Table of Contents
.Introduction
.Tongue Management (James 3:1-12)
1)Small But Effective (3:1-6)
The Teacher (3:1-2)
How well are you at using your tongue for teaching? What lessons are others getting from your words?
Steering Examples (3:3-6)
You Can't Tame It (3:7-12)
What are you doing to ensure your tongue is tame?
How could you better use your tongue as an instrument that praises God?
How could you better use your tongue as an instrument that positively influences others?
2)Principle
The tongue reveals the condition of the heart.
It's futile to address the tongue without first addressing the heart.
.The Right Wisdom (James 3:13-4:12)
1)Wise Or Otherwise (3:13-18)
Worldly Wisdom (3:14-16)
Heavenly Wisdom (3:13, 17-18)
Evaluate yourself. Would you say you characterize more of the qualities of earthly or of heavenly wisdom?
2)Worldly Wisdom In Action (4:1-6)
Heavenly Wisdom In Action (4:7-12)
3)Principle
Christians need God's wisdom in order to live a righteous life.
4)Illustration
.Effective Living (James 4:13-5:20)
1)Independent Living (4:13-17)
What plans do you need to take back to the Master Planner?
2)The Oppressor (5:1-6)
What do your spending habits say about your view of wealth management in your life?
3)The Oppressed (5:7-12)
Patience
What are you going through that calls for patience?
Perseverance
Honesty
What is your definition of “yes”?
Prayerful
How healthy would you say your prayer life is?
What area of prayer could you use more of? Praise and thanksgiving? Petition? Intercession for your brother? Intercession for the lost? All of the above?
4)Principle
The Christian's life should be an effective life.
.Conclusion
.Introduction
.Tongue Management (James 3:1-12)
The tongue has a powerful ability to direct the course of a life. Think about people in history who have greatly influenced people by their ability to speak. I think of William Wilberforce who used his gift at oratory skills to champion the move to abolish Britain's involvement in the slave trade. His work, though taking 26 years, eventually lead to the Slave Trade Act of 1807 and then eventually to the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833.
You can probably think of others whose tongues were used mightily either to build up or tear down.
1)Small But Effective (3:1-6)
Just because something is small, don't think it is insignificant or ineffective at its job.
The Teacher (3:1-2)
Consider verse 1. The tongue of a teacher is used either to guide into truth or deceive – to guide or to misguide. And the teacher is held accountable to God for the use of his tongue. What a heavy impact the tongue has that someone who teaches should face greater judgment from God.
You might be saying, I'm safe, I'm not a teacher. But in reality, we are all teachers to someone. Our children. Our grandchildren. Those who work for us. Those who are observing the way we live our lives.
We all have multiple opportunities to teach.
How well are you at using your tongue for teaching? What lessons are others getting from your words?
Steering Examples (3:3-6)
James gives 3 great examples of something very small having the power to influence and direct something much larger:
A bit
A rudder
A spark
If you've ever ridden a horse, you may have thought it was the feel of the reigns on the side of the neck that steers the horse. I used to think that. But that is only due to the horse being very well trained. The training comes from the bit in the mouth causing the pressure in the mouth, turning of the head, and ultimately steering the animal.
I looked up bits in Wikipedia and was surprised at the many types of bits there are. But their purpose is the same – to steer the animal.
A rudder is very small in comparison to the ship it steers, but its movement determines the course of the ship (all things considered). Without a rudder, steering would be impossible.
A spark is all it takes to get a fire going that can take out an entire forest. Last week there was a fire south of Denver that caused the evacuation of over 6000 homes. A couple that I knew from back in the 1970 were not quick enough at leaving and wound up losing their lives in that fire. Fires start small, but they can have a devastating impact on anything in their wake.
And as James tells us, it's no different with the tongue. It too is very small, but it has the power to set the course of a life on fire.
How many of us have known people who have put their foot in their mouths and wound up regretting it later? How many of us have done that?
Sometimes the thoughtless things that come out of our mouths come back to haunt us. But sometimes the thoughtless things that come out of our mouths cut others.
Our words can tear others down. This is especially the case when someone looks up to you. A child. A subordinate at work. A friend. A spouse. We have the power in these situations to wield a sword in our own words.
Once the word is out, it cannot be retrieved. It's not like there's a court stenographer in our lives to whom we can say, “Scratch that from the record.”
So be careful what you say. It sets the course of a life and that of others.
You Can't Tame It (3:7-12)
You've heard the saying, “He can't control his tongue.” Well, that's really true of everyone of us. The saying generally means, he doesn't stop and think before he talks. But even if one does practice stopping and thinking, sooner or later, the tongue is going to reveal what is really going on inside of a person.
