Gospel Humility - James 4:11-17

INTRO

Have you ever been over confident?

Dare I say arrogant?

Let me tell you about 23 year old Billy.

I thought I knew a little bit of everything. I was uber confident.

But I was ignorant.

For example.

I remember binge watching BBQ Pit-masters and thinking I knew everything about BBQ.

Ate at a few restaurants (Texas, NC, and MO - so that makes me an expert)

Watched a TV show

A friend of mine at work TJ was bbqing and talked about his wings not landing where he wanted.

So I proceeded to give my wisdom.

He looked at me and said, “Billy have you ever even smoked anything?!”

Nope…but that didn’t squelch my confidence.

Today James is addressing arrogance.

Have you ever been over confident?

Been overly sure of yourself and your plans.

Friends James has a word for us.

He just spent last week really exploring the strain and brokenness many of us feel within ourselves.

He brought us this idea of pride vs humility.

Look back at verse 6 of chapter 4

James 4:6 (ESV)

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

and then down at verse 10

James 4:10 (ESV)

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

So James tees up this next section which is really an observation of the arrogant life and the call to humility.

Here is our Big Idea:

Big Idea: The steadfast life is a life of gospel humility.

Gospel Humility.

Now before we even start into our passage this morning we need to understand what we are saying when it comes to humility.

We often have this idea of humility that you are a pious monk or a guy who can’t take a compliment.

But that’s not really humility.

Humility is more than a modest view of ourselves.

Gospel Humility I think is best defined by C.J. Mahaney

“Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God’s holiness and our sinfulness.” _C.J. Mahaney

I want you to have this idea in view as we wade into our passage this morning.

Let’s start with our words.

1. Gospel Humility In Our Words (v.11-12)

Now I love the English Standard Version but I am a big fan of the way the CSB words these two verses.

I think it really helps us to understand what James is saying.

So I am gonna read verse 11-12 out of the CSB.

Look with me

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 4)

11 Don’t criticize one another, brothers and sisters. Anyone who defames or judges a fellow believer defames and judges the law. If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

It was not long ago we were examining our speech in chapter 3 of James.

Now he brings up our words again.

But this time he is focused not on crude or coarse language, but on a judgmental heart.

Why is James so fixated on our words?

Luke 6:45 (ESV)

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Because Jesus says our words reveal our hearts.

We love a good rage story or video.

You know when someone really get’s what they deserve.

Working at the valet while doing my internship

A guy cuts the line heads to the front

I get mad, go jump on this guys case, “Sir everyone here is waiting to be parked.”

YOU LET HIM HAVE IT!

I love that story because it felt so cathartic.

Yeah let him have it. That guy is a jerk.

But this week as I worked on this sermon the Lord replayed the scene:

- Here is a man who looked defeated

He was late

He can’t walk

I showed no compassion, my language wasn’t marked with gentleness.

You see we have in us a capacity to bite and devour one another.

We tear down and rip people apart.

James says it’s a heart of arrogance.

Now here is part of the problem, we love the don’t judge passages.

When it is talking about us.

DON’T JUDGE ME.

But 1 Corinthians 5 tells us that actually we do judge those in the church. We hold each other accountable.

The goal how ever isn’t punitive.

It isn’t punishment.

It is always restorative.

The command in James prohibits any form of speech, whether true or false, that disparages or belittles another person.

Tragically this happens in the church…all the time.

It’s often done in the form of a prayer request.

Or a challenging word.

If it isn’t done in compassion with gentleness, then it doesn't matter how true it is…James says you are speaking evil.

Paul said if he had every gift in the church but didn’t have love he was nothing.

This brash, “I tell it how it is attitude” that is permeating our culture is flat wrong.

Here is what James says we do when we speak this way.

We say we know better than God’s Word

Anyone who defames or judges a fellow believer defames and judges the law. If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

“Yeah I know the bible says that our words should be seasoned with grace, that we should be gentle…but this guy needs to hear it like it is.”

We are all tempted to judge others harshly, but God says that this is a form of arrogance.

No matter how spiritually sensitive or insightful we think we are, we cannot judge others with the same authority as God.

When we judge others, we are essentially saying that we know better than God, which is a dangerous and arrogant thing to do.

And that’s exactly what James argues second

2. We say we know better not only than God’s word, but better than God himself

There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

I’ve heard someone in an attempt to justify speaking harshly say, “Well think of how God spoke to Job. Sometimes people need to hear it like it is.”

I’m thinking, “Bro…do you realize who you just compared yourself to?!”

Would we take God's place?

We all make mistakes.

We all sin. And because of that, we are not qualified to judge others over and above God.

We can't see into their hearts, and we don’t know their full story.

We can only see what is on the surface, and even then, we often misjudge.

God, on the other hand, knows everything.

He knows our hearts, our thoughts, and our motives.

He knows what we have done in the dark, and he knows what we are planning to do in the light.

He is the only one who can truly judge us.

That's why the Bible says, 1 Corinthians 4:5

1 Corinthians 4:5 (ESV)

Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

We should not be quick to judge others.

We should not assume that we know what is in their hearts.

Instead, we should be humble and patient.

We should wait for God to judge, and we should trust that he will do it justly.

Sin also inhibits our judgments.

Not only are we limited by our ignorance, but we are also limited by our sinfulness.

Our own sinfulness clouds our judgment.

We are all such sinners that we are easily biased and prejudiced. (no one thinks about you as much as you)

We are quick to judge others, but we are slow to judge ourselves.

That's why we need to be careful about judging others.

We need to remember that we are all sinners, and we need to be humble enough to admit that we do not know everything.

We need to wait for God to judge, and we need to trust that he will do it justly.

Instead here is my challenge for you: Speak a better word.

If you see someone mired in sin. Start by going to the one who judges rightly.

Go to the Lord and pray for them.

I think a good practice is, if I haven’t prayed for them I shouldn’t talk to them or about them.

Aim for restoration always.

James tells us that our arrogance doesn’t just come out in what we say and how we Judge but in how we plan.

so let’s see our second challenge

II. Cultivate Gospel Humility In Our Plans ( v.13-16)

James 4:13–16 (ESV)

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

This is James challenge to us to not live arrogant lives.

To not make plans void of what God would do.

How often do we do this though?

James says that such planning is presumptuous and arrogant in several ways.

First, it presumes that we will live as long as we please.

We may say, "I will go today or tomorrow," as if we were in control of our own lives.

But the truth is, we do not know how long we have on this earth.

We could die tomorrow, or we could live to be a hundred.

But one thing is for sure: we will not live forever.

Second, it presumes that we can make whatever plans we please.

We may say, "I will make a profit," as if we were in control of the economy.

But the truth is, we are not in control of the future.

We cannot predict what will happen, and we cannot guarantee that our plans will succeed.

Third, it presumes that we have the capacity to execute whatever plan we conceive.

We may say, "I will do this or that," as if we were capable of anything.

But the reality is, we are limited by our own abilities.

We are not all-powerful, and we cannot do everything we want.

So, when we make presumptuous plans, we are essentially saying that we know better than God.

We are saying that we are in control of our own lives, and that we do not need God's help.

But this is a dangerous and arrogant attitude.

It is an attitude that will lead to disappointment and failure.

THERE are many people today who consider themselves young.

If I take a group of twenty-somethings and ask them if they are young, most, if not all, would raise their hands.

There is only one problem.

You can’t measure your age by your birthday. You can only measure your age by your death date.

See, if you are thirty-five and you’re only going to live to be forty, then you’re an old man.

If you are forty-five and going to live to be ninety, then you’re still pretty young.

You can only measure how old you are by the time you have left before you die.

Now, who knows when they will die? No one.

Instead of making presumptuous plans, we should humble ourselves and trust in God.

We should remember that we are not in control, and that we need God's help in everything we do.

When we trust in God, we can be confident that he will guide us and help us to succeed.

Because our measure of success will change.

It won’t be about accomplishing my goals, but rather His kingdom purpose.

We all have something to be grateful for.

Some people may have inherited a thriving business from their earthly fathers.

But we are all heirs of God's generosity.

He has given us all the gifts and talents that we have.

If we do accomplish something notable, we can ask ourselves a few questions to instill humility:

If a woman is intelligent, did she earn it or inherit it?

If a man is an athlete, did he construct his muscle fibers?

If a woman is a great singer, did she engineer her vocal chords?

If someone is filled with energy, did they choose their metabolism?

The answer to all of these questions is the same: we did not earn these gifts and talents.

They were given to us by God.

So, when we accomplish something, we should not take all the credit for ourselves.

We should remember that we are only using the gifts that God has given us.

There is freedom in laying down arrogant planning.

I’ll never forget April of 2020.

Not March when we were all in the same confused boat.

April when the dread set in that the pandemic was gonna be a bit.

I set on a zoom call…ugh so many.

I realized I couldn’t do anything.

I couldn’t make a plan for tomorrow let alone for the rest of the year.

I was frustrated.

But then I was reminded graciously by a brother, “Is God surprised by this?”

Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)

The heart of man plans his way,

but the Lord establishes his steps.

You see if God holds the future, we are gonna be ok.

It may come with hardship and suffering, but it must work for my good.

Why? Because God said so and he doesn’t lie.

He is a man of His word.

When we submit our plans humbly to the Lord we begin to see that God may well change our ambitions.

He may interrupt our perfect planning.

But his plan is always better.

What if we laid down the American dream for kingdom-mindness.

What if we looked at our future not for how much leisure time we will one day get, or the perfect business, job or side-hustle.

What if we prayed, Your kingdom come, your will be done?

Could you imagine the explosion of gospel work that would be done in a willing heart.

Friends we have to lay down our arrogance, put on humility and look to Jesus.

Would his plans, his work be accomplished in us.

James says lay your arrogance down. Lay it down in your speech, in your plans, and finally in even your very conscience.

3. Practice Gospel Humility In Our Conscience (v.17)

James 4:17 (ESV)

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

At first this seems like a weird statement.

It seems like a throw away thought.

But James is really driving home the idea of gospel humility.

As we have already said Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God’s holiness and our sinfulness.

How often have we heard in our day and age, follow your heart?

Never have I been so attuned to this since having a kid.

With limited screen time we have to be selective on what messages our son is hearing.

He is a little sponge.

What is the problem with following your heart?

Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV)

The heart is deceitful above all things,

and desperately sick;

who can understand it?

Our hearts are fallen and prone to arrogance and selfishness.

James is pointing to the fact that if we are redeemed we need to showcase that in how we live and in what we do.

James is saying Jesus is calling us to live lives that are different.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (ESV)

You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

We often squelch the holy spirit and deny what we know we should do.

We opt out.

It makes perfect sense this follows our planning.

Despite our outward profession of faith as Christians, it appears that once we pull out our calendars, God fades into the background of our lives.

When it comes to planning and organizing, we can easily slip into a state of practical atheism.

Our focus shifts to our own self-importance, and our agendas take precedence over everything else.

Deeply consider this truth: If we truly know God, if we have truly experienced His presence and guidance, then we should be aware of the good that beckons us.

God has graciously shown us the way, revealing His will and purpose for our lives.

Therefore, when we find ourselves uttering the excuse, "My schedule is full," we must recognize it as sin, as James himself declares in verse 17.

Failing to make time and space for the good we ought to do is a transgression against the very nature of God.

But what does this sinful state look like in our daily lives?

It manifests itself in various ways.

Maybe we increasingly neglect our commitment to gather with God's people, becoming irregular on Sundays and at Cgroups.

We make excuses, claiming our lives are too hectic, that everything is spinning out of control. "Life's a bit crazy at the moment," we say.

Or maybe we have forsaken the nourishment of daily prayer and Bible study, failing to consciously enjoy the presence of God in our lives.

We reason, "I've got too many other things going on right now. Maybe when things calm down a bit..."

And deep within us, we know that we are not serving the people whom God has placed in our lives as we should.

Our spouse, our children, those around us receive only the meager scraps of our time and attention.

In all these scenarios, sin is evident in our planning.

In our denial of doing the good that God calls us to.

We have already made something else our priority, organizing our lives around our own desires rather than reflecting on God's will.

We are driven not by what matters most to Him, but by what matters most to us.

Once again, our worldly desires expose the shallowness of our faith.

By the time we attempt to fit in some token "Christian stuff," there is simply no room left.

Here is what is wild...when we proudly discuss our next grand business trip or our lavish family vacation, all that escapes our mouths is evil boasting about our arrogant schemes.

The good we should be doing is left undone, and this state of affairs is nothing short of sin.

