The Book of James Guide-Lesson 08
Lesson 8: Live out your faith- Are you doing things for Christ and not for the world to see?- James 3:13- 4:17
JAMES 3: 13-4:17
Chapter3
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Chapter 4
1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
1. HEAVENLY WISDOM VS. EARTHLY WISDOM. - James 3:13-18
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
a) What is wisdom;
Ø "Wisdom is the proper use of knowledge"
Ø Wisdom is knowledge obeyed and applied.
It is understanding God’s ways, His mind; the skill to discern God’s will concerning a particular thing; that ability to make a good judgement based on the knowledge of the person of God; to conduct myself in a way that emulates what God would do were He is my position; to have skill and discretion when imparting Christian truth.
b) A Wise Person’s Behavior - James 3:13
The that is wise is encouraged to “shew out of a good conversation (lifestyle) his works with meekness of wisdom.” Good behavior is to be lived out, with the right intentions. “Meekness of wisdom” is important because “good behavior” in the public’s sight was a signature doctrine to the false belief system of the first century religious leaders that had killed the Lord Jesus. They struggled in the area of pride, which is not merely a Jewish phenomenon, but a paramount human phenomenon, and this problem does not disappear upon our first encounter with Christ. Immediately James introduces major issues of the human heart.
Ø wise (sophos) - technical term for a teacher in Rabbinic literature
Ø understanding (epistymon) - a specialized understanding or knowledge in a certain area; an expert.
c) Earthly Wisdom is: - James 3:14-16
Ø Bitter envying– is a feeling of resentfulness based upon jealousy; it sometimes implies rivalry; 'wanting to be better than someone else'; 'wanting to make people think you are better.
Erwin Lutzer says that “Envy is rebellion against God’s leading in the lives of his children. It’s saying that God has no right to bless someone else more than you.”
Ø Strife in your hearts-(division, selfish ambitions in the heart)
Ø Glory not- (not arrogant)
Ø Lie not against the truth
d) Verse 15 identifies this wisdom as:
Ø earthly - as opposed to coming from God above.
Ø natural - as opposed to wisdom from God which is supernatural.
Ø demonic - as opposed to God's wisdom.
e) The outcome of earthly wisdom:
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
f) But the wisdom that is from above is:
Ø first pure, -Without selfish motives, without hidden agendas and ulterior motives. To be pure is to be undefiled and unsullied. it’s motives are above board and open
Ø peaceful, -Peace is not just the absence of war but an inner peace of spirit. It doesn’t want to beat you up, just point out what needs to be pointed out
Ø gentle, - It is to be fair, thoughtful and tolerant towards others.
Ø reasonable, -It is to listen and obey and to be open to reason, so we can make allowances for other’s feelings, weaknesses and strengths by learning, exercising care and grace as we have been given. It is the ability to be willing to yield to the needs of others first.
Ø full of mercy – It is to be charitable and not to be stingy with compassion.
Ø and good fruits, -Produces the things of God in your life.
Ø without partiality,- Fair to all. Showing no respect of persons (James 2:1-13) treating all fairly, on the same basis.
Ø and without hypocrisy.- The Greek word from which we get our English word "hypocrite" was similar to theatre language in which someone wore a mask and played the part in a drama. True wisdom does not wear a mask (or need to) in order to give a good perception. Rather, true wisdom is real, authentic, genuine. Who you claim to be matches up with your actions.
g) The outcome of wisdom from above:
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
A peacemaker is one who, without a sacrifice of principle, gives way to others.
2. TRUE RELIGION DOES NOT BEFRIEND THE WORLD . - James 4:1-7
1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
a) The source of wars and fights - James 4:1-3
Ø From within, from desires that war in one's members.
1. Such as lust (envy), murder (hate?), coveting, which do not give what one seeks.
2. Leading to unanswered prayers, due to selfishness.
b) Friendship with the world is enmity with god- James 4:4-6
Ø Whoever wants to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
Ø Even as the Scripture warns, and not in vain,
Ø While God resists the proud, He is willing to give grace to the humble.
3. TRUE RELIGION DRAWS NEAR TO GOD.- James 4:7-17
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
a) By submitting to God's authority – James 4:7-12
Ø Submit to God,
Ø Resist the devil and he will flee.
Ø Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
Ø Cleanse your hands, sinners.
Ø Purify your heartsif you are double-minded.
Ø Mourn and weep for your sins.
Ø Humble yourself before God, and He will lift you up.
Ø Do not speak evil to anyone.
Ø Do not judge anyone.
1. - Let God be the Lawgiver and Judge.
a. He is able to save and destroy.
b) By submitting to God's will – James 4:13-17
Ø You should be careful in making plans for the future.
1. You do not know what will happen tomorrow.
2. Life is but a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
Ø Therefore you should acknowledge "If the Lord wills" in your plans and actions.
1. Otherwise you boast in arrogance, which is evil.
Ø For you to know to do good and not do it, that is sin.
Faith-Walk Study Questions:
1. How would you define Wisdom?
2. What does earthly wisdom looks like?
3. What does wisdom from above looks like?
4. How is wisdom show by your behavior?
5. Are you seeking God’s wisdom daily in your life? Are you struggle discerning what God is calling you to do in your life right now?
6. Does your life, your decision making, and your advise to others reflect the attributes of Godly wisdom?
7. As you reflect on this passage regarding wisdom, what do you need help in? How can we pray for you?
8. Where do wars and fights find their origin?
9. Why do some not receive what they ask for?
10. What does James call those who would be a friend of the world?
11. Whom does God resist? To whom does He give more grace?
12. What guidance does James give to those tempted by the world?
13. What reasons does James give for not judging one another?
14. Why should you be careful about the plans you make?
15. Is it a sin, not to do good, when you can do good?
Notes:
Reading Assignment: James 5:1-20
Faith-Walk Action Plan:
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Memory Verses:
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.- James 4:7-8