Jesus said, “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” That's why you and I are unable to tame the tongue. We have no power to tame our own hearts.
It must be an act of God in the first place for our hearts to be changed in order to make possible the change in what comes out of our mouths.
Even as Christians, who have had our hearts changed by the Holy Spirit, we have the ability to sing “Praise God from whom all blessings flow” on Sunday morning and then turn around and complain about the preacher being too long winded.
Or, as James says, cursing men made in the image of God. It's like James said in chapter 2, God isn't pleased if we keep one part of the law and then sin in another. We can't separate portions of our lives into neat little categories: ones where God is honored and others where I do my own thing.
[Optional: This all seems so theoretically correct. And it is. But how often do I find myself living out a different reality.]
And maybe you are like me, not a man of too many words. You still are not off the hook. Just because the words don't come out of your mouth does not mean that the intentions of the heart are not the same. Jesus made it clear that it is a broken commandment if I hate without murdering or speak hatefully without murdering.
Unspoken words are as good as spoken in a judicial sense. God sees it all.
And since we are on the topic of unspoken, by not saying what I should, I may be abusing the use of my tongue as well. Sometimes what is not spoken speaks louder than words.
What I mean is that being intentional at seeking opportunities to encourage, to bless, to lift up, to praise God, to share the Gospel, to pray for someone; all these constructive uses of the tongue leave less opportunity for destructive uses.
But remember, none of this comes about without seeking God through His word. By going to Him in submission and seeking his forgiveness of your sin.
Unless the heart is right with God, it cannot produce good fruit from the tongues of men.
What are you doing to ensure your tongue is tame?
How could you better use your tongue as an instrument that praises God?
How could you better use your tongue as an instrument that positively influences others?
2)Principle
The tongue reveals the condition of the heart.
It's futile to address the tongue without first addressing the heart.
.The Right Wisdom (James 3:13-4:12)
Wisdom: knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action.
In other words, it's knowledge of what is true and the ability to live accordingly.
1)Wise Or Otherwise (3:13-18)
James contrasts two wisdoms and the vast contrast between the way each wisdom guides the life of the adherent.
Both adherents believe that they are basing their lives on what is true and right and both are justly applying their belief systems to the way their life plays out. So both are good examples of living out the definition of wisdom.
Worldly Wisdom (3:14-16)
This wisdom is self-seeking, it is boastful (proud), it cares mainly about satisfying the self.
In this form of wisdom, I am the most important part of my world and the purpose of life is to be self-actualizing.
James tells us that this type of wisdom is earthly and of the devil. And certainly it is. He is the father of lies. He is the originator and author of sin – the sin of pride. And this is the natural bent of the sinful human nature and we all gravitate toward this type of wisdom.
As you read this week in your lesson, 1 Corinthians 3:19:
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”
Our sin nature has tainted everything, including the reality, the truth, of the way things really are. And so, apart from God changing the heart, there is no hope of discovering what true wisdom is.
But Christians need not, and must not, live according to the wisdom of this world. Instead, we alone are afforded the opportunity to live according to true wisdom.
Heavenly Wisdom (3:13, 17-18)
The contrast is great:
Good deeds done in humility – seeking to meet the needs of others; not self-seeking and proud
As verse 17 says, heavenly wisdom is first of all pure. It starts with a right motive, with a pure intention, and a heart that is right with God. His wisdom requires purity of heart first and foremost.
Look at all the other things that flow from that pure motive and right relationship with God:
peace loving – its not looking for a quarrel or to hurt anyone else
considerate – thinking of others above oneself
submissive – willing to be under authority, especially God's authority
mercy and good fruit – the merciful are those who withhold what a person really deserves regarding punishment – out of a realization of God's mercy
impartial and sincere – impartiality hearkens back to not showing favoritism
Verse 18 points out that this type of life has righteous results. This is the fruit of righteousness that flows from one who is under the influence of heavenly wisdom.
Evaluate yourself. Would you say you characterize more of the qualities of earthly or of heavenly wisdom?
2)Worldly Wisdom In Action (4:1-6)
As Christians, we have a battle to contend with. We still have that sin nature we were born with. And that sin nature wants to rear its ugly head.
James points out the battle between people is due to the battle within welling up and spewing out.
It's really about stuff. We want what we don't have and we think we need. And if we want it but don't have it and someone else does, then we envy them and covet what they have.
Even to the point of waring with them.
Wars are often fought over natural resources and a desire to take what other countries have.
Even as believers, we often have wants that we are not willing to bring in prayer to God for one reason or another. Often it is because we know that what we want is not within God's will for our lives yet we want it anyway.
Or, we realize our motivation for wanting it is impure and therefore we would be hypocritical to go prayer for it with an impure motive.
