Tested Foundations

So far it seems the main area of attention has been the pool deck and the parking garage, both of which have, for a long time, displayed to pretty concerning signs of problems.

Sagging, water intrusion, breaking concrete, cracks, and other similar evidences of issues.

It seems like the design and construction of the foundation of the condo is the source of the problem.

Though it has shown signs for many years, and some, very basic fixes have been attempted, the real issue was never solved.

So when conditions we right, things went desperately wrong.

This is a really good analogy for understanding what James is seeking to communicate in 1:19-27

James 1:19–27 CSB

19 My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 20 for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. 21 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was. 25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless and he deceives himself. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Foundations Under Pressure

It may seem like James is changing directions in the passage, but we would be mistaken if believed that.

When the storms of like hit us, how does our foundation hold up?

Jesus is only mentioned 2 times in the book of James, but His influence is all over this letter.

James is often described as an application of Jesus’s Sermon on the mount (the greatest sermon in history). I mentioned last week the shared language with the beatitudes.

This week James seems to be inspired by the words of Jesus in Matt 7:

Matthew 7:24–27 CSB

24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash.”

The only difference between the wise man and the foolish was what they did with the Words of Jesus.

The wise man listened AND acted, the foolish man listen and DID NOT act.

Though both houses looked the same and seemed to be strong, when they were tested by a storm, or multiple storms, they strength of the foundation was clearly seen.

James doesn’t mention foundations in his letter, but the word of Jesus are imprinted in James’s mind when he wrote verse 22:

James 1:22 CSB

22 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Just like in Surfside, James is pointing out some very serious signs of a dangerously unstable foundation.

Maybe your faith seems solid, but what will happen if a storm comes?

We must be alert to the warning signs that James points out.

Signs of an Instability

1) A CORRUPTED Heart (19-21)

The storms of life can leave our hearts bitter and anger.

Can lead us to say things and speak in ways that hurt and scar.

Our mouths reveal the condition of our hearts.

When we speak in anger or in ways that hurt, we are revealing the broken condition of our hearts.

James' focus on the tongue will come back in Chapter 3 and is one of the clearest windows into our hearts.

Matthew 15:18 CSB

18 But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a person.

But he doesn’t stop with our months, our attitudes and actions speak to the condition of our hearts.

“Rid yourselves of moral filth and evil.”

Using similar language that other bible writers use, James demands that we “take off” actions and attitudes that are not in tune with the Word of God.

In a sense, James is asking “if the Word of God is implanted in you and lives in your, how can you continue to speak, act, and think in evil, filthy ways without conviction and unease?

How do you react when you face trials in life?

Do you get angry and speak in ways that hurt others or dishonor the Lord?

Do you act out in sinful, filthy ways, even if no one sees what you are doing?

Do you harbour evil, bitter, or filthy thoughts that affect how you think of and treat other people?

What does this reveal about the foundations of your faith?

No one is perfect, but how is the goodness of God transforming you?

2) A SUPERFICIAL Faith (22-25)

Superficiality means shallow and empty.

James is calling these Christians, and us, to dig deeper into what it means to follow Jesus and to obey His words.

He uses the analogy of someone who goes to look in a mirror to examine themselves, yet the moment they leave the mirror they immediately forget what they saw.

Obviously if you saw something on your face or the mirror allowed you to see something your needed to take care of, if you forget the moment you walked away then what you did was ineffective and pointless.

The mirror is the Word of God here. How often are you confronted with who you are in mirror of God’s Word.

Maybe in a sermon, in a bible study, a personal devotion, or even a song or prayer.

There is a movement of emotion, a conviction in your heart, a challenge that you are confronted with, or a revelation of something that you hadn’t known or had forgotten.

Yet that moment or word, as powerful as it may have been, slips away the moment you turn away and come back to the surface.

One of the most frustrating and heartbreaking aspects of ministry is hit here in James’s words.

It is so encouraging to hear people talk about how the Word has challenged them, encouraged them, stretched them, grounded then, convicted them, inspired them, or helped them in some profound way.

But the struggle comes when those same people with those powerful testimonies speak or begin to act in ways that are in opposition to the very thing they said they were challenged by in the Word.

Superficial faith is a faith so shallow that it doesn’t hold up when it is tested.

Real faith is faith that perseveres and transforms.

James 1:25 CSB

25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does.

3) A SELF-CENTERED Religiosity (26-27)

These last verse are kind of bridge verses. They are clearly connected to the thought process of 19-25, but they are the introduction to a deeper discussion of how our faith influences how we treat others.

James’s concern here is whether or not our faith moves us toward others.

True faith (what James calls “religion”) doesn’t use there words in selfish, hurtful ways.

True faith doesn’t place “self” at the center, but give himself over to the needs of others.

James specifically mentions orphans and widows.

In James’s day, as well as the prophets of Old, these were the most vulnerable and needy in society. That hasn’t changed entirely in our culture.

Though we do not need to move away from those 2 groups of people and lighten the intentional attention they are given, it isn’t just those 2 groups that James wants us to care for.

Generally speaking, James says to LOVE others and to serve OTHERS more than you serve yourself.

Paul agrees:

Philippians 2:3–5 CSB

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others. 5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,

Romans 15:1 CSB

1 Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves.

“The person whose religious experience is genuine will put spiritual truth into practice, and his life will be marked by love for others and holiness before God.”

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 12: Hebrews through Revelation (III. The Practice of the Word (1:19–27))

True faith is seen in compassionate care for others.

It is not self-centered religious duty that puts us at the center.

Closing

This last section of James 1 really is a test of true faith.

It's a practical guide for all of us to be introspective and to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

True faith will change the way we speak, true faith will change the way we interact with others, true faith will show in how we take the words of Jesus and interact with them in our lives, and true faith will lead us to be compassionate for those in need both of the gospel and of practical/physical needs.

There is a two-fold risk in this sermon and this text.

It could prompt some who shouldn’t be doubting their salvation to doubt.

Or it could prompt some who should be examining their salvation to wrongly assume this message isn’t for you.

James I believe leans into this question.

He doesn’t shy away from it and nor should we.

Do you live what you say you believe?

No one is perfect, but does this faith you say you possess influence your life in tangible ways?

If it doesn’t why not?

If it does how?

Build your house on the rock, not by believing the right thing, but by living what you say you believe.

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