Slow to Wrath Brothers in Christ - James 4:11-17

Brothers in Christ: Speaking Life and Wisdom

Bible Passage: James 4:11–17

Note: Slow to wrath doesn’t mean no wrath (see Revelation 2:6 “But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”). Matthew 5:43–44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,” This is the royal law. Righteousness is maintained by eschewing (avoiding, fleeing from) evil. see 1 Peter 3:8-12

1. Speak with Grace - Don’t Despise the Royal Law

James 4:11–12 “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?”

In this chapter on being ‘slow to wrath’ we see relationships in the church being addressed. James reflects on the royal law of love (James 2:8) . He is concerned that some brethren would not be ‘slow to speak’ and so judge their fellow members. Abandoning grace and love they resort to passing judgement and speaking evil.

Consider this parallel passage;

Leviticus 19:16–18 “You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord. 17 ‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”

The royal law leads to harmony and peace - Be slow to wrath.

2. Plan with Humility - Rely on His Direction

James 4:13 “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”;”

There is another come now in Scripture, Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” This speaks of forgiveness and cleansing. James’ brethren have a very different situation.

James is trying to get the self-absorbed brothers attention. He is challenging the selfish boasters with a reality check, you are just a vapor in this temporal world. Proverbs 27:1 “Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.” But God is in control. He is dwelling in eternity and is insulted by the arrogance of believers who refuse to acknowledge His sovereignty.

Proverbs 16:9 “A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.”

Proverbs 19:21 “There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.”

3. Prioritize Eternal Values - Don’t be an Epicurean

James 4:14 “whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

The future is a mystery. There are only a few things for certain. One of those certainties is recounted in Psalm 90:10, “The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”

Jesus called the man a fool who says in Luke 12:19, “And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” It is the voice of the Epicurean who says this life is all there is, so you might want to enjoy it by striving for pleasure.

Instead, Jesus tells us to store our treasure in heaven and serve Him with gladness

Psalm 39:5, 11; 62:9 man is at his best state but vapor, and men of low degree are altogether lighter than vapor.

4. Submit to God’s Will - Our Lips

James 4:15 “Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.””

The answer to the confident businessmen is to recognize that God has a plan. How we ‘live’ and what we should ‘do’ needs to be submitted to the Lord’s will. James is not presenting an alternative, but the very thing the Lord requires.

It ought to be the words of our lips. The motivation of our life. The things we teach our children. “If the Lord wills” Seek to understand God’s will by learning His Word and doing it.

Joshua 24:15 “And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.””

5. Pursue Active Goodness - Our Mission

James 4:16–17 “But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

Those who boast in arrogance are like those who were rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, you are calling attention to your actions instead of remaining quiet in humility. Romans 4:2 describes the faith of Abraham, Romans 4:2 “For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.” Rather to be like the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 10. He boasted much “in the Lord”. There is much to which we should give God the glory when He blesses our labors in Him.

James 4:17 describes the sin of omission. To neglect to do the known will of God is just as much a sin as an overt act of disobedience. To neglect the clear message of James, swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. Or to neglect the perfect law of liberty and royal law of love. The Great Commandment.

Matthew 25:41–45 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ 44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’”