From the time of our birth we are taught how to survive in the world. It is natural carnal knowledge. But there is another knowledge, the knowledge of God. From God comes wisdom for life. James is written as a practical guide separating the carnal worldly nature from the spiritual being inside because they war against each other. The carnal nature instinctively takes what it needs and satisisfies what it wants but it was meant to be in subjection to God and his nature.
The Wisdom From Above
James 3:13–18
James 3:1 begins with an admonition to those that would be teachers. It is a great responsibility and there is an accountability to God. Now in James 3:13 he asks “who is wise and understanding among you?” There is a natural way described in James 3:14-16 “bitter jealousy and selfish ambition” and we sometimes feel we must not only defend ourselves but also promote ourselves. But this “is earthly, unspiritual, demonic” and where these are, there is “disorder and every evil practice”. It is clear that James has seen people striving for position as teachers, to be leaders, and today it would be striving to be Pastor or Apostle, or Bishop or Elder or Deacon or any of the titles that are given by men. But what we should strive for is in
James 3:17–18 (LEB) But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, obedient, full of mercy and good fruits, nonjudgmental, without hypocrisy, 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace among those who make peace.
Submit Yourselves to God
From Where are Conflicts and Quarrels?
James 4:1–12
This letter now moves on from teachers to a more general admonition with this question, in James 4:1 “From where are conflicts and from where are quarrels among you?” and this is no different today. The source is clear in James 4:1-3 “your pleasures that wage war”. We have natural needs for water, food, for social acceptance, to procreate, to live and we instinctively react to these needs. Our bodies have a natural will for these things and drive our behaviour to get them. But we not our body, we are a living soul that is in our body and our soul can know God. This is “the great New Testament definition of eternal life. It is eternal life to know God and to know Jesus Christ whom he has sent”.1
And when we come to know Him, we understand that life is more than our body. Our body was made to serve us, our soul, our spirit, and we were not made to serve our bodies. This is what is meant in James 4:4 “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God”. There is a war going on between James 4:4 where our flesh wants what the world has to offer, food, comfort, pleasure and James 4:5 where our spirit desires the presence, the knowledge, the wisdom of God.
So why this back and forth again in James 4:7 “resist the devil and he will flee” and James 4:8-10 “Draw near to God … purify your hearts … humble yourselves”. If there is any place the devil has sway, it is in the flesh, the world. That is where he tempted Jesus, when he was hungry after fasting forty days. And if there is any way for us in James 4:7-8 to “Draw near to God” it is to “subject yourselves to God” and here “subject yourselves” does mean to become “one that is placed under authority or control … one subject to a monarch and governed by the monarch’s law”2
You Do Not Know What Will Happen Tomorrow
James 4:13–17
People often talk of the hubris of youth, we think we will live forever on the earth, we think we are indestructible. But in
James 4:14 (LEB) you who do not know what will happen tomorrow, what your life will be like. For you are a smoky vapor that appears for a short time and then disappears.
Rather than live in the plans for our future, he says in
James 4:17 (LEB) Therefore, to the one who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
We understand that there are some things that we consider for our future, but the message here is that we should be living in the events of today. If we see someone in need, help them. If it is in our power to do good today, do it.
You Have Lived Self-indulgently on the Earth
James 5:1–6
There is a warning to the rich. This is for those that trust in the wealth of the world because in James 5:2–3 (LEB) “Your wealth has rotted, and your clothing has become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have become corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you, and it will consume your flesh like fire.” And to those that have, by their strength or wits have taken from others as it says in James 5:4 (LEB) “the wages that were held back by you from the workers who reap your fields cry out, and the cries of the reapers have come to the ears of the Lord of hosts”. You cannot oppress, abuse, or take advantage of others because the Lord is a Righteous judge. He does hear their cry.
The Prayer of Faith Will Save the Sick
James 5:13–20
As this letter closes, the final admonition is to pray for one another, to praise with one another, to confess our sins to one another, and to restore one another wherever we can.
Acts Records Activities as the Church Expands
Acts 11:19-30 The Church at Antioch
Acts 12:1-25 Peter Freed From Prison by an Angel
Acts 13:1-14:28 Barnabas and Saul are Sent
After the writing of James, the Church continues to expand as recorded in Acts.
Study Verses
- James 3:13–18 The Wisdom From Above
- James 4:1–12 From Where are Conflicts and Quarrels?
- James 5:1–6 You Have Lived Self-indulgently on the Earth
Today’s Reading
- James 3:13-18
- James 4:1-17
- James 5:1-20
References
- 1. Barclay, W. (2001). The Gospel of John (Vol. 2, p. 242). Louisville, KY: Edinburgh.
- 2. Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. (Eleventh ed.). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc.