Introduction
In the earlier chapters, James
taught the Jerusalem Christians about putting into action their faith. He said,
“Faith without works is dead” in chapter two. To James, a true conversion of a
person into a follower/disciple of Jesus Christ, created a new heart led by the
Holy Spirit to show love to God and other people. This love brought forth
spiritual fruit, as James mentioned in chapter 3. James taught Christians 1) Not
to show favoritism, 2) Help the poor, 3) Tame the tongue, 4) Seek God’s wisdom
and understanding instead of being jealousy and pursuing selfish ambition, 5) Guard
the tongue so as not to judge or slander another, and 6) Rely upon God in plans
for the future.
The last two teaching points from
the list above are what this Bible study will consider. James taught in James
4:11-12 about slandering people and judging them. In verses thirteen through
sixteen, he spoke about planning for one’s business in the coming year and
replying upon God. James brought together everything he instructed the
Jerusalem believers into one succinct and profound statement in verse
seventeen. With this one statement, he issued a challenge for righteous living.
Slandering and Judging
In verses 11-12, James continued to
speak to Christians as he has throughout this epistle. He said in verse eleven,
“Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or
judges his brother speaks against the law and judges the law, but if you judge
the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge.” In this verse, James
spoke explicitly about slandering another Christian. The verb “speak against”
comes from the Greek word katalaleo.
It means to implicate someone in a crime, to slander a person, to speak badly
of or tell lies about a person to damage that person’s reputation[i]. We
understand James spoke to other believers because he used the word “brothers.” From
this, we realize James spoke against slandering other brothers and sisters in
the faith. He taught in chapter three Christians must tame their tongues and to
do that, they must rely upon the power and strength the Holy Spirit gives them.
James said God gives to any believer who asks the wisdom and understanding to recognize
what is right and how to stand firm in godliness. When the Holy Spirit lives in
a person’s heart and a believer relies on its strength to live, the believer’s
heart is changing to be more Christlike. By taming the tongue through God’s
power and strength, a person grows toward perfection in Christ Jesus, which is
the ultimate aim and end for every believer. In chapter four, therefore, James
advances the thought of taming the tongue to include not slandering other
Christians.
We must remember that during the
time James taught and led the church of Jerusalem, a famine occurred. The
Christians of the city were mostly poor. Aid sent into the city from the
outlying parts of Israel and the diaspora (the Israelite people dispersed
throughout the Roman Empire), went to care for poor Jews. With so little help
available for poor Christians, the likelihood of the human heart toward
bitterness was greater. Slander tends to rear its head during desperate times.
At these types of times, believers most need to rely upon God realizing He will
provide. They must claim the strength and power available to them from Him to
live righteously in and through their minds, hearts, mouths, and actions.
James’ earlier instruction in this
epistle explained being a “doer of the law” meant following Jesus Christ in
obedience to God because of love for God. Taming one’s mouth is one way to be a
“doer of the law.” Jesus taught what comes from the mouth originates in the
heart of a person (Matthew 15:11, 15-20). To tame the mouth, a change must
occur in the heart of a person. That change is effected by the Holy Spirit. The
Spirit within a believer leads that person to recognize God as almighty and
righteous and to understand His laws are good and perfect. A person who speaks
against a brother, James said, speaks against the law and judges it. The person
who speaks against another Christian does not allow the Spirit within to change
his or her heart or to guide his or her actions and words. That person’s
foolishness makes him or her not accept God’s laws and judgments are righteous
and perfect, and by association, does not recognize God is greater, most
righteous, and perfect. That believer’s heart shows by his or her words lack of
recognition of God’s greatness and his or her insignificance. James carried
this one step further when he declared in verse sixteen, “There is only one
Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy, but who are you
to judge your neighbor?” James avowed God is the only Lawgiver and Judge. He is
the only One who has power to save and destroy. Believers cannot save or
destroy; they are not God. On what basis, then, can believers judge other
people.