Or, our desire is that we selfishly consume what we want. This too is akin to asking something but not according to His will.
Any way you slice it, it is not granted us due to a lacking on our part and not God's inability to supply.
James points out that this is spiritual adultery. We are living out a worldly wisdom and idolizing our desires over God and His desires. This is idolatry and what God called adultery in the OT – forsaking our first love.
By living this way, we are allying with the world and setting God up as our enemy. How can this be for a Christian. It ought not be.
But you know what, I see this too often, even in my own life. The desire for things in place of God. Worldly wisdom creeping in where and pushing aside the things that I claim to believe and know to be true.
But by the grace of God, and because of His jealousy for His people:
6 but he gives us more grace? That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”
Were it not for the grace of God, I would be lost. Were it not for the grace of God, I would be perpetually living a wisdom that does not correspond with reality and thinking it was right.
Heavenly Wisdom In Action (4:7-12)
So what's the solution to worldly wisdom in the life of a believer? Submission!
Submission is to put yourself under someone's authority. Or to acknowledge that that authority is in fact the authority in your life.
The truth is, God is in control. He is the Authority. And for the Christian, He is our authority and we must submit to Him. To do otherwise is mutiny.
So we submit to Him, but resist the enemy. He has no authority in our lives and yet sadly, too often, his influence is seen.
God has authority in the Christians' life and yet sadly, too often, that influence is blurred and obscured by the world's influences.
So we need to submit. That is a step forward in truth – admitting the reality of God's rightful place in my life. And what a better way to start that process than by being in His word daily and submitting to the authority of Scripture in my life.
Not just reading, but actually letting God's word change who I am.
James tells us to Come near to God and he will come near to you (4:8). God has already come the whole way to you and me to save us. It was him coming to me, not the other way around.
But over time, I can drift from him. James is calling us back to him. And this is the way we do it:
Wash our hands – stop the things in your life that are displeasing to God
Purify your hearts – seek God for cleansing of sin
Grieve, mourn, wail – be truly sorrowful over sin and its effect on your relationship with God
Humble yourselves before the Lord – be vulnerable and honest with the Lord about your condition and inability to live apart from His grace
Finally, James deals with our dealings with others. He gets down to one of the big problems we as sinners have: we are great at picking out others' faults and have a difficult time seeing our own.
We can correct the worlds problems from our own couch, but don't lift a finger to address the very issue we have.
Or to put it in the words of Jesus, we are very willing to remove our brothers' speck from his eye while wielding a plank in our own.
I have enough problems of my own to deal with apart from worrying about someone else. This is not to say that we are not to keep each other accountable. But this is talking about slander. And slander is a spreading untruth about someone. Or not allowing them a rebuttal on what we are saying.
If my motives are in fact pure in this regard. I will not talk about him, I will talk with him. And do it gently lest I fall into the same sin. And perhaps I have even misjudged what is true. Either way, I better approach my brother humbly, prayerfully, and out of love.
3)Principle
Christians need God's wisdom in order to live a righteous life.
4)Illustration
When we were returning from a trip a couple weeks ago, I had the destination address of the hotel we were staying at plugged into my GPS. I knew which town were were staying in, however, I didn't know where the hotel was. The GPS told me to take exit 27B and my wife was looking at the signs which clearly indicated that exit 27A lead to the town we staying in. However, I insisted on believing the GPS. How could it be wrong. But it was. And due to my wife pointing out the error, I did one of those switcheroos in the middle of an exit and cruised back onto the highway for exit 27A. And we found the hotel.
You see, things may seem true and right and so we head in a direction in our lives. But if we are using worldly means to determine what is true and right, we are heading for trouble. Our navigation systems are flawed by our sin nature. We can be easily deceived. Only through God are we able to see the truth and live a wisdom that results in righteous living.
.Effective Living (James 4:13-5:20)
James deals with three groups of people in this last verses of chapter 4 and into chapter 5. Those who think they can live independently of God and are masters of their own destiny. Those who are entrusted with earthly wealth but are only concerned with their own affairs. And those who belong to the Lord and are awaiting His soon return.
1)Independent Living (4:13-17)
To plan for the future is a good thing. To not make plans is actually irresponsible.
But to make plans in the way James points out in this section, is pride and boasting. It is an independent attitude that doesn't acknowledge God.
Like I said, nothing wrong with a good business plan, but Christians should be both planners and dependent on God for wisdom to make the right plans.
Those James is referring to appear to make bold statements about what they will do without regard for the One who has control of tomorrow.
[Illustration: my calling into this position]
What plans do you need to take back to the Master Planner?
