Morning Moments

JAMES Devotional Outline

I. Wisdom's Wealth - Chapter 1
II. Worthwhile Works - Chapter 2
III. Wholesome Words - Chapter 3
IV. Worldly Ways - Chapter 4
A. Conflict 4:1
B. Covetousness 4:2-3
C. Compromise 4:4-10

Compromise can be good or bad. When Paul was writing to the Corinthians about brother taking brother to law, he said, "Agree with you adversary quickly while thou are in the way..." In other words, make you peace, compromise, settle you difference and don't do it publicly in court before unbelievers. There is a place for compromise, but not here - not by laying aside the commands of God and not by going along to get along with things are wrong.

We are to be LIGHT to shine and SALT to season and both light and salt are active. Light expels and salt preserves which is precisely what we as believers are to do - expel the darkness of this world and preserve the truth of the Word of God and righteous standard of His law of liberty and life.

1. The Situation

4:4. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

There is serious question here as to whether this is literal or metaphorical, but in either case it does present some problems. God told Israel, "But, you have been unfaithful to me, nation of Israel, like an unfaithful wife who has left her husband" (Jer 3:20). The book of Hosea is all about this very matter of the nation's spiritual adultery. So, it is reasonable to believe that because James is writing to Jews, he is speaking metaphorically.

Let's step back for a moment! Sometimes we can become so focused on a part that we miss the whole. Sometimes we miss the big picture because we only focus on a piece of the puzzle. There are many questions to ask at this point:

Did James consider these Christian Jews who scattered because of persecution somehow betrayers of their faith? After all, they had scattered and James and others obviously remained in Jerusalem.

If this is literal, how can this kind of activity be explained in the life of true believers? What about the teachings of John and Paul regarding the Christian life and victory? James simply says this living is "hostility toward God and the one living this way becomes God's enemy. Pretty strong language.

We know these folks had been scattered abroad, so how was James so sure about what was going on and how would this message reach them?

There are more questions to consider, but this may give you some idea of the problems this epistle presents. What WE must understand is that God wants us PURE and HOLY - without exception. If anyone would choose to use the verses to "prove" that "Christians" can do these kinds of sins, then he/she must also use these verses to "prove" that the one committing them is an becomes an enemy of God. You can't have it both ways.

2. The Scripture

4:5. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6. But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

These verses certainly do not make the context any clearer for a couple of reasons:

Is the "spirit" that dwells in us ours or the Holy Spirit?

Is the envious craving or yearning ours by nature or the Spirit's for us to receive the grace God gives?

I have read the commentaries, but few of them really address these questions appropriately, so I will try now to answer the questions I have asked beginning with the previous three under "Situation". I wish to be honest and open and not tied to pre-conceived notions.

I have no idea what might have been in the mind of James other than what is expressed in this letter and the letter makes it perfectly clear that these to whom he wrote were Christian Jews. I emphasize the two terms because the earliest Church was ONLY Jewish. They still met in synagogues and in house groups. Whatever personal feelings James might or might not have had are unknown apart from this letter.

God's standard does not and has not changed - "Be ye holy, for I am holy" saith the Lord. Whether Jew, gentile, bond, free, male, female, rich or poor, black, white, red, or yellow, God DEMANDS purity of heart and life. A change of heart leads to a change of life, so whether metaphorical or literal the issue is addressed as the same - KEEP THYSELF PURE!

Certainly there were reports then just as there are reports today about things going on in other places with other Christians and other churches. Sometimes, do doubt, things are exaggerated, sometimes not, but the fact is that bad news travels much faster than good.
If these were Christians, and we know they were, then we know that the Holy Spirit lived in them and according to Paul is constantly earnestly yearning for us to trust and obey our Father and Lord. So, we can answer both the final questions with this answer.

Here is the picture: There is a war in my members that comes from the battle between my flesh (old nature) and spirit (new nature) where each craves to be fed, but one must be starved. The pull of the flesh had controlled my life until the Holy Spirit came in to quicken (bring to life) my spirit by creating in me a new nature that now hungers for God.

My flesh (pride) says, "You can do it without God" but my spirit now says, "You can only do it by God's grace" so I must choose. Do I choose grace (that which God gives that I cannot earn and do not deserve) or do I choose self (flesh), corrupt with its deeds? If I humble myself, God gives grace and then I can find the solution -

3. The Solution

4:7. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

The term used here is a military one which means to align yourself under authority. The believer is under the authority of Jesus Christ! All authority in Heaven and earth and under the earth has been given Him, so what we do is:

Line up under Jesus authority - Satan tried to usurp it.
Resist - To resist means to push against - we do not push with flesh but faith using as Jesus did the offensive weapon of the Word of God
Draw near - How does one draw near to God - through prayer and purity of heart. "Who shall...?" "He who has clean hands and a pure heart."
Confess your sins, confide in Him, and concentrate on Him.
The Lord Jesus is your Commander, your Confidant, your Comrade, your Counselor, your Comforter, and your Coming King! He will not fail you!

BLESSINGS!