Real Humility

Everything is growing this time of the year! Isn’t it beautiful?— or if you’re trying to fight the weeds in the garden, maybe not so much.

I want you to know that everyday of your life you are growing— you’re growing older— some of us are growing taller— some are growing heavier!

That’s all physical— but what about your soul? Are you aware that your soul is growing— it’s a living active part of you? And everything we encounter can be placed into Two categories— Things that are helpful for my soul, and everything else which hinders my soul.

I used to simplify this type of concept for my students and athletes:

EVERYTHING you do will either hinder you— or help you attain your goals in life.

Think about that— First off, do you have goals?

Secondly— you need to realize and get really skilled at making decisions that will help you attain your goals— and get better at identifying those things in life that hinder you from your goals.

James outlines several concepts that will keep us from getting closer to God— because God resists us when we display these specific character traits— AND then also James outlines several concepts that will bring us closer to God— because God receives us when we display these character traits.

It’s often said that if we feel far from God— it’s not God that moved! What are those things that you and I can pay attention to--- that will help us attain the goal of growing closer to God? And likewise, how can we identify and pay attention to those things that hinder us from growing closer to God?

In this next section of the letter of James— we will consider the idea of “intimacy” with God— getting closer with God all the time, and a very specific set of “keys” that will unlock some secrets for us in our daily walk with Him.

John 14:15 NIV

15 “If you love me, keep my commands.

Throughout the Gospel stories, Jesus emphasizes the centrality of love in the Christian life (Love God, Love people) and the connection between love for God and obedience to His commands. This hammers home the idea that genuine love for Jesus naturally results in a desire to follow His teachings and live according to His example.

Two primary points today for us to consider—

What hinders our growth toward God?

What helps our growth toward God?

What hinders us from growing closer to God?

James 4:1 NIV

1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?

James 4:1 CSB

1 What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from your passions that wage war within you?

This can mean both the fights we have within our selves— like facing temptations and our own worldliness— but also James may be speaking of the quarrels that occur between people as well.

Selfishness will hinder us from growing closer to God. (v.1)

Key words in this verse:

Fights, quarrels, wars— disagreements, conflict. This actually has a military connotation in the original Greek language— a more literal translation says isn’t it the soldiers within you waging war? So there are sides to be “on”— and there are two sides— That’s what Jay was mentioning even last week— this is what worldly wisdom look like— and this is what Godly wisdom looks like:-- James is simply asking “what is the root cause” of the fighting?

Desires, or some translations passions— He answers his own question for us. Isn’t it your own passions? Isn’t it you experiencing the battle between what our sinfulness wants, and what obedience to Christ would require>?

The battle between people starts with the battle within people. (James 4:1)

WE have a passion to please God— to do what He commands— we LOVE him, and want to obey. To do the right thing.

But somehow we all also have a selfish passion. Something that we fight for perhaps— a “right” that we think we deserve. We take this battle into every relationship we have on earth— and into our relationship with God.

James 4:2 NIV

2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.

There is a root hidden within this passage. I want you to consider this verse very closely— we desire, but we don’t have— so we kill— (and that could simply mean the definitions Jesus gives us in the Sermon on the Mount: That’s Matthew 5:21-22— He basically states that the underlying attitude of murder is the root cause— I want you to consider your common or general area of sin. Almost always, sin is committed along the line of us desiring something— something we feel we are missing. And so we fight. But look what is baked into that verse again— “We do not have, because we do not ask God.”

A prayerless life will hinder us from growing closer to God. (v.2)

Think through the process with me. A sin is often rooted in our attempt to fill a need or cover over a deficit. To fill in where we lack— but what do we do? We try to fix this need, or fill that void ourselves— which leads us away from God in the end. That very original sin, perpetrated by Eve and then Adam— was simply our enemy presenting her with what could have been perceived as a “need” or something she “lacked”. She then followed through with the action to try to fill that need.

The opposite of that response was displayed by Jesus--- when Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, it looked similar in strategy— The devil reminds Jesus of how hungry he was— Presents Jesus with a perceived need— and a possible solution— but Jesus does NOT.

Take your sin area— what is it that you really want? To be loved? To be accepted? To be fulfilled? To be safe and secure? To matter?

And what is one of the worse things we can do when we are in that spot? NOT talk to God.

The world (and it’s wisdom— see last weeks message!) will give you all sorts of ways to not only remind you that you have that need--- but also lots of ways to think that you can meet that need— More money, more power, more whatever? More control— but what should we really do with that perceived “lacking”? Do you see it? We should ask God!

What? That’s all? What could that do? Well, my experience is that God will either be the source of your need— or He might even change your need!

But even in the asking, James reminds us that we can ask wrongly! Even when we try to do the right thing— by asking God— we are still asking with the wrong motive!

James 4:3 NIV

3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

James 4:4 NIV

4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

Unfaithfulness will hinder us from growing closer to God. (v.4-5)

Accepting the worlds solution to our needs or wants is to become “friendly” with the world.

Remember there are only two sides here— there are only two wills— Either the worlds will, or God’s will. The worlds wisdom— or God’s wisdom...You do have the choice which way to align your will! But just know:

Becoming friends with the world makes you an enemy of God.

Also the opposite of this is true— becoming friends with God makes you an enemy of the World!

Jesus originated this thought in

Matthew 12:30 NIV

30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

James 4:5 NIV

5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?

James 4:5 NLT

5 Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him.

Does this verse actually hint at the fact that God “envies” something? God desires and is passionate about something? YES— It’s you! This isn’t a reference to any specific verse in the Bible— but it’s rather an overarching summary of the whole thing! God placed a spirit inside you— and he YEARNS for that spirit to Choose Him.

