The Challenge to Live in God’s Will

Fleecy Clouds by alfi007 at freeimages.com

Fleecy Clouds by alfi007 at freeimages.com

I have been studying James 4 again.  As I worked through translating it with a couple of friends and prepared sermons on the passage I have been struck with an overall theme of submitting to God.  Previously, I had focused on the specific instructions and practical advice given.  Things like warnings against worldliness, the need for humility, and brevity of life.  But as I examined this passage again, I see everything working under this overall idea of submitting to God’s desires.

We tend to compartmentalize our lives.  James is emphasizing that God is to be involved in all of our lives.

Here is an outline I see from James 4.  (It would be helpful if you looked at the text too.)

God wants it all:

  • Our Desires (v. 1-3) – Not that we cannot desire pleasures and enjoy life with its nice things and blessing, but we must trust the Lord to give us these, rather than seeking to get these from others.  Our selfishness creates quarrels and jealousies.  God wants to give us things to enjoy.  It is not wrong to desire certain pleasures, it is wrong to seek them outside the bounds of God.  We need to trust him to provide us what we need.
  • Our Devotion (v. 4-5) – The main problem with worldliness is that we are linking arms with the world, as we confess to be a friend of God.  God demands our loyalty and complete friendship.
  • Our Repentance (v. 6-10) – James uses a string of imperative command verbs to emphasize the need we have to humble our hearts.  We must be willing to see our failures and turn from them.  We must constantly fight our independence and stubborn will with humble repentance.
  • Our Tongues (v. 11-12) – James is against us slandering and judging our brethren because this moves God out of the way and makes us the lawgiver and judge.  A place we have no right to be!
  • Our Plans (v. 13-16) – James lays forth the foolishness of those who plan without God.  Like many concepts here it is not wrong to plan, but it is wrong to plan without God.
  • Our Actions (v. 17) – James says that when we know the right actions, but fail to do them, it is sin.  In context this verse is about the wrong in doing nothing as well as the wrong in doing deliberate, willful sin.  All of our actions and time should be seen as an opportunity to serve God.

James is emphasizing what our Lord emphasized in Matthew 6:33.  We must seek first the rule, or reign, of God in our lives.  It is trying to bring all of life under his control.  What a challenge and aim!

This text has challenged my thoughts.  I am trying to think more about my desires, decisions, and planning being under the will of God.  It is like creating an extra step.  Thinking about what you want or plans, then giving them to God, before acting or trying to get them.

 

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1 comment

  1. This is some excellent teaching! I agree that being challenged regularly is one of the ways we grow in our faith.

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