Billy are you saying vacation is a sin? Are you saying I shouldn’t have ambitions.

No not at all.

What I am saying it that our faith is not merely confined to what we believe or the words we profess.

It is demonstrated through our actions, through our willingness to step out in obedience and fulfill the good we are called to do.

When we live our lives as though God is that Grandparent we need to call at least once a month so we can not feel so guilty something is broken in our understanding.

Rather would we strive to align our hearts and minds with God's will, seeking His guidance in all we do, so that we may live a life that honors Him and reflects His love to the world.

The reality is all of us have commited the sin of omission.

That is not doing what we should.

This is when I think of the old Hymn, “Oh how I love Jesus.”

The hymn writer writing of the name of Jesus says:

“...It tells of One whose loving heart can feel my deepest woe; Who in each sorrow bears a part that none can bear below. It bids my trembling heart rejoice; It dries each rising tear; It tells me, in a “still small voice,” To trust and never fear.”

My hope this morning is that you realize your arrogance.

Your heart is bent toward pride.

But in that, would you see the one who can produce in you a renewed heart.

The one who bids you come and die to yourself, die to your calendar and your plans, die to your snap judgments and harsh words.

Jesus took on ridicule and judgment to pay the price for our arrogant judgement.

Jesus went on time, in sync with the will of God to have nails driven through his hands and crown of thorns pierce his brow.

Jesus bleed out dying in your place friend.

O how I love Jesus, because he first loved me!

And now would we never be so arrogant to think we’ve got it on our own now but we would sing not only o how I love Jesus but O how I NEED Jesus.

I need Jesus to save me

I need him to save me from the pull to arrogance.

There was once a great oak tree that stood tall and proud in a magnificent forest.

Its branches reached towards the heavens, and its leaves danced in the gentle breeze.

The oak tree exuded strength and confidence, boasting of its grandeur to all who would listen.

But nearby, hidden in the shadows, stood a humble daisy.

Its delicate petals swayed gracefully in the same breeze that stirred the oak's leaves.

The daisy remained silent, unseen and unnoticed by most.

One day, a fierce storm swept through the forest, unleashing its fury upon the trees.

The mighty oak, so confident in its strength, stood firm against the raging winds.

But the storm's force was relentless, and the oak began to sway and creak under its weight.

Its branches cracked and fell, crashing to the ground.

Meanwhile, the humble daisy, with its small frame and unassuming presence, bent low to the ground, allowing the storm to pass over it.

Though it was battered and bruised, the daisy remained rooted in the soil, its life preserved.

In the aftermath of the storm, as the sun emerged and cast its warm light upon the forest, a realization settled upon the once-proud oak.

It had been humbled by the storm's power, and it recognized just how fragile it’s life were.

The oak saw that its strength and pride were fleeting, subject to the whims of nature.

The daisy, on the other hand, though small and seemingly insignificant, had displayed a quiet strength and resilience.

It had humbly surrendered to the storm, recognizing its limitations and finding strength in its rootedness.

True strength and steadfastness lie not in the grandeur of our words or the size of our plans, but in the depth of our humility before God.

Gospel humility invites us to recognize the dangers of arrogance and self-reliance, and to embrace a posture of surrender and dependence on the One who holds our lives in His hands.

As we cultivate gospel humility in our words, plans, and conscience, we will discover a freedom and peace that surpasses our understanding.

We will find the courage to speak words of grace and love, to surrender our plans to God's sovereign will, and to act with integrity and righteousness in all we do.

May we, stand firm in our rootedness, anchored in the grace and truth of the Gospel.

May our lives bear witness to the power of gospel humility, as we reflect the character of our Savior, who humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross.

Let us leave from this place, steadfast and unwavering, living lives marked by gospel humility.

And may the world be drawn to the beauty and power of the One who humbled Himself for our sake.

Application Questions:

1. Am I aware of the impact my words can have on those around me, and am I striving to speak with grace and love?

2. How can gospel humility transform my communication and interactions with others?

3. Do I recognize arrogance in my planning and self-reliance, how can I embrace gospel humility and surrender my plan’s to the Lord’s guidance?

4. In what subtle ways am I susceptible to arrogance, leading me to neglect doing what is right; How can I prioritize gospel humility in living out my faith with integrity, ensuring that my actions align with my faith?