Day by Day - James 4:13-17

Using as a base for devotions, Day by Day by Charles Swindoll.

In james 4:13-17 (CEB) we read

¹³ Pay attention, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such-and-such a town. We will stay there a year, buying and selling, and making a profit.” ¹⁴ You don’t really know about tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for only a short while before it vanishes. ¹⁵ Here’s what you ought to say: “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ But now you boast and brag, and all such boasting is evil. ¹⁷ It is a sin when someone knows the right thing to do and doesn’t do it.

I normally read from the RSV or the ESV but I sometimes switch to the CEB - common English Bible. I find it helpful to read familiar words in a different way. Anyways, my thoughts on these verses?

my first thought is Oh! So when I say I am going to do something, if I say it without the caveat that I will do so if the Lord allows it, I am boasting? huh... never would have thought that.

God doesn't like us boasting.
God likes us to acknowledge that all that we have or are or do is all because of him.

Seems to me then that it is a good idea to remember that. To remember that my transitory life is all that God allows it to be. My goodness though.. it is so easy to forget that isn't it? So easy to make plans and forget that God is actively and intimately involved in our lives.

Kinda puts a different spin doesn't it.

For instance.. I didn't sleep particularly good last night. But God allowed that. Ergo...should I complain about it? Not really, since God knows ALL about my life. Everything. He always has my best interests at heart.

Even if I don't understand what is good about not having a lot of sleep, perhaps God is trying to tell me something about my life that I need to change and not sleeping well might just be the wake up call or perhaps the nudge I need to get myself going in a different direction?

Point to ponder eh?

Now.. what does Chuck have to say about this passage?

okay, I had to read over this devotional a few times to get what he was trying to say. He used a negative approach to make a positive suggestion and that always throws my brain for a loop. He basically suggested that we do five things which were (from a Christian perspective less than stellar)....and then asked...how much time are we wasting doing these types of things already? And after I let that sink in, it was like okay, good point. :)

Today's Sermon - Seeing Things Differently

I heard not a word of it...other then "amen" when Jim finished his message this morning.

For the last few services Jim has preached on James, spending lots of time in the first few verses, today he moved on to James 1:9-11

⁹Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, ¹⁰and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. ¹¹For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

The larger context of course is vv 2-18

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

9Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

16Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

But let this quiet moment be my worship time....Jim's off to find some food to eat. I had no idea what to do for a meal, nothing appealed to me, nothing appealed to him....so he's figuring out his thing and I'm munching...not good for a Sunday..but that's life tonight. This quietness won't last long, we do live in a small town....

Anyways, .... ⁹Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, ¹⁰and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. ¹¹For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

These three verses follow a section where the wise go to God in faith for anything that they lack. And here we find the lowly boast in their exultation and the rich in their humiliation and knowing that none of it matters because it will all fade away anyways. The days come and go, the seasons pass, and as they go...so do the rich.

I have to admit....how does one preach on this for 20 minutes?? :) Makes me wish I could have heard it instead of minding a preschooler Jim often pulls things out and all together that makes me go AH>>> cool. oh...change, growth.... and such like. :)

I suppose though it is a comfort to know that it doesn't really matter about the rich...they do all eventually pass away. Things have a time and season. And I have everything that I need if I come to God in faith. He will supply all that I need. The rest is just chaff to blow away in the wind. I grew up on a farm....I know what the chaff dust looks like. It can make a body cough, and looks horrid on the wind, but once the wind dies down....it's just gone. Good to remember that. Good to remember that reliance on God is indeed where it is at for the believer.

Jim doesn't have it posted on line yet, when he does you'll find it at his page here. He's been a bit lax lately on this....but in time it will be there. :)

Be Patient

Today's Advent Devotion is inspired by Upper Room Daily Reflections, December 10. Though I did not get much out of their reading, I thought the scripture was appropriate today. :)

In James 5:7-11 we read:

7Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

When we celebrate Christmas, we celebrate the fact that God sent his son to earth. This son who became our hope, our joy, our example. Christ died for our sin, he suffered on the crucifixion tree, he rose up for the dead! ALIVE, our Jesus, the Christ is alive! He went up to heaven where he sits. He is promised to return to us.

This passage reminds me that Christ will return. I should be patient about waiting for him. Just as I patiently wait for my garden to grow in the summer. Just as I patiently wait for my mice babies to get big enough to sell. Just as I patiently wait for my boy child to mature just a bit more. This patience I need as I await the Lord's return. This patience that remains the same regardless of what is going on around me. It is a constant thing, it is steadfast, it doesn't complain that it is taking too long, it just waits. That's the patience that I need, that is the patience that I must cultivate.

So let me then be patient in this thing also! :)

Stop fighting, get what you truly desire.

I went to bed last night considering this passage. Felt weird reading my bible just before bed, but the boy was in bed, I had slept in, in the morning so that was what was available to me. Must say though, it was nicer waking up with James' words in my head rather some other stuff. Makes me think I aught to do this more often. :)

Anyways, these words sat with me all night:

1What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"? 6But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Consider it: it is our passions that cause problems between us. Our sinful desires. Whether it be selfishness, pride, envy, covetousness, or whatever. We want, we don't have, so we do stuff we aught not in order to try to get what we want.

Hmm... therein lies what I've been hearing on messages lately about Psychology and religion (from Sovereign Grace Ministries) Why they don't mix. Psychology blames the wrong things, whereas the bible points to the heart of the matter. Psychology would blame our past --- how we have unresolved conflicts, bad upbringing etc. The bible here states it plainly, you want something, you don't have whatever it is, so you fight to get it thereby causing problems with other folks about it.

So what does God say we aught to do about it? If we want something, what should be do?
- stop wanting our own stuff so much
- submit to God
- draw near to God
- resist the devil
- humble yourself before God
- "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you."

We seriously need to consider this: submit, draw near, humble yourself, cleanse yourself, and purify your hearts. This is how you will get what you truly desire.

So just what then does that mean for folks who've been scarred by their upbringing, or other life experiences?
Turn to God. Realize that yes, you had some bad life experiences, but GOD is bigger than that. God can heal those hurts, God can fill that void in your life, God kept you alive through it all so you don't have to be trapped by the devil in the pain/sorrow/hatred of it. God can handle it all, and through his working, make you into a better person who brings glory to his name. God is just so much bigger than all of our "stuff". He really is.

Praise be to his name, and for the abundance of his word given us.

James

The book of James has been one of my favourite books to study for along time. Not entirely sure why, but I suspect it began in College when on my teachers taught us how to study the bible primarily using the book of James.

I just LOVED the class. Liked the prof and how she taught the class too. But loved what I learned from James. I continue to learn much from the book. Anyways, my bible reading plan has us starting this book today. When I saw that I just smiled, it was like seeing an old friend again. :)

In James 1 I found these verses that struck my heart today:

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

This is how I feel ever so often. Like I lack real wisdom. I find myself needing to turn to God and say, hey...what do I do with this?

My problem lies with "let him ask with faith". I do believe in God. I believe that he loves me, he died for me, that he created me with a purpose. I still always have this hesitation inside of me...this sin that I battle and battle and battle. This week I decided that I am TIRED of having that battle inside of me. I just want to know deep in my guts that God loves me and that's enough. I don't have to "do" anything. I am tired of always wondering in the back of my head if I'm somehow just fooling myself. That thinking of ... but what if what I believe isn't really so. I believe that God sent his son to die for me and that I've accepted Christ into my heart.

But see I always have this lingering..... But what if I don't believe this enough? What if I don't confess this with all of my being?

It's STUPID! God's word says, if one has faith the size of a mustard seed it is sufficient. Trust me, on many days...that's the size of my faith.

I am so sick and tired of this lingering sin in my life.
This lingering doubt. This constant feeling of instability that rests in me.

So I finally got this brain-storm and said you know what girl? You can ask God to deal with this. you can. And then I read James this morning...the whole lack of doubt thing and I have to admit. I feel a bit stymied.

I ask God to remove doubt and just let me trust him and live for him etc. (not wording that right but I think you get the gist) but part of me continues to have some doubt. What do I do with that?

Anyways,.... I know my confession in God is true. A core in my being knows this.
Please pray with me that I can just rest in God. Knowing that he knows me, loves me and holds me close regardless. Thanks.

The Tongue

Regardless of how many times I read this passage in James 3 I feel convicted.

1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

You see... I grew up learning that certain words were just words. My dad used them, I used them, family used them. Barnyard language..nothing bad....just words to me. Not swearing, not using God's name in vain..THAT's just wrong.

Then I worked for a year and a bit with a lady (I did one-on-one care for special needs lady) who swore like a sailor... no kidding she did. It was for her, an effective deterrent to keeping people far away from her when she was irritated. I learned that language can indeed be an effective deterrent and a defense (not a good thing to learn).

I have to nasty habit of easily being able to pick up words and incorporate them into my language without intending to.

For the most part I can control my thoughts and stop my tongue...but add pain or injury or insult to a situation and I have to be really careful.

I am also quick to speak wrongly when I am angry.
I am slow to speak clearly when I am caught off guard.
I am so much aware that MY TONGUE, can be a huge stumbling block for myself.

I am working hard at changing it, but like many things, I want it NOW! And I get frustrated when what I want doesn't happen as quickly as I would like. I have a mimic-ing toddler to encourage me most strongly in this so that helps.

I must say though.. when I read these words:

but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison

--- I fear for my abilities to be able to control this tongue of mine. The trouble it can get me into...my... with my tongue I can sing praises to God, and then turn around and speak wrongly of his people.

With my tongue I can speak flowery language and then speak not so flowery language.

As James says "these things ought not to be so"

So I stand convicted.
Ready again to repent and turn and try again harder... learning each day that only way I can tame my tongue is to plead.. God help me! (and meaning that in a good way). :)

And that's all I can say today... I stand once again, convicted.