Casual Christianity - Humility - James 4:1-17 - Novenber 29, 2009

Bible Study – Casual Christianity – Humility – November 29, 2009

This is our final study entitled “Casual Christianity.”

Our scripture is James 4:1-17.

This has been an interesting and challenging study. True Christianity is anything but casual. GOD’S desire is for HIS children to trust and rely upon HIM completely. That does not mean LORD “Do this, or do that or to hand me this or that.” GOD expects believers to take action as HE directs. It is a dynamic relationship with HIM. So where is ground zero?

James zeros in on the heart of the Christian. Christians have the freedom to choose but when they allow the flesh to rule their lives, they choose according to the flesh, which leads them to fall under the law of transgression. When they allow the HOLY SPIRIT to rule their lives and follow HIS leading and prompting, they show mercy and grace and fall under the law of freedom. GOD allows the rule of “quid pro quo” to go into effect as JESUS spoke of in the model pray “forgive us as we forgive others.”
GOD’S desire is for all of HIS children to obediently serve HIM out of a genuine heart that HE has been transformed through an intimate loving relationship with HIM. James has given us several measures for assessing our spiritual growth and maturity. In our study today, James again exposes the heart of believers. What is in the heart and what comes from the heart are true measures of a believer’s spiritual growth and maturity. Often, it is only GOD WHO knows and we as believers know. Others may know when they see us in a Christian setting versus a secular setting.

James is addressing pride or self-sufficiency versus humility. This is not pride that everyone should have in themselves but it is a nature that is envious of others and what they have – job, family, social status, fame, etc. It has elements of being envious and jealous of others and what they have or have accomplished to the point of seething, warring or fighting within such that it spills over into overt acts. As stated earlier it is all about the heart.

To me the heart of this study is summed up in Ephesians 3:20:

20 Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think—according to the power that works in you—

James was telling his readers and us today that GOD can lead, guide and direct the lives of believers far better than they can. That is why HE wants HIS children to rely upon HIM completely. Our sufficiency is in HIM and not in ourselves. Again it is not passive reliance upon GOD but active as you obediently serve HIM.

Let’s read James 4: 1-5:

Proud or Humble
1 What is the source of the wars and the fights among you? Don’t they come from the cravings that are at war within you?[1] Lit war in your members 2 You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and don’t receive because you ask wrongly, so that you may spend it on your desires for pleasure. 4 Adulteresses![2] Other mss read Adulterers and adulteresses Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy. 5 Or do you think it’s without reason the Scripture says that the Spirit He has caused to live in us yearns jealously?[3] Or He who caused the Spirit to live in us yearns jealously, or the spirit He caused to live in us yearns jealously, or He jealously yearns for the Spirit He made to live in us

In James 3:13-16, we discussed the things that reveal our flesh nature coming from a flesh heart. The first verses of chapter 4 are a continuation of these last verses in chapter 3. The flesh heart can be in a believer. James gives his readers examples of the flesh heart. The believer can get a measure of his/her spiritual growth and maturity by being aware of what is in his/her heart and comes from his/her heart:

- Bitter envy, selfish ambition, earthly wisdom that is unspiritual and devilish, promotes disorder and every kind of evil.

Our unregenerate flesh nature allows personal wars to thrive within us. The internal war, attitude and selfish nature can spill over to the external and when it does, it has a negative influence over a greater number of people, Christian or non-Christian alike. You fight your desires but you give in to them and become more frustrated. You do not consider GOD as the power in your life because you are self sufficient and do not need HIS help.

James used words which raise questions and makes you wonder what in the world was going on in the early church such as murder, coveting, fighting and war. The question is how to interpret these words. Was James writing about actual fights, wars and murders among the members of the early church? Or was he using these words figuratively, meaning to hate your brother was the same as murder. Most Bible scholars believe James was using these words figuratively but clearly there was a problem with the hearts of the believers.

James used the word “adulteress.” This is the feminine form which called the men adulteresses. So how can a male be an adulteress? In the Old Testament GOD thought of Israel as HIS bride and when they served other gods or turned its back on HIM, HE referred to Israel as adulterous. James used this in reference to those who seek pleasure and the dictates of the flesh, which come between believers and GOD.
To be a friend with the world is to have GOD as your enemy. Therefore, believers, you have a choice to make, do you want to be friends with the world or with GOD. If you choose GOD then you will have to commit your life to HIM and be obedient to HIM.
When GOD’S children choose to allow the flesh to rule, it breaks GOD’S heart because HE knows there is something much better for them. HE is jealous because HIS desire is for HIS children to have the best and the best for them is to allow HIM to direct their lives. But this is not being a robot but it is being obedient to HIM.

Our born-again spirit within can be at war with our flesh spirit. When this happens it is a great source of frustration. We know we should not do what our flesh wants us to do but we do it anyway. We must be dead honest with GOD and tell HIM about the desires of our hearts. HE already knows but we need HIS help to overcome them and to change our mindset to allow HIM to rule our lives. The Apostle Paul fought with his flesh in chapters 7 and 8 of Romans.

