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At War with Ourselves (4:1b–3)
James is asking in verse 1, what makes people fight and argue with each other? His answer is given as a question as he asks, 'don't they come from the desires that are fighting inside you?' (James 4:1). The church wars are caused by the war in the heart! "But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth." "For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." (James 3:14, 16). Selfishness is the result of sin and in essence is sin. Eve didn't listen to God because she wanted to eat from the tree and become wise like God. Abraham lied about his wife because he wanted to save his life (Gen. 12:10–20). Achan took some forbidden loot from the ruins of Jericho (Josh. 7) and caused Israel to lose. "We have turned everyone to his own way" (Isa. 53:6). We often hide our religious fights behind what we call "spirituality." We are like Miriam and Aaron, who complained about Moses' wife but were really jealous of Moses' power (Num. 12). Or we act like James and John, who asked for special thrones in the kingdom when all they really wanted was to be recognized today (Mark 10:35–45). In both of these cases, selfish desire led to punishment and division among God's people. For a whole week, Miriam's sin stopped Israel from moving forward! Selfish desires are usually harmful. James 4:2 says you kill, fight, and go to war, and James 4:3 says you don't get what you ask for because you ask with wicked motives to spend on your pleasures. If we pray incorrectly, our entire Christian life is misguided. Prayer is meant to fulfill God's will on earth, not man's will in heaven. "Thou shalt not covet" is the last of God's Ten Commandments, but breaking it can lead us to break all the other nine commandments! Someone who is greedy can kill, lie, dishonor their parents, cheat on their spouse, and break all of God's moral laws in some way. Living and praying for yourself always leads to war. If there is war inside, there will be war outside. People who are at war with themselves because they want things for themselves are always unhappy. They never really enjoy life. They fail to appreciate what they have; instead, they complain about what they lack. They can't get along with other people because they're always jealous of what other people have and do. They constantly search for a "magic something" that they believe will change their lives, not realizing that the true issue lies within their hearts. We sometimes use prayer to cover up what we really want. One of the best excuses a Christian can use is "But I prayed about it!" We don't ask God what He wants; instead, we tell Him what He should do and get angry when He doesn't. We get angry at God, and then we get angry at God's people. Angry churchgoers have caused more than one church to break up. If people just looked into their own hearts and saw the battles going on there, a lot of church and family problems would be solved. God made us one, and our minds, feelings, and will should all work together. James explained why we are fighting with ourselves and, as a result, with each other.
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How To Stop Wars
Have you ever heard of the "War of the Oaken Bucket" or the "War of the Whiskers"? What about "The War of Jenkins' Ear"? You can read about these real wars between countries in most history books. Even though there are treaties, world peace groups, and the threat of atomic bombs, war is still a part of life. There are wars between countries, but there are also wars of all kinds at almost every level of life, even "gas wars" between gas station owners! James talked about the importance of war in this paragraph. He said that there are three wars going on right now. He also talked about how to stop these wars. At War with Each Other (4:1a, 11–12) "From whence come wars and fightings among you?" For Christians! “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Ps. 133:1). Surely brethren should live together in love and harmony, yet often they do not. Lot and his uncle Abraham fought (Gen. 13). Absalom started a war for his father David (2 Sam. 13–18). The disciples even caused trouble for the Lord when they fought over who was the best in the kingdom (Luke 9:46–48). You can see that some of the early churches had their share of problems when you look at them. In their public meetings, the people in the Corinthian church were fighting with each other and even suing each other in court (1 Cor. 6:1–8; 14:23–40). The Galatian Christians were "biting and devouring" each other (Gal. 5:15). Paul had to tell the Ephesians to work on their spiritual unity (Eph. 4:1–16), and even his favorite church in Philippi had problems: two women couldn't get along (Phil. 4:1–3). James talked about a few different types of disagreements that the saints had. Class wars (2:1–9). This is the long-standing fight between the rich and the poor. People pay attention to the rich man, but not the poor man. The wealthy individual is esteemed, whereas the impoverished individual is shamed. It's sad when churches in the area get their values mixed up and only help the rich while ignoring or even turning away the poor. If clothing and money are what keep people from getting along in a church, then the church is not following God's will. Wars over jobs (5:1–6). Once more, the rich man has the power to hurt and control the poor man. Workers don't get paid, or they don't get paid what they deserve. Even though we have a modern labor movement and federal laws, there are still a lot of people who can't find a good job or who don't make enough money for the work they do. Church fights (1:19–20; 3:13–18). It