Listened to a great talk today
James 4:4-17 (NIV)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. [5] Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? [6] But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." [7] Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. [9] Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. [10] Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. [11] 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. [12] 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? [13] 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." [14] 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. [15] Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." [16] As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. [17] Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.
Lots of different themes here in this final part of James 4. There is one underlying theme: wisdom
Proverbs 9:10
Proverbs 9:10 (NIV)"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Should we live our life in fear of God?
The basis of life is living in fear of God?
Here we think of fear in the sense of awe and respect for who God is.
When we get our view of who God is we can get the rest of our life right.
Getting God in the right place in our life is the start of James' passage.
James 4:11 (NIV)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.
We don't know about he future, we submit and trust in God's rule.
James 4:12-17 (NIV)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? [13] 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." [14] 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. [15] Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." [16] As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. [17] Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.
Focusing on verse 4-10
James 4:4 (NIV)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.
We can't be a friend of the world and a friend of God.
This is not just friendship but more a relationship like a marriage. You can't have two marriages at the same time.
Friendship with the world has a certain way of living which is not compatible with a relationship with God.
This is reflected in verses 1-3
James 4:1-3 (NIV)What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? [2] 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. [3] When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
Going along with the normal way of the world is profoundly opposite to a relationship with God.
James 4:4 (NIV)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.
God does not want to share us.
Friendship with the world is easy.
We can choose to submit ourself to God but we can easily slip back.
James 4:6 (NIV)But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Humble - we put God at the centre (in His rightful) place.
James 4:9 (NIV)
Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.
Doesn't sound very positive about God and our relationship.
Think about the parable of the Prodigal Son.
The son is left utterly destitute and decides to return to the father. How does he come back to the father? He approaches in trepidation ready to throw himself on his fathers mercy. The son knows he needs to be forgiven.
James 4:9 (NIV)
Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.
The father in contrast comes with joy at his return.
James 4:10 (NIV)
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
How is your friendship with God?
Like a marriage the relationship starts with dating (finding out) but this has to move on to be a committed choice and fundamental relationship.
We have to make the choice?
James 4:8-9 (NIV)Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. [9] Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.
But ....
James 4:10 .... he will lift you up.
Are we in relationship with God or friendship with the world.
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