GOD knows that we as humans cannot live a perfect life. The key is for us not to be deceived into thinking we are when we know we are not. HE wants us to confess our short comings and form a partnership with HIM. It is like a baby trying to take its first steps. It will stumble and fall. We do not scold him/her but we encourage and say to keep on trying. GOD does the same. That is why HE extends grace to HIS children as they journey through life in harmony, fellowship and relationship with HIM, which leads us into verse 6.

Let’s read James 4:6-12:

6 But He gives greater grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.[4] Pr 3:34 7 Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people! 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep. Your laughter must change to mourning and your joy to sorrow. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. 11 Don’t criticize one another, brothers. He who criticizes a brother or judges his brother criticizes the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver and judge[5] Other mss omit and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

When believers recognize and acknowledge the war between the flesh and the spirit and they desire to change, GOD gives them grace. It means those who try to change and are struggling will step in a pothole along the way. GOD realizes that and grants them grace to get out of the pot hole and keep on pressing on. GOD knows the hearts of those who desire to change.

Likewise, HE knows those with a prideful heart and their resisting help from HIM. HE resists those who think they can handle it themselves and fail to seek HIM. GOD knows that Satan appeals to our flesh and HE tells those desiring to change how to cope with Satan in verse 7 – Look to GOD and resist the devil. Just say no, believer’s strength and deliverance is in the hands of GOD and HIS power. GOD has already defeated Satan through the death of HIS ONLY SON, JESUS. As proof, GOD raised JESUS from the dead. Resist in the power and name of JESUS and Satan will flee.
Now a word of caution, if he fled for good that would be good but it is only for a time. Often a believer rejoices in this momentary victory only to experience another round of testing and possible temptation. Satan’s desire is to defeat and destroy.

James tells his readers that the key is to draw near to GOD and HE will draw near to you. GOD has an open invitation to all and especially HIS children. HE is always ready for believers to come to HIM and to seek HIS help in times of need. Focusing on scripture and reflecting on the awesomeness of GOD during difficult times is important. Most believers allow barriers to come between them and GOD. When that happens, it is important to turn your mind to GOD WHO can help you through your circumstances.

James admonishes his readers to be single minded by focusing on GOD and drawing near to HIM. Being double minded, that is serving both GOD and the flesh, reveals a spiritual heart problem that requires you to focus on a Godly solution. Believers must be single-minded. This is addressed in Revelation 3:15-16:

15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit[14] Or spit you out of My mouth.

Believers cannot serve two (2) masters. They must either choose to be all that HE wants you to be or choose to be cold, otherwise when we vacillate we make GOD sick.
In essence, James was telling his readers, to come to GOD as they did in the days when they worshipped HIM in the temple by cleansing their hands, confessing their sins and revealing to GOD what was really in their hearts. It is an ongoing process.
You must recognize the fact that you are trying to serve two (2) masters, the flesh and the Spirit and which is impossible. When believers recognize what they are doing they will be sorry because it is a serious sin. You have been happy not serving GOD and enjoying what the world has had to offer, however, once you recognize what you have done turn your laughter into mourning and sorrow. Be repentant and come to GOD with a humble spirit.

You need to focus on your own problems and not criticize or judge others. When you criticize or judge others you put yourself in GOD’S position. You must keep in mind on the royal law, which is to love your neighbor as yourself. We are all sinners saved by grace, so by the same grace GOD extends to us, we must extend to others.

Let’s read James 4: 13-17:

Our Will and His Will
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.” 14 You don’t even know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are a bit of smoke that appears for a little while, and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So, for the person who knows to do good and doesn’t do it, it is a sin.

James continued his message of self-sufficiency and a form of arrogance to believers scattered across the region. In essence, he was telling his readers, just listen to what you say to others. You are so confident in your own ability and self-sufficiency you disregard any thought of GOD having the final authority in your lives. You say what you are going to do. Stop and think for a minute. GOD is the ONE WHO gives you your life and watches over you each moment. Recognize and acknowledge that fact by saying from a grateful and humble heart, if the LORD wills, I will do such-and-so. Your life is like a vapor or puff of smoke, it appears for awhile and it is gone.
You know what you need to do, therefore, do it. If you keep being stubborn then you will suffer the consequences. The choice is yours.

In verse 17, James zeros in on the sin of omission. The sin of omission is failing to do the right thing, when you know it. The sin of commission is knowingly doing the wrong thing. Again, is it pride, stubbornness, arrogance, self-ambition that stops believers from obediently serving GOD when they know they should? For example, if there is someone you need to ask to forgive you or you to tell someone that you are sorry and you refuse that is a sin of omission. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 16:18 - 18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

As we come to the end of our study, James is reminding all of us to examine our relationship to our LORD. Look and listen to what comes from our hearts. Does our talk match our walk? Are we self-sufficient and depend upon our own abilities rather than depending upon GOD. Sure we must do our part but in concert with GOD as HE leads and directs our lives.

We must rely upon GOD and our relationship to HIM to bring about the change needed in our lives which will produce the results HE desires for us. Seek HIM first and get to know HIM and ask HIM to build within you the loving intimate relationship that will help you grow and mature spiritually naturally.