Lesson 7J, Living the Life, James 4:11- 17 Risky Speech

The Destruction of Evil Talk 4:11- 12

The Lexham English Bible Chapter 4

“11

James uses the term “evil speaking” and we would whole-heartedly call this nothing more than slander. Speaking this way is not permissible because there are even laws to prevent it from happening. Apparently brothers can say some nasty things against each other. Or, as brothers we have repeated confidential conversations, though even true, when it was not permissible for us to repeat the matter. It is a good thing to not utter everything that is on your mind. By doing so as Christians, we slander the law and judges of the law. One of the purposes is of course to make the body of Christ a safe place for a person to be. We should not have to endure verbal abuse as a believer from believers, nor should we have to worry about verbal bullying from our near church family. But James says “Stop it!”

If we make ourselves the “judge and jury” as we go about burying an individual in accusations and personal observations, we have no idea what kind of damage we are doing. Maybe yes, we do know what we are doing and that is precisely the thing we were trying to do. Stop it! Censorship is the act of not allowing someone’s opinion or statements to be used in public. Certain books and movies were censored at one time or another to prevent them from spewing their vulgar or trashy comments, writings, pictures, or way of life when it has been proved they have offended the masses. But Christians soon find out that the ones we have been trying to censor may turn the tables on us and make us the object of the same kind of evil talk.

Who Should Say Something?

Granted that there are certain evils that need to be exposed to keep our families protected from, but are you the right person to do the job? Are you the best qualified? What are your qualifications for the office of judge, censor, and jury? If it truly is an evil thing, perhaps it is fitting to be handled by authorities so that others are not harmed. If it is a matter for the church, then let the proper channels and leaders take control and see the thing to resolution. Brethren shouting matches and evil discourse are never a good thing and can be devastating for a congregation. Does it happen? Yes. Did it have to? Probably not. Justice comes from the light of truth being shed on slanderous matters. The whole church may not need to be contaminated with the discussion. Let the matter be controlled with a person who has a controlled tongue, gravity of the behavior being discussed, purity of motives, and the love that marks a person of Holy Spirit led stature. James says in verse 11 to make sure you are not the judge of the matter, or you will not be a doer.

Verse 12 says there is only one lawgiver and judge and we know who that is. “What would Jesus do” in this situation. We do know that He would know the truth of the matter and deal with it in an appropriate manner. Jesus can save the day/person and He can also destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor. The next time you feel the urge to let others how you really feel about ”that guy,” just think how you would feel if he was saying the same things against you. The tables can easily be turned and the one you have been so vehemently against, you suddenly have become like them. We tend to turn into the people we have campaigned against. Again, who are you? It is good to ask yourself that because if you do not, even the demons will give you the quiz:

Acts 19:13–16 “But some itinerant Jewish exorcists also attempted to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches!” (Now seven sons of a certain Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.) But the evil spirit answered and said to them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I am acquainted with, but who are you?” And the man who had the evil spirit leaped on them, subdued all of them, and prevailed against them, so that they ran away from that house naked and wounded.”

This verse does not fit every situation but it does go to show that even good intentions can used against you. When a matter goes to court, “everything can and will be used against you in a court of law.” Yes, your words can be destructive even when all you wanted was your way.

Arrogance and the future 4:13- 17

English Standard Version Chapter 4

“13 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”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist(vapor)that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin

It is interesting that the brothers are being talked to in the previous verses but here at verse 13, it seems James is talking to business people. These are merchants who are going to buy, sell, and trade for a profit. Is the author speaking from what he has heard them talking about or rather, heard them boast? Amongst business people, boasting can be a part of their natural operation. Many business people are extremely confident and talkative about their successes. Sometimes talk hides what is going on underneath. James says this careless boasting is just that: careless. I’m sure the confidence and being brusque is the prominent thing of the businessman in the conversation. These people are self-confident and deliberate and absolutely certain this is a win-win situation. But verse 14 shows us that the confidence is waning. The picture James paints is that of a fleeting situation.

The “mist” or “vapor” of verse 14 is said to bring remembrance of the smoky vapor that surrounded a morning fog, or the atmosphere surrounding the throne of God. Personally, I believe that the vapor/mist that appears for a little while and vanishes away is more related to ozone production. I worked for four years at a television and radio transmitter site on top of a Signal Mountain, Tennessee. There we were regularly struck by lightning because of the the very tall towers. When a direct hit would occur, we would seek cover along a concrete block wall because of the spurious electrical waves that would fly through the air. If it was a real good strike, a white streak would jump into the air in front of me and it would crack real loud. After the cracking sound, there would be an actual purple haze visible in the air for mere seconds. It was there I could see the vapor that appears for a little while while and then vanishes away. Boom. It hit me. That is what James is talking about. That purple is ozone. It is an extremely temporary condition. It can disappear in mere seconds and is gone.

That is what happens to the boast of uncertain plans. Or you could call it the boast of the most confident expectations. Poof! You can see it plainly in your vision but it has the capacity to disappear quickly. The two questions here are the important ones for us to answer: “Do you know what tomorrow will bring and what is your life?” That is not morbid but very necessary for the nature of this life. The best laid plans can be waylaid by the delivery truck that does not see you crossing the street and you get ushered into God’s presence. Yet you were so confident that you were going to make some financial profit in your business. But now all of that went up into smoke.

When boasting about tomorrow, make sure the Lord Jesus is in the middle of your plans. For instance, you could say, I believe God is with me and my plans are to make a profit, but if Jesus has other plans, we shall see what happens. Arrogant boasting is evil because it takes the plan out of God’s hands. “Good speaking”, not “arrogance” about the future is the answer for God’s people. It’s the right thing to do. If we don’t run things by God first, then our plans structure is going to be weakened by our shortsightedness and is sin. Now you know. Do it right till the stars fall so that you can keep standing!