James said, the believer who judged
the law is not a doer of the law. Besides this, he said when the person judged
the law, he or she judged the Lawgiver – God. Can it be that we truly
understand the ramifications of our words against another person? When we
slander another person, we speak against the law and judge the law. When we judge
the law, we judge God. Are any of us so simple-minded to misunderstand what
James said here? When you slander another person, you judge God. We must be
careful now since we understand this. Our thoughts and words originate from our
hearts. If slander comes from our hearts, we are not perfect, do not follow
Christ well, do not rely on the strength of the Holy Spirit, and do not ask God
for wisdom and understanding. God can change our hearts if we allow His Holy
Spirit to do so. We must decide to give our whole selves to Him as Lord. He is
greatest, mightiest, and wisest.
Arrogance in Boasting
In verses 13-16, James spoke to the
Jerusalem Christians about boasting and arrogance over their plans and future
prosperity. A wise business man or woman makes plans for his or her business.
James did not fault them on planning. He corrected them about planning without
consulting God.
James said in verses thirteen and
fourteen, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and
such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet
you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that
appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” Hear the boastfulness of
the business person telling another person of his or her travels and the
destinations to which he or she will go. Listen to the pride of earning a
profit. Notice the person’s lack of giving the glory to God for the profit by
him or herself making the profit. Recognize the arrogance of the person in his
or her plans, destinations, duration of being abroad, and providing for his or
her family. Detect the person’s non-reliance on God in making the plans and in
living them. The person gave no glory to God for past profit, plans, and safety
and looks not to have consulted God in his or her current business plans.
James caught the listeners’
attention. He brought it to an abrupt stop with verse fourteen. James said,
“You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.” How can a person plan
for the day or week, much less the next year when he or she does not know what
will happen in his or her life. God knows what will happen and that Christian
business person did not consult Him first when planning for the year. James
said, that business person – all humans, too – are just a vapor that is hear
and then gone, but God has always been and will always be. He knows about
tomorrow just like He knew about yesterday. We Christians cannot plan for the
next year realistically without consulting God and getting His guidance.
James said in verse 15, “Instead
you out to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.’”
This shows reliance upon God for each day to live in His plan. He knows the
length of each life. Reliance upon God allows each person to live the best life
because God knows and provides everything and loves profoundly. He wants the
best for each person.
James continued in verse sixteen, “But as it
is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.” Boasting and
planning for your future without consulting the One who loves each person profoundly
and who knows each day until the end of time is turning away from God; it is
sin, and that is why James said it was evil. When people boast in their skill
and the works of our hands, they sin. We cannot provide for ourselves if the
Lord did not allow/provide it. We cannot live another day to gather more profit
had God not given us breath for another day. Boasting in what we did or plan to
do takes the glory away from God, idolizes ourselves, and is sin – evil. This boasting
comes from a prideful heart, a heart that remains in our own control and not
given over to the Holy Spirit to change in the image of Christ. Surely that is
not what Christians truly want. It was not what they set out to do. James
called the Jerusalem business people back to examine their motives and hearts
to determine if they gave their whole hearts to the Lord to re-make.
Doing What’s Right
With the final sentence of chapter
four, James compiled his teachings to the Jerusalem Christians into one
singular lesson. He said in verse seventeen, “Therefore, to one who knows the
right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” The word “knows” comes
from the Greek word oikeios. It means
belonging to a house or family, belonging to the family of God because of
having a relationship with God through Jesus Christ[ii]. This
knowing comes from being related to God through the blood of Jesus Christ and
the indwelling of His Holy Spirit. Through Jesus and the Spirit, people can comprehend
the heart of God. No believer can say he or she did not know the right thing to
do because the Holy Spirit teaches of righteousness and convicts of sin. James
said if a person recognized he or she was supposed to do something, but did not
do it, omitting or choosing not to do what he or she recognized was right made
him or her a sinner. Whoa! Intentionally not doing something right is a sin. Intentionally
choosing to do something wrong is evil and a sin., too.
Christians cannot say they did not understand
because the Holy Spirit will tell each believer what is right and wrong to do,
say, and think. Luke spoke about this in Luke 12:47 when he said, “That slave
who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his
will, will receive many lashes.” The person who chooses not to do what God says
is right, God will judge. John recorded Jesus telling the Pharisees, since they
understand what is right, when they do not do right things, they sin. John 9:41
says, “Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would have no sin, but since
you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.’” Peter took this idea further in 2 Peter
2:20-21. He said,
For if, after they have escaped defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. [NASB]
Now as we understand what James
meant in verse seventeen, how then is it a compilation of his earlier
teachings? Consider his teachings.