seems that the people James wrote to were fighting each other for positions in the church, with many of them wanting to be teachers and leaders. When they studied the Word, it didn't help them grow; instead, it caused fights and arguments. Everyone thought that their ideas and ways were the only right ones. Not spiritual submission, but selfish ambition ruled their meetings. Personal wars (4:11–12). The saints were talking bad about each other and judging each other. Once again, we see someone using their tongue the wrong way. Christians should tell the truth in love (Eph. 4:15); they shouldn't say bad things about others out of jealousy or criticism. If the truth about a brother is harmful, we should cover it in love and not say it again (1 Peter 4:8). If he has sinned, we should go to him and try to win him back (Matt. 18:15–19; Gal. 6:1–2). James did not prohibit us from employing discrimination or assessing individuals. Christians should be able to tell right from wrong (Phil. 1:9–10), but they shouldn't judge others like God does. We need to look at our own lives before we can help others (Matt. 7:1–5). We never know everything about a case, and we definitely don't know what people are thinking. It is a sin against a brother and against God to speak ill of him and judge him based on incomplete evidence and (likely) unkind motives. We are not judges; only God is. He is patient and kind, and His judgments are fair and holy. We can trust Him to handle the situation. It's sad that the saints are fighting each other, with leaders fighting leaders, churches fighting churches, and fellowships fighting fellowships. People all over the world see these religious wars and say, "Look how much they hate each other!" Jesus prayed, "That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me" (John 17:21). But why are we fighting each other? We are all part of the same family, trust the same Savior, and have the same Holy Spirit living in us, but we still fight. Why? James answered this question by talking about the second war that is going on. Difference in Outcomes (3:16, 18)
The origin determines the outcome. Worldly wisdom yields worldly outcomes; spiritual wisdom yields spiritual outcomes. Worldly wisdom leads to problems (v. 16). Jealousy, fighting, confusion, and bad deeds are the results of worldly wisdom. It seems that God was not present in that gathering. James would talk about the "wars and fightings" between believers in James 4. Bad thoughts lead to bad actions. Men have not listened to God's wisdom, which is one reason the world is in such a mess. The word that was translated as "confusion" means "disorder that comes from instability." James 1:8 talks about the "unstable" and James 3:8 talks about the "unruly." Read 2 Corinthians 12:20 to see what a confused church looks like. Jesus used this word to talk about how the world would shake in the last days (Luke 21:9). Jealousy, competition, and party spirit all make things more confusing. The Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 is a good example of this. People thought building the tower was a good idea, but God thought it was a bad and sinful idea. What happened? Confusion. We still use the word "babel" to mean "confusion" today. James 3:16 says that "every evil work" comes from confusion. In this context, "evil" means "worthless, of no account." It makes us think of 1 Corinthians 3:12's "wood, hay, and stubble." A ministry that uses worldly wisdom may seem good and prosper, but it could perish on judgment day. "Therefore, do not judge anything before the time" (1 Cor. 4:5). The church in Smyrna thought it was poor, but the Lord said it was rich. The church in Laodicea, on the other hand, was said to be poor (Rev. 2:9; 3:14–22). We should not judge our ministries by what people say but by what the Bible says. The many fights between Christians, the splits in the church, and the lack of peace and purity all point to something being wrong. Maybe that "something" is the lack of God's wisdom. God's wisdom brings blessing (v. 18). James went back to that word, fruit. There is a big difference between what people do and what God gives. Life gives us fruit, and fruit has the seeds inside it that will grow into more fruit. Normally, the seed is planted, but in this case, the fruit is planted. People are fed and happy when we share God's fruit with them, and they in turn bear fruit. Living as a Christian means planting seeds and reaping the rewards. In fact, every life is a life of planting and harvesting, and we get what we plant. When a Christian follows God's wisdom, they plant good things, not bad things; they plant peace, not war. The way we live lets God bring peace and righteousness into the lives of other people. We are what we do, and what we do is what we plant. What we plant is what we get. We plant righteousness and peace when we live in God's wisdom, and we get God's blessing in return. If we live by the wisdom of men, we plant sin and war and get "confusion and every evil work" in return. Being a troublemaker in God's family is a big deal. God hates the sin of "sowing discord among brethren" (see Prov. 6:16–19). Lot did what the world told him to do and caused trouble for Abraham's camp. Abraham, on the other hand, did what God told him to do and brought peace. Lot's decision resulted in futile actions, and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah shattered everything he had cherished. God's wisdom led Abraham to make a choice that blessed his own family and, eventually, the whole world (see Gen. 13). "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding" (Prov. 3:13). It's such a relief to look at the signs of real spiritual wisdom.