And to set up his next point— James quotes another proverb next:

James 4:6 NIV

6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Proverbs 3:34 NIV

34 He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.

Haughtiness will hinder us from growing closer to God. (v.6)

“arrogantly superior and disdainful. A haughty person often behaves in a proud and condescending manner, looking down on others and displaying an attitude of superiority.” God opposes this person— automatically. If you’re acting haughty or superior, you’re not, and God will prove it.

Just to summarize this section here: We’ve identified some attitudes and character traits that are toxic to our growth toward God:

Selfishness: “thinking only of yourself”

Lack of prayer: “not talking to God at all”

Unfaithfulness: “having dual loyalties to the world and to God”

Haughtiness: “thinking you’re better”

So real quick here— set up in your mind the “opposite” of these toxic attributes— That’s a great start toward identifying the keys to growing closer to God!

He resists these negative attributes, but in the second half of verse 6 James starts a transition to the second, more positive part of this teaching:

What helps us grow closer to God?

Humility will help us grow closer to God. (v.6)

God shows favor to the humble.— He receives the brokenhearted.

James 4:7 NIV

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Obedience will help us grow closer to God. (v.7)

It is an easy thing to say— but sometimes a most difficult thing to DO. James outlines the very keys to victory over our sin--- The word here “submit” in verse 7— it more literally means to “place yourself under orders”. What are God’s orders for your life? Resist the devil and DO IT.

I love the statement— Submit to God, Resist the Devil. This is another great example of the blending of Faith and Works. We submit to God in faith, and we resist the devil in our deeds.

This is the perfect recipe for growing in our faith— and growing closer to God.

Submitting to God means fully and joyfully seeking His complete will for your life.

RVG Tasker is a bible commentator that is quoted in his reflection on these verses:

“The devil seeks to draw us away from a wholehearted submission to God— He is constantly saying to Christians “why so humble, why not express yourself as fully as you can, and find power and enjoyment in that full self-expression?” R. Tasker, Commentary on James, 1957

Wow— That was written in 1957! Wonder what Tasker would think of our societies thirst for self-expression today? We are living in a culture and time where our own self- actualization is a priority— it’s a celebrated thing— it’s (dare I say) worshipped as a virtue!

But I think we are being duped---Our self-expression can be rooted in our obedience to God— our God given giftedness and passion and energy— That is a beautiful thing because it is SUBMITTED TO GOD—

or our efforts of self-realization and self-expression can be rooted in a worldly wisdom— a selfish seeking of our own comfort and advancement over everything and everyone else. (It’s MY rights!) Another clear description of the battle within!

Another wonderful image is presented in the next few verses— it is another “signature” thought in the book of James:

James 4:8 NIV

8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

I love this reference— It’s actually a call back to a powerful Psalm

Psalm 24:3 NIV

3 Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?

Psalm 24:4 NIV

4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.

James is outlining another two keys to approaching and growing closer with God:

Clean hands (deeds) and Pure hearts (faith)

But he puts it into a command: Wash your hands— purify your hearts— don’t be double minded— don’t get involved with a false god!

Repentance will help us grow closer to God. (v.8)

Some of us have a real hard time with this one. That’s ok— James knew his audience as well—

James 4:9 NIV

9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.

This is wear this gets really personal and it gets “real”.

Hold that thought, while I share with you some basics of “Sports Psychology 101”.

I can remember being at several national championship track meets while I was a coach. Almost every single year— we would be coming down to the real-life, finals type of atmosphere. All we had been working for was coming down to this moment for each of the athletes in their events. We as coaches needed to remember what’s called the “Stress/Performance” curve.

[photo of curve]

The more a person is stressed, there is an optimal level of stress to perform at our best:

But to a point, then we start to diminish— SO— we as coaches would try to evaluate each person’s mindset, and decide if they needed a “kick in the pants” or a “pat on the back”.

Sometimes we don't’ feel enough stress, we can under-perform as well. That’s rare at a championship meet, but sometimes we would have an athlete that needed to be reminded how important this moment was. Don’t goof around anymore, this is serious.

Others were freaking out— so we needed to remind them that they were loved and going to be ok no matter the results. We would sometimes tell them a joke or silly story.

This is what I felt this week in preparation for this part of the message:

Where are you at regarding your own growth toward God?

Are you taking it seriously enough?— If not this is your kick in the pants. Grieve over your sin. Mourn the fact that you’re not where you know God wants you to be!

Wash your hands— purify your heart.

James 4:10 NIV

10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Think about this summary:

Plants need about three things to really grow well:

Sunlight- Exposure to light, exposure to God, Submitting to him

Dirt- we are planted in a place— we need to be obedient to that placement, and bloom where we are. We need to thrive in the space He’s given.

Water- washes us clean, that’s repentance— wash my hands Lord, purify my heart.

[slide to describe]

And there are three key things that can really hinder that growth:

Pests- there are so many distractions— little voices calling us to be unfaithful to our first love.

Disease— selfishness is the plague of our day. We can’t grow if our self-interest is the only thing we are concerned and focused on.

Lack of nutrients or water or sunlight— Prayerless. Don’t be isolate in your pain. Confess, pray, be in relationship--

[slide to describe]

We need to spend a bit of time reflecting here— so worship team is going to come up— I’m going to pray to end our broadcast, and lead us into a song to respond here.

(PRAY) God we humble ourselves before you— Thank-you for your Word, it’s power to penetrate our hearts and teach our minds.

If you would like prayer, for any reason— we are going to have the Elders and their wives up front— come forward for that short prayer— whatever it is that God’s Spirit has spoken to you this morning— don’t let it keep you from Growing closer to God.

“Spirituality is not a formula; for it is not a test.

Spirituality is not competency; for it is about intimacy.

Spirituality is not about perfection; for it is about connection.”

Michael Yaconelli, Author and Theologian