- · Do not show favoritism to the rich hoping to gain influence and help from them in the future. God provides for each person what he or she needs when she needs it. Consider, too, you have a rich inheritance in the kingdom of God. Love all your neighbors as your self. Show your love of God in your obedience to His laws – love each person equally, care for their needs. Do what is right. (Chapter 2)
- · Show God’s love to even the poorest among you by giving food, clothes, shelter, and daily needs. By doing this, you show your faith by your works. You fulfill the second greatest commandment. Remember faith without works is useless (2:20). Do what is right. (Chapter 2)
- · Guard your tongues; watch what you say. Blessings and curses cannot come from the same mouth. Ask for God’s wisdom and allow the Holy Spirit to help you bridle your mouth. By bridling your mouth, you bridle your whole body and show the new creation your relationship with God through Jesus Christ effected. Teachers have a greater accountability and stricter judgment from God for this since they can lead many astray with their influence and teaching. Do the right thing. (Chapter 3)
- · Ask for God’s wisdom to guide you so jealousy and selfish ambition do not lead you astray to arrogance and lying against the Truth. Instead, seek wisdom and produce the fruits from above – purity, peacefulness, gentleness, reasonableness, mercy, good fruits, and stability and steadfastness. Do the right thing. (Chapter 3)
- · Do not envy another person what he or she has. That leads to quarrels and fights. It makes a person an adulterer, someone who is hostile toward God. Remember God gives the greater grace – the better blessing(s) – salvation and eternal life. James gave six things for each believer to do to turn back to God. He said:
ü
Submit to God
ü
Resist the devil
ü
Draw near to God
ü
Cleanse your hands
ü
Purify your hearts, be miserable, mourn, and
weep
ü
Humble yourselves before God.
When a believer does these things to
come back to the Lord, James said God will draw near to the person and exalt him or her. Do
the right thing. (Chapter 4)
- · Do not slander and judge another person because by doing so you judge God. You are not greater than God, so you are not great enough to judge another person. Do the right thing. (Chapter 4)
- · Consult God when planning for your future – in business and everyday life. You do not know what tomorrow holds and cannot plan without God’s guidance, recognizing He holds the future and provides the profit you earn and everything you need. Do the right thing. (Chapter 4)
Each of the lessons
James taught to the Jerusalem Christians in this epistle dealt with the whole
person – heart, head, mouth, and body. He taught about how to speak and act as
Christians in this world, not as the natural person he or she was before profession
of faith and salvation through Jesus Christ. James taught Christians to be
“doers of the word and not hearers only.” That meant embodying the love of God
in their daily lives. Since the Christians understood what they were supposed to
do because of the indwelling Holy Spirit and because of James’ and other preachers
of the Word, they sinned if they did not do what is right and just. Christians cannot
just say they do not want to get involved. As Christians who understand the right
thing to do, they must do the right thing in the situations they encounter
in their daily lives. Be “doers” of the word, not omit-ers.
Recap
Today’s lesson from James 4:11-17
included slander, judging, planning, and arrogance. He taught speaking against
another person, in particular another believer, came from a judgmental attitude.
James said slandering meant a person acted against the law and in essence declared
the law in valid. By declaring the law invalid, the person judges the law and
no longer is a “doer of the law.” When the believer judges the law, he or she
judges the Lawgiver and Judge. James stated no one is great enough to judge the
Lawgiver and Judge –God – because God is greater than any person. God is able to
save and destroy people, so who is able to judge God or his or her neighbor.
James’ logic is sound and should shed light for people. When they choose not to
follow God’s laws, they are doing more than that. Christians who break God’s
law judge and question God, His righteousness, and His right to give laws and judge
people based on them.
Besides this, James taught that
planning for the future of our businesses and providing for our families must
include consulting with God. Christians must seek Him to determine His will - what
He knows and what His plans are. Because people are finite, they cannot know
what the next day or even the next year will bring. They have no control over
tomorrow. James said people are like vapors that are here for a short time then
vanish, but God is everlasting and knows all things. Instead of planning your
days and your businesses on your own and boasting about your plans and the
profits you will make, recognize God is in control of what happens and He is
the One who provides you with your profits. Submit your plans to Him and seek
His will, then you will have the best outcome and realize you cannot be
arrogant about your future or profits. Both of these God holds in His hands.