Meekness (v. 13). Meekness is not a sign of weakness; it is strength that is kept in check. The humble person does not put themselves first. The Greek word was used to describe a horse that had been broken so that it could be controlled. The humble person only wants to please God and not people. Meekness is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:23); it cannot be made by people. Some people mistake false humility for meekness, but it is not real. James 3:13 uses an intriguing phrase, "meekness of wisdom." The word "meekness" describes the right use of power, while wisdom guides the right use of knowledge. They fit together. A truly wise person will show that they are a child of God in their daily life (behavior means "conversation"). Attitude and behavior are inseparable. Purity (v. 17a). "First pure" shows how important holiness is. God is holy, so the wisdom that comes from above is also pure. This word means "free from sin and defilement." James used it again in James 4:8, where he said, "purify your hearts," or "make your hearts chaste." God's wisdom makes life pure. The wisdom of man can lead to sin. There is a spiritual purity that leads to a pure relationship with the Lord (2 Cor. 11:3), and there is a worldliness that makes the person a spiritual adulterer (James 4:4). Peace (v. 17b). James 4:1–2 says that man's wisdom leads to war, competition, and rivalry. God's wisdom, on the other hand, leads to peace. It is a holy peace, not a peace that comes from giving in. God never says, "peace at any cost." The church's purity is more important than its peace. There will be peace in the church if it is pure and dedicated to God. Although Isaiah 32:17 was not historically written to the church, the trust holds when it says, "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." The church can never be at peace if it hides sins and acts like they aren't there. Man's wisdom says, "Cover up sin!" "Keep things together!" God's wisdom says, "Tell the truth about your sins, and My peace will keep things together!" Gentleness (v. 17c). One writer calls this "sweet reasonableness." It means being moderate without giving in and being gentle without being weak. The gentle person avoids starting fights on purpose and avoids lying to keep the peace. Carl Sandburg called Abraham Lincoln a "man of velvet steel." This is a good way to describe gentleness. Compliance (v. 17d). God's wisdom makes people who believe in Him easy to get along with and work with. A person may be hard and stubborn due to their wisdom. The compliant person is open to hearing all sides of a story, but he won't change his mind about what he believes. He can disagree without being rude. He is "quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger" (James 1:19). A lot of people think that being stubborn means being sure of something and needing things to go their way. When God's wisdom is at work, people are willing to listen, think, pray, and do what God tells them to do. Another way to say this word is "giving in to persuasion." Mercy (v. 17e). Being "full" of something means being "controlled by" it. Mercy guides the person who follows God's wisdom. "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful" (Luke 6:36). God gives us what we don't deserve because He is gracious, and He does this because He is merciful. He doesn't necessarily give us what we want. The parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37) tells us what mercy means. It was kind of the Samaritan to help a Jewish stranger. The only thing he could get out of it was the blessing that comes from doing God's will, and the victim couldn't pay him back. That is compassion. Fruitfulness (v. 17f). Faithful people bear fruit. God's wisdom doesn't leave a life empty; it fills it up. The Spirit bears fruit for God's glory (see John 15:1–16). The lawyer in Luke 10:25–37 was open to talking about being a good neighbor, but he didn't want to be one and help someone else. God's wisdom is useful; it changes lives and leads to good works that honor God. Decisiveness (v. 17g). The word means having one mind and is the opposite of "wavering" (James 1:6). When you rely on the world's wisdom, people push you to change your mind or see things from a different angle. You don't have to hesitate when you have God's wisdom; you can be sure and not be afraid. Wisdom from above gives you strength from above. Honesty (v. 17h). In Greek, the word that is translated as "hypocrite" in our New Testament means "one who wears a mask, an actor." When people are wise, they might not be honest or real. When God's wisdom is at work, people are honest and open, as in "speaking the truth in love" (Eph. 4:15). James says that wherever you see God's people pretending and hiding, you can be sure that the wisdom of this world is guiding their work. God hates "religious politics." "Faith is living without plotting and conniving." God's wisdom works very differently from the wisdom of this world. Church officers and leaders would benefit from reflecting on their lives and ministries in accordance with James's writings. Although the local church is an organism, it is also an organization, but it can't rely on the "Madison Avenue" techniques that work for businesses. God's thoughts and ways are much higher than ours! "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." (1 Cor. 2:12). Spiritual,"Difference in Operations (3:13–14, 17)
The wisdom that comes from God works in a different way than the wisdom that comes from "earthly, sensual, and devilish" sources. Because they come from very different places, they must work in very different ways. What are the signs of false wisdom? Envying (v. 14a). This word means being selfishly ambitious and eager. It goes along with James 3:1, where James told them not to be overly desirous of spiritual positions. The world says, "Make yourself known." You might be better than the other candidates. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. It's sad to say that God's people do a lot of selfish, carnal promotion. The apostles even fought about who was the best in the kingdom. When you believe you play the part of "Mr. Spiritual," it's easy to let your ego take control. The Pharisees used their religious activities to get people to praise them (Matt. 6:1–18). We should be very interested in the Lord's things, but we must ensure our motives are pure. The wisdom of this world elevates humanity and diminishes God's glory. Paul talked about the wisdom of God and the wisdom of this world in 1 Corinthians 1:17ff. He also talked about why God does what He does: "That no flesh should glory in His presence" (1 Cor. 1:29). He finished the section with the warning, "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" (1 Cor. 1:31). Is our love for the Lord spiritual or physical? Do we feel pleased when other people do well, or do we secretly envy and criticize them? Are we happy or sad when someone else fails? When worldly wisdom infiltrates the church, it leads to excessive promotion of the flesh and glorification of humanity. Be careful! Strife (v. 14b). This word means "party spirit." The Greeks used it to talk about a politician who was going door-to-door to get votes. "Get all the support you can!" says the world's wisdom. "Ask the people in the church if they are with you or against you!" This attitude of wanting to be better than others only causes problems and fights in the church. “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than [more important than] themselves” (Phil. 2:3). Bragging "glory not" (v. 14c). Pride loves to brag, and nothing is more proud than men's wisdom. There is a way to tell people about blessings that gives God the glory, and there is also a way that gives men the praise. It is sad to see groups of God's people who admire each other. When Paul boasted about his ministry in 2 Corinthians 10, he made sure to give God the credit. We shouldn't even consider putting ourselves in the same group as people who write their testimonials or comparing ourselves to them. Of course, these individuals are merely measuring themselves by their standards or by comparing themselves to others within their group, which does not provide an accurate picture and certainly does not glorify God (see 2 Cor. 10:12). When God's wisdom is at work, you feel humble and want God to get all the praise. You don't want to compare yourself to other Christians because you only see Christ, and compared to Him, we all have a long way to go! Lying (v. 14d). "Don't lie about the truth." It's not hard to understand the order James gives in verse 14. First, there is selfish ambition that causes people to be competitive and have party spirit. To "win the election," we have to brag, and bragging usually means lying! The Lord reads a man's life in his heart, not in his press releases. "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God." (1 Cor. 4:5). [Tomorrow we will look at the signs of true wisdom.] Where to Find Wisdom (James 3:13-18)
Jewish people thought wisdom was very important. They understood that it wasn't enough to know things; you also needed to know how to use that knowledge correctly. We all know people who are very smart, maybe even geniuses, but they don't seem to be able to do even the simplest things in life. They can program computers, but they can't run their lives! "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:" (Prov. 4:7). James kept telling the people in the meeting who wanted to be teachers of the Word (James 3:1). You can't just stand in front of people and say things; you have to have something to say. This is where spiritual wisdom comes in. Knowledge helps us break things down, but wisdom helps us put things back together and connect God's truth to our daily lives. We've all heard preachers and teachers say many good things, but they don't always get to the heart of God's message or connect truth to our daily lives. This is the kind of "knowledge without wisdom" that James was talking about. He was comparing true wisdom and fake wisdom from three different perspectives. Difference in Origins (3:15, 17a) Real wisdom comes from above, while fake wisdom comes from below. There is a "heavenly wisdom" that comes from God and a "man-made wisdom" that does not come from God. Everything that isn't from God will fail, no matter how well it seems. There are many examples in the Bible of how foolish man's wisdom is. It seemed like a good idea to build the Tower of Babel, but it didn't work out and caused a lot of trouble (Gen. 11:1–9). When famine hit Canaan, it seemed like a good idea for Abraham to go to Egypt, but the results were different (Gen. 12:10–20). King Saul thought it was a good idea to give young David his own armor for the fight against Goliath, but God had other plans (1 Sam. 17:38ff.). The disciples thought it was a good idea to send the large group away to find their food, but Jesus fed them with a few loaves and fishes. The Roman "experts" in Acts 27 thought it was a good idea to leave port and sail to Rome, even though Paul disagreed. The storm that followed showed that Paul's advice was better than theirs. They lived to regret it, but they did live! Where does man's wisdom come from? "This wisdom does not come from above; it is earthly, sensual, and devilish" (James 3:15). The believer has three foes: the world, the flesh, and the devil (Eph. 2:1–3). The words "earthly," "sensual," and "devilish" suggest these enemies. There is a "wisdom of this world" (1 Cor. 1:20–21). Don't mix what you know with what you know about the world. We all benefit from the world's knowledge, but there's little wisdom. Man finds out the secrets of the universe, but he doesn't know what to do with them. Everything he finds or comes up with seems to work against him. Henry David Thoreau warned us over a hundred years ago that we had "improved means to unimproved ends." The world, in its wisdom, does not know God and does not accept the gospel of God. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness" (1 Cor. 1:18). Anyone who loves the wisdom of this world should read the first two chapters of 1 Corinthians and see how much Paul had to say about God's wisdom and man's wisdom. God thinks that man's wisdom is foolish (1 Cor. 1:20), and man thinks that God's wisdom is foolish (1 Cor. 2:14). Reason comes from man's wisdom, while revelation comes from God's wisdom. The wisdom of man will come to nothing (1 Cor. 1:19), but the wisdom of God will last forever. The world has lost its wisdom because it has turned away from God. Every bit of knowledge that man gains only makes the problems worse. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the holy is understanding" (Prov. 9:10). "Before their eyes, there is no fear of God" (Rom. 3:18). But this fake wisdom comes from somewhere else: it is "sensual," which means it is "natural." The Greek word is psukikos, which comes from the Greek word psuke, which means "life" or "soul." It is where we get the word "psychology" in English. In 1 Corinthians 2:14; 15:44, 46, psukikos means "natural," which is the opposite of "spiritual." It is translated as "sensual" in Jude 19. The central concept appears to be the fallen nature of humanity in contrast to the new nature bestowed by God. Earthly wisdom originates from human nature and is entirely independent of the Spirit of God. This earthly "wisdom that is from below" and is also demonic. From Genesis 3, where Satan tricked Eve, all the way through the Bible, there is a "wisdom of Satan" that works against the "wisdom of God." Satan deceived Eve into believing she would resemble God. He said that the tree would give her wisdom. People have believed Satan's lies and tried to make themselves gods ever since that happened (Rom. 1:18–25). Satan is crafty; he is the old snake! If you don't understand the wisdom of God, you will become confused by it. Then James talked about a "wisdom that is from above" (James 3:17) instead of the "wisdom that is earthly, sensual, and devilish." "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above" (James 1:17). The Christian looks to heaven for everything he needs. His citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20), just like his Father's (Matt. 6:9). He has treasures in heaven, not on earth (Matt. 6:19ff.). He was born from above (John 3:1–7) when he put his faith in Jesus Christ. The believer's home and hope are both in heaven (John 14:1–6). He focuses his love and attention on things that are above, not on things that are on earth (Col. 3:1–4). What is the wisdom of a Christian? Does he look to the ideas of this world? No! To start, Jesus (1 Cor. 1:24, 30) says that Christ is our wisdom. Colossians 2:3 says that "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" are hidden in Jesus Christ. The first step to becoming truly wise is to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. We also get wisdom from the Word of God. “Keep therefore and do them [God's commands]; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations . . ." (Deut. 4:5–6). The Bible can teach us how to be "wise unto salvation" (2 Tim. 3:15). James 1:5 says that we can get wisdom by praying in faith. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God." The Holy Spirit of God is "the Spirit of wisdom and revelation" (Eph. 1:17). When we trust the Word and pray, He leads us down the wisest paths. God is the source of real spiritual wisdom. Getting your wisdom from anywhere else is asking for trouble. You don't need the world's false wisdom, which serves the flesh and does the devil's work. God is the source of your wisdom! The Fountain and Tree Illustrate the Power to Delight (James 3:9-12)
Of course, the fountain gives man the cool water he needs to stay alive. A freshwater fountain greatly benefits a village in a less developed country. People need water for more than just drinking. They also need it for washing, cooking, farming, and many other things that are important to life. "The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook." (Prov. 18:4). "The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life" (Prov. 10:11). "The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death" (Prov. 13:14). These verses are similar to what James wrote and show how important our words are. Water gives life, and so do our words. But if water isn't kept in check, it can kill and destroy. The Johnstown, Pennsylvania, flood of 1889 killed 2,200 people and caused $10 million in damage. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Prov. 18:21). But we don't usually think about floods when we lean over a fountain to drink cool water. We only think about how refreshing it is to drink some water. We need water to stay healthy. Proverbs 12:18 reminds us that some people speak like the piercings of a sword, while the wise speak words that promote health. Paul prayed that he would be able to "refresh" the saints in Rome when he got there (Rom. 15:32). He frequently mentioned Christians who had rejuvenated him (1 Cor. 16:18; Philem. 7, 20). Water is also a cleaning agent. In the Old Testament tabernacle and temple, there was a laver where priests could wash their hands and feet. The Bible is the spiritual water that cleanses us (John 15:3; Eph. 5:26–27). But what we say to other people can also help them get rid of sin and become holy. Our words should be like the river in Ezekiel 47 that brought life to everything it touched. The tongue is also beneficial because it resembles a tree. They help keep the soil in place, they add beauty and shade, and they bear fruit. Our words can help a tired traveler feel safe and supported, and they can also nourish a hungry soul. "The lips of the righteous feed many" (Prov. 10:21). Jesus said, "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life," (John 6:63). We feed and encourage others as we share His Word with them. The roots are the most important part of a tree. The tree won't grow well if the roots don't go deep. If we are grounded in the things of the Lord, our words will be the result of our relationship with Him. We will be like the "blessed man" in Psalm 1 and bear fruit at the right time. One reason our Lord was able to say the right things at the right times was because He talked to His Father and heard from heaven every day. Listen to what He said: "The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned." (Isa. 50:4). "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed." (Mark 1:35). We need to meet with the Lord every day and learn from Him if we want our tongues to be happy. We need to dig our "spiritual roots" deep into His Word. We need to pray and think about God and let His love and truth fill our hearts. But James warned that a fountain