strongholds around our hearts that prevent accountability from providing a spiritual way of escape from eternal judgment and condemnation.
Finally, we are wise to understand that jealousy is not something we should consider lightly. Noah Webster defines jealousy as "that passion of peculiar uneasiness which arises from the fear that a rival may rob us of the affection of one whom we love, or the suspicion that he has already done it; or it is the uneasiness which arises from the fear that another does or will enjoy some advantage which we desire for ourselves." Jealousy magnifies our heart's intent and to whom we serve: self or God. Therefore, we must guard our hearts and minds from making jealousy an idol that draws us away from God. "For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God," (Deuteronomy 4:24) and we are wise to destroy our stronghold of jealousy and selfish ambition to avoid the fire of judgment that comes to a man bent on serving himself rather than the Creator. Because as James stated in verse 13, the meekness of wisdom filters true intent and guides our focus on where we need to die to self and submit in obedience to the Lord.
A common practice of defining a topic or subject is to examine its complete antithesis. James uses this strategy to perfection in this passage by defining what wisdom is not, in order to magnify how precious true wisdom from heaven is. To begin, we must keep in mind Proverbs 3:5-8 which states, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones." What this reminds us is that wisdom begins with: 1. Trust in God as the sovereign and holy author of wisdom, 2. Abandonment of human logic and reasoning which is severely limited, and 3. Acknowledgment that the Lord is perfect and we are sinful. If we follow this recipe for success we will gain true, spiritual wisdom, but that hinges upon not thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought. The minute we elevate self, we diminish God, because jealousy and selfish ambition have taken root and quenched the Spirit's conviction.
Why jealousy and selfish ambition are so dangerous is that they twist wisdom into a "me-centered" funneling tool. True wisdom from God is not self-serving but God-glorifying. Wisdom at times will go against what we want or think will make us happy, but we know at times that God does not give us what we want because He sees what we do not and knows the condition of our heart. He knows whether our heart is pure. He knows what our intentions are before He grants our request for wisdom. And He knows for certain whether we are being drawn away from Him by our flesh, or drawn closer to Him by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit.
Self-exaltation is also a huge area of concern James calls out because heavenly wisdom is not meant to position ourselves as better than others. Regardless of how spiritually mature or immature we are, we are all sinners in need of a Savior. Moreover, boasting by telling people how wise we are does not make us wise. True wisdom is defined by our reverent posture before God, exemplified by our application of His Word. Similarly, twisting God's Word to minimize or justify our sinful behavior not only leads others astray, but is demonic and evil. We are fools if we believe God honors that type of behavior! We are called to be responsible with Scripture, not only by how we communicate its absolute truth, but how we live that out in a world opposed to its wisdom. The minute we lose sight of our position before God and begin to elevate and exalt our personal knowledge and ability, we are solidifying strongholds around our hearts that prevent accountability from providing a spiritual way of escape from eternal judgment and condemnation.
Finally, we are wise to understand that jealousy is not something we should consider lightly. Noah Webster defines jealousy as "that passion of peculiar uneasiness which arises from the fear that a rival may rob us of the affection of one whom we love, or the suspicion that he has already done it; or it is the uneasiness which arises from the fear that another does or will enjoy some advantage which we desire for ourselves." Jealousy magnifies our heart's intent and to whom we serve: self or God. Therefore, we must guard our hearts and minds from making jealousy an idol that draws us away from God. "For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God," (Deuteronomy 4:24) and we are wise to destroy our stronghold of jealousy and selfish ambition to avoid the fire of judgment that comes to a man bent on serving himself rather than the Creator. Because as James stated in verse 13, the meekness of wisdom filters true intent and guides our focus on where we need to die to self and submit in obedience to the Lord.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
James 3:13 (Devotion)
"Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom."
As we studied previously in chapter 1, James admonishes his brotherhood of believers that if anyone lacks wisdom they should ask God for it, and He will grant that request without reproach. But that request must be asked in faith to avoid doubt that undermines who we believe God to be. With that in mind, James expands upon the intellectual aspect of wisdom by focusing on behavior. For if our works do not testify on our behalf to the glory of God, do they rather condemn us? It is a convicting question to wrestle with because James is assuming: 1. We have asked for wisdom, 2. God has granted it, and 3. Now we are held accountable to apply it.
To begin, we must address two questions in our hearts. 1. Do we recognize wisdom and understanding when we see it modeled in others? 2. Do others see wisdom and understanding modeled in us? Considering Jesus' teaching that a man should take the log out of his own eye before taking the speck out of his brother's eye (Matthew 7:3-5), it would behoove us to examine our own hearts first and foremost. Keep in mind, James is continuing the same thought pattern we have previously studied that works testify to faith. Therefore, we cannot assume that faith alone is anymore sufficient than intellectual wisdom and understanding. There must be an element of application that proves faith, and consequently the same logic applies to wisdom.
