Living Out Our Faith Submissively - James 4:16-17
Notes
Transcript
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Introduction
Introduction
We have arrived at the last two verses of chapter 4 - verses 16 and 17. These two verse wrap of this last section of chapter 4 as well as the entire chapter. If you recall, this section started with verse 11. Let’s read the entire section.
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.
As we have worked through these verses, we have learned two very important principles.
The first is found in verses 11 and 12.
As believers, we are NOT to speak evil (slander) or even judge the motives of a fellow believer.
It is completely prohibited by the Holy Spirit. There is only One who is the Lawgiver and Judge of all.
The second is the one we are still working on. However, we know that it deals with issue of self-dependency. Already, we have learned these things.
Self-dependency leaves God Out of the Picture
Self-dependency fails to Recognize Life’s Frailty
Self-dependency fails to Acknowledge God’s Will
Now, this evening we have two more important lessons to learn about self-dependency.
Look at verse 16 with me.
16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
This verse gives us the last of the self-dependency warnings. The warning is this.
Self-dependency leads to Arrogant Boasting
Self-dependency leads to Arrogant Boasting
There are two important words in verse 16 which stand out. They are the words “rejoice” and “boasting.” If you do a careful word study of those two words, you discover this.
The word “rejoice” does not have the same meaning by which we most often use it. We often use “rejoice” as a word to express happiness or joy. However, in the Greek text,
The word “rejoice” here means to “show off verbally.”
How many of you have been around someone who like “show off verbally?” We all have to some degree I would assume. Most of us do not enjoy the company of someone who continually brags about themselves and their accomplishments.
The second word is the word “boasting.” In the English, we see in the plural. In other words, there is more than one boast. This person is boasting, bragging, flaunting about their accomplishments or abilities. Again, the big issue being the failure to acknowledge God. One Bible commentator noted that
The Greek word for “boasting” mean an empty boaster. In other words, this is person who boasts about something he thinks he has, but does not in actuality possess it.
This description aptly applies to anyone who exalts self by leaving out God. To go throughout life, as a believer, never acknowledging God is very wrong. Yet, so many do.
At times, even the best of us are guilty of doing the same thing. It can be tempting and quite easy for any believer regardless of their position (pastor, deacon, teacher, singer, usher, etc) to boast about their work, what they have done, and even their abilities to do such good work. How is such boasting often accomplished? Such boasting comes in two ways. It comes by the mouth which is the more direct approach. Yet, there is also an indirect approach. We often do it by our lifestyle as well. People buy expensive homes, clothes, and car. They enjoy memberships at exclusive clubs and cultivate friendships with most popular people in town.
You see there is an urge in every one of us to boast, to be seen, and to receive man’s recognition for what we do.
Look again at our text and note the Holy Spirit’s words!
16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
Note how He emphasizes that we “rejoice” in our boasting. We seek to show off verbally how we are more successful than the next guy. But, in the end, the Holy Spirit makes it explicitly clear that “such rejoicing is EVIL.” The word “evil” means morally corrupt or bad. Why is it morally corrupt? All that we are and all that we accomplish is totally dependent upon God. Yet, in the the moment when we verbally show off to those who will see and listen our accomplishments we are taking what rightfully belongs to God and make it our own.
The verse ties right back into the verse 13. Remember that verse.
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:
Here we see a person boasting about what they will do, when they will do it, and what they will accomplish. As we already noted, they have left God completely out of the picture. In doing so, they have totally ignored the fact that each aspect of their plans is totally in God’s hands. He is the only One who knows and even allows you to do what you do, to do it when you do it, and the ability to do it. On top of all that, your success is totally dependent upon your obedience to Him. If you leave Him out and you depend upon what you think you have (even though it is not yours), you are doing what is evil.
Instead, what is the correct approach?
Instead of leaving God and depending completely our own wisdom, we should acknowledge Him and commit all our ways into the hands of God.
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: Fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
This, then, brings us to the last verse of this great chapter and this sobering principle.
Self-dependency is SIN!
Self-dependency is SIN!
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
I believe this one verse is a verse that strikes at the heart of every believer. Every person who knows the Lord, accepts Him as their personal Savior, and endeavors to read His Word knows what is right to do. In fact, I am once again reminded of the 2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
God’s Word, from Genesis to Revelation, is full of instruction about what is right.
Our biggest problem is often not ignorance, but just plain old disobedience.
We know that is right, but we don’t do it. It is sin. You can’t see any other way than that.
In the context of the preceding verses, we know that we are to acknowledge God, trust Him, and let Him do the rest. Remember we just read Proverbs 3:5-7
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: Fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
If you add Matthew 6:33, we find these words.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
This particular verse comes on the heels of Christ admonishing us about worry and anxiety. The believer who constantly worries about their next meal along with having something to wear and a roof over their head is not trusting God. Instead, we are advised to seek God first. Trust Him with all heart. In doing so, we are put aside our understanding, our solutions, and our plans. We must let Him direct our paths. We are to trust Him, acknowledge Him, pray asking Him for His presence, guidance, help, care, and strength whenever we...
Plan our days
Plan our trips
Plan our activities
Plan our desired success
Plan or do anything
It all comes down to simply walking in fellowship and communion with Him each.
As I was preparing this message, my mind immediately went to this great hymn which says...
Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best,
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.
Every day the Lord Himself is near me,
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,
He whose name is Counsellor and Pow’r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.
Help me then, in every tribulation,
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation,
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till with Christ the Lord I stand.
The essence of that song as well as this entire passage in James is all about committing our life to Him until the moment we are in His presence. And, as James 4:17 notes...
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Any refusal to do so is sin.
By the way, what is the ultimate consequence of sin?
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
What is death? It is separation.
When we fail to trust God and acknowledge Him in any area of our life, we sin. Our sin then builds a wall of separation causing our fellowship with Him to come to a screeching halt.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.