2)The Oppressor (5:1-6)
Chapter 5 begins with: Now listen, you rich people...
This hearkens back to chapter 2 where James differentiates those who are being persecuted and the primary agents of that persecution – the rich.
Here he clarifies more of the types of trial they were responsible for:
They were hoarding. Arrogantly believing that their security was in their wealth.
They were withholding pay. They had all they needed be were unethical in treatment of those who had done work for them.
Their wealth was spent primarily on themselves rather than providing for others' needs as well.
And then in verse 6, they condemned and murdered the innocent. Either they used their influence and money to win an unjust case against and innocent or their withholding what the poor needed lead to the death of the malnourished. Either way, James (and the Lord) hold them responsible.
So what is their lot for all this. They are going to be wailing and in misery because of their sin.
There is a day of justice coming when the wicked will be paid back for their wickedness.
When the wealth of this life will be gone. It will rot. It will be eaten up. It will no longer serve a purpose for the one who is dead and gone.
How easy it is to point fingers at others and think that you and I are not that way.
But how easy it is in our country, in our day and age, to think that our resources are ours to spend as we please. When in fact we are entrusted with what we have. And even the poorest of us have a lot in comparison to the rest of this world.
How will we escape being judged for what we neglected to do with the talents entrusted us in this life?
We may escape, as one escaping through the fire, but what will there be to show for this life if our view is that all we have is ours? Not much to show for it, I'm afraid.
What do your spending habits say about your view of wealth management in your life?
3)The Oppressed (5:7-12)
James finishes speaking to the group he addressed the letter to in the first place. Those who were scattered abroad: the Diaspora.
And he brings them back to the situation they are living in. One of oppression in difficulty.
Patience
He calls them to be patient. And that patients is not necessarily going to be rewarded in this life. In other words, it may be a perpetual condition. But they are to remain patient awaiting the Lord's coming. This is a fact – he will return.
But, like the farmer, they are to wait.
If the farmer becomes anxious about his crops and decides to go out and harvest early, he is foolish. He will yield nothing, even if his fear is that something will take his crops or weather conditions will ruin them, he still waits.
The fairy tail about the goose that laid the golden egg and the greedy guy who cut it open to get at the source of all the eggs. He not only didn't find any eggs, he killed the very means of obtaining the golden eggs.
Patience is necessary in trials and oppression.
Patience plus grumbling is not true patience, in case you were wondering (verse 9). It's easy to get irritated with others when you are undergoing difficult times. But grumbling never solved anything.
When you are patient, you are in good company. Think of the prophets of the OT. They prophesied things that never came true in their lifetimes. Yet they continued bringing the message. And even those that did see them come to pass, often those they talked with were completely unreceptive.
And many of the prophets lost their lives. It was a job wrought with occupational hazards.
What are you going through that calls for patience?
Perseverance
Job is a great model of perseverance. His “friends” accused him falsely. His wife called him to curse God and die.
He was afflicted. He lost it all. He was one that was zealous for God. It seemed like his suffering was unjust. Yet he continued in his commitment to God.
Honesty
What is your definition of “yes”?
Prayerful
The final call is to be a man of prayer.
He asks some questions and each condition is followed by a call to prayer:
trouble – pray
happy – praise
sick – let the elders know; ask for prayer; be vulnerable
people are healed and sins are forgiven when people pray; when they call upon God in faith
This is not to say that all will be healed. Sometimes God has a reason for a persistent ailment. And sometimes we are not healed this side of eternity. God doesn't tell us why. But we are to trust Him anyway and continue bringing our requests to him.
The end of verse 16 is great: The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
A righteous life is not a trouble-free life. But it is an effective and powerful life when it comes to prayer.
God answers the prayer of the righteous. Take Elijah for example. He was just like us, James says.
He was oppressed, but he knew the true God and more importantly, God knew Him. And when he talked with the Lord, the Lord heard him and used his prayers to accomplish his will.
Finally, you and I are to remain active as we await our Lord's coming. We are to be vigilant over our own spiritual lives and love our brothers so much that we desire them to remain true to the faith.
That's why verses 19 and 20 deal with our interactions with others. We are to know the truth and gently bring back our brother who is straying from the truth.
In our day and age it is easy to say, well you believe what you believe and I'll believe what I believe. But when someone claims to know the Lord and yet denies essentials of the faith, it is time to address that heresy. Out of love for God, his word, and the sake of the brother.
The same is true for the lost. We don't want to whip someone with the Bible, we want to share with them the only hope of salvation God has wrought – the Gospel message is a message of hope in a backdrop of hopelessness.
Apart from Christ, there is no hope.
All of these things we are called to as we wait require persistent prayer. For what power do we have without it. None!
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