James 4
Do you know this feeling…
Of an uneasiness in your heart,
Like a prick or a squeeze
Or your heart beat off the chart?
The heart is a mysterious thing,
And we have to learn to control it on our part.
It is like taming our tongue except,
We tame the thoughts of our heart.
Firstly elder James warns us,
“DO NOT BEFRIEND THE WORLD” — why…we might ask?
For we are only sojourners passing by in this world.
We do not belong here but we are here only to fulfil a task.
If we are friends with the world and the things of it,
It causes wars and quarrels as the events to this date prove,
Because of our possessions we may separate like Abraham and Lot had to,
Because our desires may overcome us if pride and lusts we do not remove.
If we are friends with the world and the things of it,
Our prayers will not be answered.
Because we may be full of greed or hatred and evil though we do not know it.
Because we may become reluctant to pray or we ask ignorantly for things of the world.
If we are friends with the world and the things of it,
We would be enemies of God.
Because we would be unfaithful to Him,
Because we may lose faith in the words of God.
Secondly elder James exhorts (or advises) us to…
BE FRIENDS WITH GOD and draw nearer to Him.
God wants to get to know us if we choose to get to know Him too.
Friendship is something that grows between two parties…it’s no whim.
If we want to be friends with God,
Then we must be accepting of His will and His way.
Then we must resist the devil.
Don’t give in to temptation but give over to what He has to say.
If we want to be friends with God,
Then we must be sure our conduct is good and pleasing,
Then our hearts must be in check by resolving to follow God.
Be repentant and humble for they are who God shall be exalting.
Thirdly elder John warns us,
DO NOT JUDGE OTHERS — that’s being critical of others.
We judge because of pride or self-righteousness.
We judge because of jealousy or lack of self-understanding.
If we judge others we become a judge of the God’s word,
We ought to be careful lest we may be despising the authority of God
who… Is the only qualified judge for we are all created by Him.
Everyone makes mistakes so have no fear when others judge you.
Lastly elder John warns us,
DO NOT BE BOASTFUL OR ARROGANT — we probably know of this.
But human nature tends to be full of conceit;
With our self-confidence we create and execute for self gain but end up amiss.
If we walk life alone without God,
We forget that life is like a mist,
For we do not know what will happen tomorrow.
Pray that if God wills…only then can we fulfil today’s to-do-list.
If we walk life alone without God,
Well it would be hard to imagine but since we know our every step is destined,
and God’s plan is the ultimate picture…then knowing what is right,
let’s continue to do good or else not to do so is sin.
What can I do for God today and perhaps someone I know too?
3 Comments
biblereadingcompanion
Did you all see the tv ad for Singapore’s newest game show about Singapore?
“What is the number one past-time of Singaporeans?”
“Complaining!”
“Sure?”
“Sure! Double Confirm! Complaining!”.
When I read James 4:11-12, somehow this tv ad came to mind.
Let me repeat this passage here in the NLT version:
“Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?”
I’d like to think that I am always able to see the good in every person and situation… to the point where I am called naive or too simple!
But last night as I was reflecting on this and realise that although I may not verbally criticise or condemn a person – there are many times where I am quick to judge or criticize a person for his actions in my heart.
James and appleofHiseye does a good job in reminding me of my failures in this area.
Very often, it is easy to see the speck in others and not realize that actually we have a big log dragging us down. And if we were to stand before the true Judge, we would not even have a leg to stand on ….
There are times we judge/complain/criticize someone just because of the way they look, or they do things in ways which are different from the way we are used to… or just because they do not share the same vision or goals as we do….
And this judgement prevents us from seeing them for who they truly are…. and with our words we curse (judge strongly) those who have been made in the image of God (James 3:9) – the very people that God wants to save and bring them back to His arms….
There’s a contemporary Christian song that is in my mind for the last couple of weeks. It is called “Does Anybody See Her?”
There is a youtube video of it (see below). The song is about a girl who is lost and crying out for help. But the “lofty glances from lofty people” dismisses her and does not recognize that she needs the Saviour just as much as we do…
Jesus said, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” ~ Matt 7:1-2
Just something for me to examine myself and see if I am committing this sin over and over and over again…
appleofHiseye
Thank you biblereadingcompanion for the song, it really reflects how I can be at times, how people have a tendency not to notice that lone person when in a group. Judge… Complain… Criticize… these are some of the weaknesses that stop me from seeing past my own pride, to be able to see the person in need. I hope to change these habits…
PS
Does anyone like to be with a person who keeps fighting with him?
No one does. Not even the devil (James 4:7).
God loves us so deeply that even when we keeps defying Him, keeps deviating from His words/will, He stays with us.
Not only does He stay by our sides through thick and thin.
He abides in us.
Does He have a good time abiding in us? No, not according to Elder James who wrote that “the Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously” (James 4:5).
Have you ever yearned for someone/something?
When we ponder seriously the deep emotion which Elder James was conveying, tears may flow:
When i pray for the Holy Spirit, i plead with Him to come into my heart. i m willing to give my heart to Him.
He comes in and dwells in my heart.
May be He is thinking “now that he gives Me his heart, I shall also give Myself to him and fill him.”
Soon the Spirit discovers that it is not so. i do not give my heart fully to Him.
What does He do? Does He leave at the first sign of disappointment? His love for me is greater than Himself.
He continues to dwell in my heart bearing with all the adulterous and unholy thoughts (James 4:4 and 8). Yet at the same time He yearns for me to reciprocate His love, to love Him back as much as He loves me (James 4:5).
He has not left.
He continues to yearn jealously.