James (Part 4)
How to be content in God
New Age teaching is full of ways to find inner peace, health, contentment, fulfilment, happiness, prosperity, security, etc – but it is devoid of the One True God Who can bring these things about in the right way!
James tells us how we can find true contentment and fulfilment in God! It is summed up in six words in James 4:7 “Submit to God ... resist the devil”. First the positive – “Submit to God”, then the negative – “resist the devil”.
If we would truly do this, we would find all the inner peace and joy the human heart could long for.
“I delight to do Your will, O my God ...”, the Psalmist said in Psalm 40:8.
“His commandments are not burdensome”, John echoes (1 John 5:3).
Submission (surrender) to the Lord and His will is the most sensible thing that anyone can do, because God knows best! He loves us and wants the best for us. He knows what is best, and has the power to bring it about!
The problem 4:1-10
Wrong desires, greed, covetousness, selfishness, wrong ambition, wrong motives, worldliness! If we want friendship with God, then we need to die to these things! Is it worth it? YES! “Godliness, with contentment, is great gain”, Paul wrote to Timothy (1 Tim. 6:6).
God longs to give us good things (Matt. 7:11; Luke 11:13, James 1:5).
God’s desire is to fellowship with us. He wants to be our God and for us to be His people (v.5; 2 Cor. 6:14 to 7:1). God’s desire is to pour out His grace into our hearts (v.6). God’s desire is to draw near to us (v.8).
But before this can happen, we need to come to Him in true repentance. We need clean hands and a pure heart (v.8; Ps. 24:3-6). When we realise our own unrighteousness, when we weep and mourn over our sins, when we humble ourselves before God in true repentance, then forgiveness, cleansing and peace will come. God will exalt us - lifting us up out of our sin to sit with Him in heavenly places (v.9-10; 2 Cor. 7:8-11).
Judging one another 4:11-12 (cf. Matthew 7:1-5)
It is the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit to convict us of sin (John 16:7-11). He does this primarily through the Word of God and through our conscience.
He may use us to show another Christian their error (James 5:19-20) but:
(a) we must be sure that we are right with God before we try to correct someone else!
(b) it must be done in the right spirit, with love, gentleness, humility, compassion and wisdom.
It is not our job to call down fire from Heaven (Luke 9:51-55).
If, and only if, we can help someone in the right spirit, then, as the Lord leads, we may do so. But remember that “man looks on the outward appearance but God looks on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7). Also, our knowledge is very partial and it is very easy to misjudge a person or situation (cf. marriage counselling – hearing only one side of the story, even if everything they say is true!)
The brevity of life 4:13-17
Life passes very quickly. Therefore: get to know God, learn His Word (memorise it, study it, live it). Find your calling and place in God's Kingdom. Love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Worship Him. Serve Him. Live every day for Him and His glory. Make every moment count for His Kingdom.
We should so live that if today was our last day on earth it would all have been worthwhile and we would have done all that God required of us.
Let us live with eternity in our hearts and minds. Like Abraham, we “look forward to a city which has foundations (a permanent one!), whose Builder and Maker is God ... having seen and greeted it from afar, and having acknowledged that we are strangers and exiles on earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city.” (Heb. 11:10, 13-16).
Always keep Heaven in your sights – it is your Home!
The danger of riches 5:1-6
It is not wrong to be wealthy. Abraham was wealthy; so were Job and Solomon. But it is how we handle those riches that is important, for we will all be judged according to how we live, and how we use the gifts and good things God has given us.
1. More is required of those to whom much is given.
2. People will be judged if they exploit others to get their wealth.
3. Do not set your heart on riches. Materialism can lead to idolatry. Rather, lay up treasures in Heaven (Matt. 6:19-34). Besides, materialism can be like chasing the elusive end of the rainbow – you can never quite reach it! You always want more, and it never really satisfies.
4. With the tremendous needs all around us in the world today, from those who are starving to death on the one hand, to the needs of the Church and Christian ministries for financial support on the other hand, how can we say we have faith and love if we do not give sacrificially to help others? Faith and works! Loving and giving! Giving and receiving!
Patience, endurance, steadfastness 5:7-12
If there is one word that people seem loathe to hear today, it is surely the word “patience” – we want everything instantly! And advertising and today’s gadgets certainly capitalize on the desire for this; we want everything at the flick of a switch or by pressing a button – “instant” this and “instant” that!
“Lord, give me patience; and give it to me quickly!”
Commitment, faithfulness, steadfastness are another three words that many people do not want to hear these days. They want to be free to do their own thing, to change their minds whenever they feel like it. But many things will get done only if people will faithfully commit themselves to them, and patiently work things through to the end.
God's call is to patience, commitment and faithfulness, and these are certainly needed in the Church today!
Repentance and healing 5:13-20
Everybody wants a miracle of instant healing – it’s so easy! God does it all; it’s so quick and costs nothing!
But often sickness comes because of sin (cf. 1 Cor. 11:27-32). James puts it very clearly:
· If you are suffering – pray.
· If you are cheerful and happy – praise the Lord!
· If you are sick – call for the elders of the Church
– confess any unforgiven sins
– let the elders anoint with oil and pray
Finally, the great and eternal value of restoring someone to the Lord is spelled out in James 5:19-20. Many people are anxious to see people saved, and that is good; restoring back-slidden Christians is just as important! This requires great wisdom, as well as grace, humility and love. Remember that “Mercy exalts over [legalistic] judgement” (James 2:13) and the aim is to restore the person back into a relationship with God. We have all sinned, and all need God’s grace and mercy, so we must extend grace and mercy to those we seek to restore. It needs humility, because we are no better than others who have also sinned. It needs Godly love and patience. Our aim is repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation (just as this is God’s aim for us!); not revenge, punishment and separation.
QUESTIONS
1. How can we find true contentment and fulfillment in God?
2. Who can “ascend the hill of the Lord”, which leads up to His Temple, and “stand in His Holy Place”? (Psalm 24:3-6)
3. What are some things we need to be careful about, if we feel we need to show another Christian their error?
4. What does it mean to “live with eternity in our hearts”?
5. In view of the brevity of life and the uncertainty of life, how should Christians live?
6. What are the dangers of riches, and how can Christians avoid or overcome these dangers?