Another penetrating question pertains to our self-perception. When a difficult situation arises, do we tend to lean more on our own understanding, the understanding of others, or the wisdom of God. Of course, it is easy to justify all those options depending on the situation, but in general we must guard our hearts from being self-reliant and trusting in ourselves rather than God. The other danger is being so indecisive that we lean too heavily on the "advice" of others rather than the wisdom of God. Many times we seek advice from people who are not qualified to provide wisdom, or steer us in the direction of logic and relative truth rather than Scripture. In either case, we are substituting the wisdom of God with the wisdom of man and shifting our dependency on God to selfish independence. We are pridefully declaring (often without realizing it) that logic trumps wisdom, and subsequently drowning out the voice of the Holy Spirit that seeks our best interest at all times.
Moreover, James admonishes that works should testify to meekness of wisdom, but what does that mean? Meekness is simply a posture of quiet strength, mildness and soft-temperament, grounded in humility and submission to God's divine will. It is a derived from the same Greek word used for gentleness in the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23) and is elevated as an esteemed virtue by Jesus in his sermon on the mount (Matthew 5:5). Therefore, if our conduct does not exemplify meekness, then our wisdom is brought into question. For it is not just about what works we do, but the manner in which we do those works that endorses our faith and provides wisdom and understanding through the Holy Spirit.
Finally, I find it profound that James did not ask the question, "Who is knowledgeable?" Perhaps, it is because knowledge is limited to our observation and experience. If we rest solely on knowledge, we assume we know more than we actually do and our ability to discern is severely limited. What James elevates as spiritual maturity is our ability to comprehend the vast array of knowledge we have gained (understanding) and thus discern or judge what is the best course of action that is most just, proper and conducive to prosperity or happiness (wisdom). Because God is not concerned one iota about how much we know. His desire is for our knowledge to produce understanding and a humble desire to apply understanding in seeking wisdom that He provides freely through His Word. For He is the sovereign fountain of wisdom, and we are wise to acknowledge Him as such.
As we studied previously in chapter 1, James admonishes his brotherhood of believers that if anyone lacks wisdom they should ask God for it, and He will grant that request without reproach. But that request must be asked in faith to avoid doubt that undermines who we believe God to be. With that in mind, James expands upon the intellectual aspect of wisdom by focusing on behavior. For if our works do not testify on our behalf to the glory of God, do they rather condemn us? It is a convicting question to wrestle with because James is assuming: 1. We have asked for wisdom, 2. God has granted it, and 3. Now we are held accountable to apply it.
To begin, we must address two questions in our hearts. 1. Do we recognize wisdom and understanding when we see it modeled in others? 2. Do others see wisdom and understanding modeled in us? Considering Jesus' teaching that a man should take the log out of his own eye before taking the speck out of his brother's eye (Matthew 7:3-5), it would behoove us to examine our own hearts first and foremost. Keep in mind, James is continuing the same thought pattern we have previously studied that works testify to faith. Therefore, we cannot assume that faith alone is anymore sufficient than intellectual wisdom and understanding. There must be an element of application that proves faith, and consequently the same logic applies to wisdom.
Another penetrating question pertains to our self-perception. When a difficult situation arises, do we tend to lean more on our own understanding, the understanding of others, or the wisdom of God. Of course, it is easy to justify all those options depending on the situation, but in general we must guard our hearts from being self-reliant and trusting in ourselves rather than God. The other danger is being so indecisive that we lean too heavily on the "advice" of others rather than the wisdom of God. Many times we seek advice from people who are not qualified to provide wisdom, or steer us in the direction of logic and relative truth rather than Scripture. In either case, we are substituting the wisdom of God with the wisdom of man and shifting our dependency on God to selfish independence. We are pridefully declaring (often without realizing it) that logic trumps wisdom, and subsequently drowning out the voice of the Holy Spirit that seeks our best interest at all times.
Moreover, James admonishes that works should testify to meekness of wisdom, but what does that mean? Meekness is simply a posture of quiet strength, mildness and soft-temperament, grounded in humility and submission to God's divine will. It is a derived from the same Greek word used for gentleness in the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23) and is elevated as an esteemed virtue by Jesus in his sermon on the mount (Matthew 5:5). Therefore, if our conduct does not exemplify meekness, then our wisdom is brought into question. For it is not just about what works we do, but the manner in which we do those works that endorses our faith and provides wisdom and understanding through the Holy Spirit.
Finally, I find it profound that James did not ask the question, "Who is knowledgeable?" Perhaps, it is because knowledge is limited to our observation and experience. If we rest solely on knowledge, we assume we know more than we actually do and our ability to discern is severely limited. What James elevates as spiritual maturity is our ability to comprehend the vast array of knowledge we have gained (understanding) and thus discern or judge what is the best course of action that is most just, proper and conducive to prosperity or happiness (wisdom). Because God is not concerned one iota about how much we know. His desire is for our knowledge to produce understanding and a humble desire to apply understanding in seeking wisdom that He provides freely through His Word. For He is the sovereign fountain of wisdom, and we are wise to acknowledge Him as such.
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