can't give out two different kinds of water, and a tree can't bear two different kinds of fruit. We expect the fountain to always have sweet water, the fig tree to always have figs, and the olive tree to always have olives. Nature reproduces in the same way. If the tongue doesn't work right, the heart is very sick. I heard about a Christian who got upset at work and swore. He was embarrassed and said to his partner, "I don't know why I said that." It really isn't in me. His partner wisely said, "It had to be in you, or it couldn't have come out of you." Peter swore some oaths when he was not in fellowship with Christ, but he went outside and cried and confessed his sins. The tongue that praises God and then curses people made in His image needs spiritual medicine right away! It's so easy to sing the hymns during church and then fight and argue all the way home in the family car. "These things should not be so, my brothers." The issue is not the tongue; it is the heart. Our hearts can easily be filled with "bitter envying and strife" (James 3:14). "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man." (Matt. 15:18). “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). We can bring joy to others when we fill our hearts with God's Word and let the Holy Spirit work through us. We will be like refreshing fountains and trees. You can talk to people about God after you talk to God about them. When we pray for people in private, it helps us when we meet them in public. We don't say "I'm praying for you" in a bragging way, like we're more spiritual than other people. We say it to comfort them and show we care enough to meet them at the throne of grace. Yes, the tongue is the smallest but most troublesome thing in the world. But it doesn't have to be a troublemaker! God can use our tongues to guide others to a better way of life and to make them joyful during hard times. The tongue is a small part of the body, but it has a lot of power. Every day, give your heart and tongue to God and ask Him to use you to help others. The Fire and Animal Illustrate the Power to Destroy (James 3:5-8)
A small spark can start a fire, but it can quickly grow into a city-destroying blaze. On October 8, 1871, at 8:30 p.m., a fire started in the O'Leary barn in Chicago. The fire spread, leaving over 100,000 people homeless, destroying 17,500 buildings, and killing 300 people. The city had to pay more than $400 million. Our words can start fires. "Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.” (Prov. 26:20–21). Some churches have members or leaders who can't control what they say, and such conduct leads to destruction. Let them leave town or be replaced at the office, and a lovely spirit of love and harmony will take over. The tongue can "heat things up," just like a fire. David wrote, "I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue" (Ps. 39:1, 3). Have you ever gone through that? You definitely have! You can say things you don't mean when you're angry and when your heart is hot. David had a temper, and he needed God's help to keep it under control. Solomon said, "He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit." (Prov. 17:27). “He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.” (Prov. 14:29). Fire not only starts small and grows, making heat; it also makes things dirty. A friend of mine had a fire in the basement of his house. The upstairs became so filthy due to smoke and fire damage that the family had to vacate while the house underwent renovation. Fiery words can ruin a home, a Sunday school class, or a church. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can cleanse that. Fire hurts and burns, and so do our words. One of the things that made our Lord sad while He was on earth was the way His enemies talked about Him. They called Him a "man gluttonous and a winebibber" (Matt. 11:19) because He was kind enough to accept invitations to dinner from people the Pharisees didn't like. They said he was working with Satan when He did miracles. Even when He was dying on the cross, His enemies could not let Him alone but threw vicious taunts into His face. Fire spreads, and the more fuel you give it, the faster and farther it will go. The Bible says, "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell." (James 3:6). James is saying that everything in life is connected like a wheel, so we can't stop the damage from spreading. The tongue can hurt or kill someone for the rest of their life. Time does not make up for the wrongs we say. We can admit to our speech sins, but the fire keeps getting worse. Both fire and our words have the power to destroy as they spread. For every word in Hitler’s book Mein Kampf, 125 lives were lost in World War II. While our words may not initiate wars or demolish cities, they have the power to shatter hearts and tarnish reputations. They can also destroy souls by sending them to hell without Christ. It is very important for us to let our words "be always with grace, seasoned with salt" (Col. 4:6). The tongue is like a fire and a dangerous animal at the same time. It is restless and can't be controlled (unruly), and it hunts for its prey and then jumps on it and kills it. Some animals are poisonous, and some tongues carry poison. Poison is sneaky because it works slowly and secretly, and then it kills. How many times has a bad person put a little poison into a conversation, hoping it would spread and get to the person they wanted to hurt? As a pastor, I've seen how poisonous words can hurt people, families, classes, and even whole churches. Would you let hungry lions or angry snakes loose in your church on Sunday morning? No way! But unruly tongues get the same results. James reminds us that we can tame both animals and fire. You get a worker instead of a destroyer when you tame an animal. You gain power when you control fire. Man cannot control the tongue, but God can. Your tongue does not need to be "set on fire of hell" (James 3:6). It can be set on fire from heaven, just like the apostles at Pentecost! If God controls the fire, the tongue can win souls and build the church. Of course, the most important thing is the heart, because "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" (Matt. 12:34). Satan will start the fire if the heart is full of hate. But if the heart is full of love, God will kindle the fire. The World's Smallest but Biggest Troublemaker (James 3:1-12 intro)
It seems that the Christians James wrote to were having a lot of trouble with their tongues. James had told them to be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. (James 1:19). James 1:26 says that a believer's religion is worthless if he or she does not control his or her tongue. We should act and speak as if we were already being judged by Christ (James 2:12). You get the feeling that this group had some interesting meetings when you read James 4:1, 11–12. One of the strongest powers God has given us is the power of speech. A person can use his tongue to praise God, pray, preach the Word, and show the lost the way to Christ. What a wonderful honor! But he can also use that same tongue to tell lies that could ruin a man's reputation or break a person's heart. We often underestimate the influence words have on people and their ability to effect change. James showed us six pictures of the tongue: a bit, a rudder, fire, a poisonous animal, a fountain, and a fig tree. He did this to show us how important it is to control our speech and how big the effects of our words can be. You can group these six pictures into three groups that show the three powers of the tongue. The Bit and Rudder Illustrate the Power to Direct (3:1–4) It seems that everyone in the assembly wanted to be a spiritual leader and teacher, so James had to tell them, " . . . not many masters [teachers] " (James 3:1). Maybe they were impressed by the power and status of the job and forgot about the huge amount of responsibility and accountability that comes with it. Those who teach the Word will be judged more harshly. Teachers must use their words to communicate the truth about God, and it's easy to sin with your words. Also, teachers need to do what they teach; if they don't, they're being hypocritical. Think about how much harm a teacher can do if they aren't ready or their spiritual life isn't up to par. However, teachers are not the only individuals who face temptation and commit sins. Every Christian must admit that ". . . in many things we offend all . . " (James 3:2). Sins of the tongue appear to rank highest on this list. The individual who can restrain their tongue demonstrates the capacity to govern their entire body. He shows that he is a grown-up (perfect) man. Was James wrong to link sins of the tongue with sins of "the whole body"? No, because words usually lead to actions. History records posters that said "LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS!" during World War II. But loose lips can also ruin lives. Someone says something without thinking, and suddenly they are in a fight. His tongue has made the rest of his body fight back. James used the bit and the rudder to show how two small things can have a lot of power, just like the tongue. A small bit lets the rider control the big horse, and a small rudder lets the pilot steer the big ship. The tongue is a small part of the body, but it has enormous power. The bit and the rudder both have to fight against things that are against them. The bit has to deal with the horse's wildness, and the rudder has to deal with the winds and currents that would push the ship off course. The human tongue also has to deal with things that are against it. Our old nature wants to control us and make us do evil things. There are things going on around us that make us say things we shouldn't. There are sins on the inside and outside that want to take over the tongue. This means that a strong hand must be able to control both the bit and the rudder. An expert horseman controls his horse's immense strength, while an experienced pilot skillfully navigates the ship through turbulent waters. We don't have to worry about saying the wrong things or even saying the right things in a wrong way if Jesus Christ is in charge of our tongues. Solomon said, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: . . " (Prov. 18:21). David prayed, "Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. . . " "Incline not my heart to any evil thing . . . " (Ps. 141:3,4). David knew that the heart is what makes speech right when he wrote, ". . . out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." (Matt. 12:34). If Jesus Christ is the Lord of the heart, He is also the Lord of the lips. The bit and rudder can steer, which means they can change other people's lives. A horse that runs away or a ship that sinks could hurt or kill people on foot or on board. What we say has an effect on other people's lives. A judge says, "Guilty!" or "Not Guilty!" Those words change the lives of the prisoner, his family, and his friends. A few words from the president of the United States, along with some signed papers, can lead the country into war. A simple "yes" or "no" from a parent can have a big impact on the course of a child's life. Always remember that your words matter. Jesus talked to a woman at a well, and her life and the lives of her neighbors changed in a miraculous way (John 4). Peter preached on Pentecost, and three thousand people were saved by faith in Christ (Acts 2). Edward Kimball went into a Boston shoe store on April 21, 1855, and led Dwight L. Moody to Christ. The outcome: one of the greatest evangelists in history, whose work is still going on. People can make the right choices with their words. We should all read the book of Proverbs often, paying special attention to the many times it talks about speech. "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger" (Prov. 15:1). The Lord hates lying lips (Prov. 12:22). Solomon reminds us that in a lot of words, there is no sin; but he who keeps his lips shut is wise (Prov. 10:19). Yes, the tongue functions like a bit in a horse's mouth and a rudder on a ship; it has the ability to steer our actions and words. [continued from yesterday]