The final and culminating point of
James’ teaching is verse seventeen. He said if a person knew the right thing to
do and did not do it that person would be sinning. When a Christian omits to do
the right thing, he or she is just as deliberate in that non-action as intentionally
stealing, slandering, fighting, and quarreling. Christians must realize this
and give over their wills to the power of God through the Holy Spirit. God
gives the power and strength to do right and just actions and speak righteous
words.
Relevance and Conclusion
In today’s section of James, we
learned about sins from words. Sinful words come from sinful thoughts, thoughts
not focused on God. These thoughts lead to arrogance and a judgmental attitude.
Besides this, the thoughts lead to turning away from God and living as way the
world lives.
We each must stop to consider if we
have an untamed tongue that abuses other people – slanders other people. When
we do this, we malign God and judge Him. We must realize we are doing this and
have no right since we are lower than Him. People cannot control salvation or
eternal destruction. God can. When we recognize our slandering or talking bad about
a person comes from a judgmental attitude, a posture of superiority, which we
do not rightly have, we realize we are putting ourselves above God and counting
His laws as beneath us. We then make ourselves our gods. Our desires and
tongues become our idols. Surely we did not intend to downgrade God in our
lives. Surely we just misunderstood how our speaking against another person
reflected on our relationship with God.
Consider, too, our plans. Often we
drive ourselves to make sure we have enough money for our families. We plan to
do things to earn an income forgetting we do not realize what will happen
tomorrow or even in the next year. When we stop to consider this, we realize
the futility of our actions and return to God who knows all things and what
will happen tomorrow and the next day. We recognize our insignificance is like
vanishing vapor when compared to God’s infinite-ness. As we come to this
realization, we must turn back to God, consult with Him as to His plans for us,
and step out in faith on what He says to do. He has always provided for His
children. God never fails; He never forsakes us. Our understanding that makes
it easier to trust in God’s plan and walk in faith with Him.
As we consider this week’s lessons,
we must consider principally our hearts. If anyone has not given part of his or
her heart and life to God that person will stumble and sin. He or she will
battle sin in his or her own strength never finding enough power to overcome
every temptation and have joy in the journey. By allowing the Holy Spirit to
have complete control in one’s life, each person allows Him to re-mold him or her
from the inside so that his or her outward actions and words reflect Jesus
Christ more each day. Your life will show love for God and your neighbors more.
As you grow towards completion/perfection in Christ, intentional sins against
other people and sins of omission (not doing what is right) become less
frequent.
We each choose to follow Jesus each
day and allow His Spirit to change us to grow in our relationship with God. Whether
you have been a Christian for 30 years or just a day, each person has to choose
for him or herself to let God be Lord of his or her life that day.
Some people may say, “This is more
important for new believers. I have been a Christian for a while and I am fully
grown.” We are never fully grown, mature, complete Christians until we are in
God’s kingdom.
Other people may say, “I work for
and with God every day. He is already Lord of my life.” Have you spent time with
Him today? How about every day this month? Has there been a day when you woke,
dressed hurriedly, and ran to do the work of God forgetting to pray first
asking for God’s guidance that day? If you said yes to any of these, you still
have growing to do to get to maturity in Christ.
Another person may say, “My life is
pretty good. I buy everything I need. Why do I need God?” Let me tell you what
Jesus said. Matthew recorded Jesus speaking on this in Matthew 6:19-21. Jesus
said,
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; or where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. [NASB]
What we can give
ourselves on earth will not last. Just as our bodies die, so other things of
earth rust, corrode, and rot. They do not last. God provided a way for us to
have eternal life with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. Our bodies die here,
but our souls stay alive. Whether we choose Jesus Christ or not determines
where our souls will go for eternity – in heaven or hell. Hell is eternal
separation from God an eternal punishment. You get to decide for yourself if
you want God’s love and gift. Do you want a relationship with God? Accept Jesus
Christ is God’s Son. Believe He died on the cross for your sin, taking your sin
judgment upon Himself. Confess your sins to God. “If you confess with
your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from
the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9 [NASB])
We each must make a choice each day.
Will you choose God first?
[i]
Thayer and Smith, The NAS New Testament
Greek Lexicon, 1999. (https://www.google.co.za/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=traduce%20meaning).
