James Chapter 4
- Principle #10: Humility vs Pride
- Principle #11: Money and Humility
- Read James 4:1-10
Principle #10: Humility versus Pride
- To apply God’s wisdom, we are to imitate Christ’s example of humility
- After contrasting “wisdom from above” (3:17) with “earthly, unspiritual, demonic” wisdom (3:15), James addresses a root problem
- Rather than reflecting humility in all of their relationships, many of these Christians were motivated by pride and arrogance
- Though James continued to speak to all who had claimed to be followers of the Messiah, he was focusing on those whose professions of faith were not verified by their works
- See Principle #7: Good Works
- Many were in fact true believers but were still manifesting the “works of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19) rather than “the fruit of the spirit” (Galatians 5:22)
- They were motivated by their “evil desires” (James 4:3)
- They were attempting to maintain a “friendship with the world” and yet, be followers of Jesus (v4)
- As James stated earlier in this letter, they were “double-minded people: (v8) who were asking God for assistance, but were not experiencing answers to their prayers because their motives were selfish’ (James 1:5-8)
- If indeed they were to reflect God’s wisdom in their lives, they must, with humble hearts trust God completely and reject all of the Devil’s suggestions. (James 4:7)
- James uses the terms “murder” and “adultery” here
- For further clarification, let’s look at Matthew 5
-
- Matthew
5: 21-26 - Matthew
5: 27- 30 - What
does he mean by murder?- Character assassination
- What
does he mean by adultery?- Lusting in our hearts
- Question
to Ponder: How do Paul’s instructions to the Philippians correlate (match up)
with this section of James? - A:
- Read Philippians 2
- Vv
2:1-4 - Vv
2: 5-8 - The
principle is that- To live worthy of the gospel, we must live
in harmony with one another, demonstrating Christ’s attitudes of unselfishness,
humility, and self-service - Read
James 4: 11-12 - Read
Romans 14:10-12- Sub-principle: Accepting one another
- To
live in God’s will, we are to avoid judging one another where God has given us
freedom- “each
of us will give an account of himself to God.” - Read
Romans 15:19-21- Sub-principle: Protecting One Another
- To
live in God’s will, we are to avoid using our freedom in Christ in a way that
causes another Christian to fall into sin - Read
James 4: 13-17
- To
- Sub-principle: Protecting One Another
- “each
- To
- Sub-principle: Accepting one another
- To live worthy of the gospel, we must live
- Vv
- Read Philippians 2
- Matthew
- Principle
#11: Money and Humility- When we accumulate and use material
possessions, we are to reflect Christ-like humility - James
addressed a very specific sinful practice that reflected pride rather than
humility - Has
had already alluded to this issue when he wrote “the one who is rich should
boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower in field.”
(1:10) - Here
James used another metaphor- Smoke that appears for a while, then
vanishes (4:14) - See Principle #3: A Biblical priority
- Many
of the affluent believers were operating their businesses in self-centered and arrogant
ways, as if they were in charge of their lives - In
essence, they were excluding God from their daily activities - James
was not teaching that it is wrong to plan ahead in terms of meeting our
immediate and future needs- In fact, Jesus commended those who were
astute in business- Read
Luke 14:28-30 - Neither
was James teaching that it was wrong to accumulate material possessions - However,
it is wrong and sinful when we leave God out of the equation or even make Him
secondary - He
must be first in our lives in order to live in His will- Read Matthew 6: 33-34
- Read
- In fact, Jesus commended those who were
- Smoke that appears for a while, then
- When we accumulate and use material
QUESTION
TO PONDER: What are some specific attitudes and actions that demonstrate that
we are applying this principle in relationship to our material possessions?
A:
- Read
1 Timothy 6: 17-19- As Christ-followers, we should use material
possessions to do God’s work in this world - How
do we do this?- Read 2 Corinthians 9:
- Vv6-9
- Vv
10-13 - Vv
14-15
- Read 2 Corinthians 9:
- As Christ-followers, we should use material
- What
this section tells us to do- God wants us to take a step of faith and
trust Him to enable us to give based on our future income (v 5a) - God wants us to plan our giving so we can
give with a positive attitude (v5b) - God wants us to give material gifts
generously so that he can bless us generously- often in non-material ways (v6) - God wants each of us to be a cheerful giver
(v7) - God desires to meet our material needs- not
necessarily our wants- when we are generous givers (v8)- Also
READ Philippians 4:19
- Also
- God wants us to take a step of faith and
- When we are generous, we will cause other
believers to praise and glorify God (v13) - When we are generous, other Christians will
respect and love us (v 14) - The primary motivating factor should be
God’s generosity toward us (v15) - We
are at war with God (4-10)- HERE IS THE “ROOT CAUSE” OF EVERY WAR,
INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL…- Rebellion against God!
- 2. In some way…
- a. …those at war with others…
- b. …are also at war within themselves…
- c. …because they are first at war
with God! - How do we, as believers declare war
against God?- . By being friendly with God’s enemies!
- 2. James mentions three enemies we must
not fraternize if we want to be at peace with God:- a. The World (4)
- 1)
That is, human society that is contrary to God- a) Any conduct, belief, thought…
- b) …which is anti-God, antichrist
- 2)
To be a friend of such…- a) Makes one an enemy of God!
- b) Makes one a spiritual adulterer or
adulteress! - b. The Flesh (1,5)
- 1) The unlawful desires that would lead
us away from God - 2) These desires wage war within us,
but we must not give in to them – cf. 1 Pe 2:11 - 3) Such desires are in direct conflict
to what the Spirit of God would have us to be and do – cf. 4:5; Ga 5:16-26 - 4) To submit to these desires of the
flesh sets one contrary to God and His Spirit! - c. The Devil (6-7)
- 1) Pride is Satan’s greatest temptation
- 2) When we give into pride, we become
friends of the devil and enemies of God – 4:6 - C. HOW TO ENJOY PEACE WITH GOD…
- 1. Submit To God (7)
- a. Literally, “get into your proper
rank” - b. When a buck private acts like the
general, there is going to be trouble! - c. Unconditional surrender to God is
the only way to victory! - d. Submission is saying: “Not my will,
but Thine be done” - 2. Resist The Devil (7)
- a. He is behind every war that we have
- b. But if we just resist, then he will
flee! - 3. Draw Near To God (8)
- a. And He will draw near to us!
- b. How do we do this?
- 1) “Cleanse your hands” - Get
your sins forgiven! - 2) “Purify your hearts” - Be
single-minded in your devotion to God! (not doubleminded, like a spiritual
adulterer) - Humble Yourselves In The Sight Of God (9-10)
- a. It’s possible to submit outwardly
and not be humble inwardly - b. True mourning for our sins (cf. 4:9)
is how we can humble ourselves before God - c. The end result of such humility? God
will lift you up! – 4:10 - CONCLUSION
- 1. If we obey these four instructions,
then God will draw near to us, cleanse us, and forgive us! - 2. Only then will the “wars”
cease…!- a. For we will not be at war with God
- b. So we will not be at war within
ourselves - c. And we will not be at war with
others! - 3. As Solomon wrote in the Book of
Proverbs: “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He
- 1. If we obey these four instructions,
- a. It’s possible to submit outwardly
- 1) “Cleanse your hands” - Get
- a. Literally, “get into your proper
- 1. Submit To God (7)
- 1) The unlawful desires that would lead
- 1)
- a. The World (4)
- HERE IS THE “ROOT CAUSE” OF EVERY WAR,
makes even his enemies to be at peace
with him.” (Pro 16:7)
QUESTION TO PONDER: Are we diligent in making sure our ways
are pleasing to the Lord…?
- Making
Our Plans James 4:13-17 - In the text for this study, James
discusses the subject of making plans: - 2. This subject is very relevant for us
today, for we all make plans of one sort or another…- a. Plans for college, jobs
- b. Plans for marriage, family
- c. Plans for vacation, retirement
- 3.
Making plans, in of itself, is not wrong…- a. Paul often made plans in regard to
his travels – Ac 15:36; 18:20-21; 1 Co 16:5-9 - b. In fact, making plans (or setting
goals) is a key to success in any venture we undertake in life - 4. But there is a “right” way to plan,
and a “wrong” way; and James discusses both! - [First, let’s consider the “right” way
to “Making Our Plans”...] - WE
CAN SUBMIT TO GOD’S WILL - I.E.,
SUBMIT OUR PLANS TO THE WILL OF GOD…- 1. We can make our plans, but we should
make them contingent to God’s approval – “if the Lord wills” (15) - 2. This is what Paul did
- a. “God willing” - Ac 18:21
- b. “if the Lord permits” - 1
Co 16:7
- 1. We can make our plans, but we should
- a. Paul often made plans in regard to
- 3. Saying “if the Lord wills” assumes
our faith in two things:- a. That God does have a will for us
(even in mundane matters) - b. That God can intervene (via
providence) to carry out His will
- a. That God does have a will for us
- 4. The wisdom of making our plans
contingent upon the will of God will become evident later, when we consider the
“wrong” way to plan - B.