The Bible teaches a lot about justification. Justification is when God says that a sinner who believes is righteous because of what Christ did on the cross. It is not a process; it is an act. God does it for the sinner when he trusts Christ, not the sinner himself. It happens only once. It never changes. How can you tell if a person is justified by faith if this relationship is only between the sinner and God? Abraham's example provides a definitive answer: the justified individual experiences a transformed life and adheres to God's will. His actions show that he has faith. James used another event from Abraham's life, one that happened a long time after Abraham became a Christian. This event is when Isaac is put on the altar (Gen. 22). Abraham did not get saved by following God's strict order. His obedience showed that he was already saved. In James 2:22 we read, “Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?" His obedience proved that he already was saved. His faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. Faith and works are perfectly related. "Abraham wasn't saved by faith and works, but by a faith that works," someone said. How could Abraham be "justified by works" (James 2:21) when he had already been "justified by faith" (see Rom. 4)? He was justified before God by faith, and his righteousness was declared; he was justified before men by works, and his righteousness was shown. No one saw Abraham put his son on the altar, but the inspired record in Genesis 22 lets us see the event and see how Abraham's faith was shown by what he did. Dynamic faith listens to God and shows itself in everyday life and work. Unfortunately, we still have church members today who fit the description given in Titus, “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him,” (Titus 1:16). Paul also said, "This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works." (Titus 3:8). Joshua 2 and 6 tell the story of Rahab, who is his second example. Israel was getting ready to attack Jericho, which was in the land they had promised them. Joshua sent people into the city to see what it was like. There they met Rahab, a prostitute, who protected them and said she believed what God had said and what he was going to do. When the city fell, the men fulfilled their promise to save her and her family. It's an interesting story. But it is one of the best examples of saving faith in the Bible (see Heb. 11:31). Rahab heard the Word and understood that her city was going to be destroyed. This truth made her and the people around her feel so sad that their hearts melted (Josh. 2:11). Rahab reacted with her thoughts and feelings, but she also acted on her will: she did something. She put her own life in danger to protect the Jewish spies, and she put her own life in danger again by telling her family the good news of their rescue. The Hebrew word that is translated as "harlot" in Joshua 2 can also mean "an innkeeper." The spies went to Rahab's guest house because it was normal for them to do so. In James 2:25, the Greek word "harlot" definitely means someone who is immoral. This is also what Hebrews 11:31 says. Matthew 1:5 says that she married into Israel and became an ancestor of our Lord. What a blessing! You can't help but think of the "bad Samaritan" in John 4 when you read about Rahab, who was one of the first people in the Bible to win souls. Rahab could have had a dead faith, which is just an intellectual experience. Or she could have had a demonic faith, which would have opened her mind and stirred her emotions. But she had dynamic faith: her mind knew the truth, her heart was moved by the truth, and her will acted on the truth. She showed her faith through her actions. When you see how little information there is, you can see how amazing Rahab's faith was by looking at what she did. Today, we have the whole truth about God through His Word and His Son. We live past Calvary, where the Holy Spirit teaches us the Word and shows us what's wrong. " For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: . . ." (Luke 12:48). Her faith stands as a condemnation of the disbelief prevalent among contemporary sinners. James 2 stressed that a mature Christian lives by the truth. He doesn't just believe in old teachings; he lives by them every day. His faith is not the dead faith of the intellectuals or the evil faith of the spirits that have fallen. Men like Abraham and women like Rahab had a living faith that changed their lives and worked for God. Every professing Christian should look into his heart and life to make sure he has real saving faith, or dynamic faith. "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. . . . " (2 Cor. 13:5a). Satan is the master of lies, and one of his tricks is to copy others. If he can make someone believe that fake faith is real faith, he has that person under his control. As we look inside ourselves, we can ask ourselves these questions: 1. Did I ever really understand that I was a sinner and tell myself and God this? 2. Did my heart ever tell me to run away from the coming wrath? Have I ever really been scared about my sins? 3. Do I really get the gospel, which says that Christ died for my sins and came back to life? Do I know and admit that I can't save myself? 4. Did I really feel sorry for my sins and stop doing them? Or do I secretly love sin and want to enjoy it? 5. Have I put my faith in Christ alone for my salvation? Do I have a living relationship with Him through the Word and the Spirit? 6. Has my life changed? Do I keep doing good things, or do I only do them sometimes and not very well? Am I trying to grow in the things of the Lord? Is it clear to others that I've been with Jesus? 7. Do I want to tell other people about Christ? Or am I embarrassed by Him? 8. Do I like being with other Christians? Do I enjoy worship? 9. Am I ready for the Lord to come back? Or will I be embarrassed when He comes for me? Not every Christian has the same personal experience, and there are different levels of sanctification. But for the most part, the spiritual inventory that came before can help someone figure out where they really stand with God. "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Ps. 139:23–24). |
AuthorBible study is crucial for spiritual growth, understanding God and His plan, gaining wisdom for daily life, finding joy and purpose, and building your faith. As you daily engage with Scripture, may God's word equip you to live a godly life and come to a greater place of serving others. Archives
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