IF WE REALLY WANT OUR PLANS TO SUCCEED, THEN WE WILL SEEK FIRST TO DISCERN
GOD’S WILL, AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY… - To a great degree, this is possible,
for God wants us to:- a. Understand His Will – Ep 5:17
- b. Be filled with His Will – Co 1:9
- c. Prove His Will – Ro 12:2
- 2.
Of course, this relates especially to His revealed will- a. Which pertains to matters right and
wrong - b. Which is found in the pages of the
Bible - c. When we know God’s “revealed” will (from our study of the Bible), then we can act or plan accordingly d. Until then, the right way to plan is to show our submission to God by leaving our plans subject to His will
- 3.
There is also God’s permissive will- a. Which pertains to matters not right
or wrong, but good and better - b. Even so, we should still show our
trust and dependence upon God in such matters by committing our plans to His
Will - [Now let’s look at the “wrong” way in “Making
Our Plans”...] - II.
WE CAN IGNORE GOD’S WILL- A. TO PLAN THIS WAY IS FOLLY… (13-15)
- 1. Because life is complex (13)
- a.
There are the complexities of time (today, tomorrow, when?) - b.
There are the complexities of activities (buy, sell?) - c.
So many decisions to make, so many mistakes might be made - d.
If it’s possible to know God’s will on any matter, that would increase the
likelihood that our decisions and plans will be correct - 2. Because life is uncertain (14a)
- a. No one has a guarantee of tomorrow
- 1) Whether there will even be one
- 2) Or what will happen
- b. Only God can bring about what He
wills for the future without fail - c. Since this is true, we should
certainly desire to make plans that are in keeping with “His” plans! - 3. Because life is frail (14b)
- a. It is like a “vapor” – cf. Psa
39:5-6,11 - b. How substantial is a “vapor” or
“shadow”? - c. How quickly we can succumb to
sickness or an accident illustrates our frailty - d. It is foolish, then, to think “we”
have the strength within ourselves to “make” our plans happen – remember Ja
1:10-11 - Because life is brief (14c)
- a. “appears for a little time”
- b. This is something Job observed – Job
9:25-26; 14:1 - c. Since life is so short, it is
important we do God’s will and not our own – cf. 1 Jn 2:17
- a. It is like a “vapor” – cf. Psa
- a. No one has a guarantee of tomorrow
- a.
- 1. Because life is complex (13)
- A. TO PLAN THIS WAY IS FOLLY… (13-15)
- a. Which pertains to matters not right
- a. Which pertains to matters right and
- TO PLAN THIS WAY IS BOASTFUL
ARROGANCE… (16a)- 1. To plan without considering God’s
will is to set ourselves up above God Himself! - 2. How could one be more arrogant than
that? - C. TO PLAN THIS WAY IS SIN… (16-17)
- 1. It is sin because it involves
arrogance and boasting which is evil – 16 - 2. It is sin because we who are
Christians know better – 17- a. We know what is good: to plan with
God’s Will in mind - b. To do otherwise is to sin!
- CONCLUSION
- 1. How do we make our plans?
- a. If we plan without considering the
will of God, then we are foolish, arrogant, and sinful! - b. If we make our plans subject to the
approval of God, then we are wise, submissive, and righteous in God’s sight! - c. If we endeavor to plan as much as we
can within the framework of God’s “revealed” will, then we increase the
likelihood of success!
- a. If we plan without considering the
- 1. How do we make our plans?
- a. We know what is good: to plan with
- 1. It is sin because it involves
- 1. To plan without considering God’s
- 2. What about your “plans” for
eternity?- a. There is no doubt what the Lord’s
will is on this subject – cf. Mt 28:19-20; Mk 16:15-16; Ac 2:38; Ro 10:9-10;
2 Pe 1:5-11; Re 2:10 - b. We can be certain of “success” if we
submit to God’s will in the matters of faith, repentance, confession, baptism, and living a faithful
Christian life - c. But to ignore it is folly in view of
life’s uncertainty, frailty, and brevity! - Have you done as the Lord wills?
(i.e., as “He” would have you do it?)
- a. There is no doubt what the Lord’s
