<\/p>\n
The Book of James<\/strong>, Chapter 4<\/span>: Read<\/a> &\/or listen<\/a> from the Bible.<\/p>\n By studying this book we have learned practical ways on how to cultivate the necessary behavior. James talks about how to face trials with joy<\/strong>, to control<\/strong> of our tongue, about divine wisdom<\/strong> that our God give us liberally & without reproach when we ask in faith. He reminds us that faith<\/strong> without works is dead, & that our lives should reflect what we believe<\/strong>. James emphasizes that true faith is demonstrated through our actions but also our words.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Outline for Chapter 4<\/p>\n 1\/ Friendship With the World<\/span> \u2013\u00a0\u00a0 James 4:1-10<\/strong> 2\/ Judging a Brother<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u2013\u00a0\u00a0 James 4:11-12<\/strong> 3\/ Warning Against Boasting<\/span> \u2013\u00a0\u00a0 James 4:13-17<\/strong> 1\/ Friendship With the World<\/span> \u2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 James 4:1-10<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n 1 Where do wars and fights among you come from?<\/strong> Do they not come from your lusts<\/span> that war in your body? 2 You lust and do not have, so you kill<\/span>. You desire<\/strong> to have and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask, and do not receive<\/strong>, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your passions.<\/span><\/p>\n 4 You adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship with the world is enmity with God?<\/span> Whoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5 Do you think that the Scripture says in vain, \u201cHe yearns jealously for the spirit that lives in us\u201d? 6 But He gives more grace. For this reason it says:<\/p>\n \u201cGod resists the proud,<\/strong> 7 Therefore submit yourselves to God<\/span>. Resist the devil<\/strong>, 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<\/strong>. 9 Grieve and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to dejection. 10 Humble yourselves<\/strong> in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n James identifies our selfish desires as the source to all kinds of conflicts. This attitude is worldly & carnal; it is not Christian. These are passions that represented the old human nature.\u00a0 -It’s unlikely that James means literally kill\/murder but as the apostle John has also declared ‘whoever hates his brother is a murderer’ 1 John 3:15<\/a>. Peter H. Davids Commentary, p. 159, notes that murder “in a metaphorical sense” is connected ‘to the sins of the tongue & jealousy in many ancient texts’.<\/p>\n A believer must be renovated through faith in Christ, & be indwelt by the Holy Spirit. James is describing a worldly church, believers that continue to be carnal, loving & copying the world, becoming spiritual adulterers (infidelity to God), but being friends of the world make us enemies of God. The only way to be renewed is recognizing our sin & humble before God, He gives grace to the humble but resists the proud.<\/p>\n Therefore we submit to God first in order to be able to resist the devil. When sometimes we feel the Lord is far away & we don’t feel Him close to us, it’s because\u00a0 we haven’t expend enough time with Him in prayer or we have sinned.\u00a0 If we have sinned then first let us humble before the Lord, let us genuinely repent of our sins. He knows if we are sincere. And if we draw near to God He will draw near to us. When we humble before Him He will lift us up. 1 Peter 5:6-7<\/a> also says “6 Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. 7 Cast all your care upon Him, because He cares for you.<\/strong>”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2\/ Judging a Brother\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u2013\u00a0\u00a0 James 4:11-12<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n 11 Do not speak<\/strong> evil<\/span> (G2635<\/a>= slander) of one another, brethren<\/strong>. He who speaks evil (G2635) of a brother and judges<\/strong> (G2919<\/a>) his brother, speaks evil of the law<\/span> and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer<\/strong> of the law but a judge. 12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Greek word translated as ‘evil’ is G2632<\/a> also translate ‘slander’, speak against. Slander according to the dictionary means: A false and malicious<\/strong> statement or report about someone. We should never speak evil of others but we need to be careful when talking about others, if we are not sure, or don’t have all information about a matter is better not to say anything.<\/p>\n Here James is again talking of the Royal Law (James 2:8), ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ & the new commandment Jesus gave us, ‘Love one another as I<\/strong> had loved you’, all believers are under the same Law of Christ. So those believer speaking evil<\/strong> of the brethren were in violation of this Royal Law. It is equivalent to placing yourself above the law, which also is not a humble behavior.<\/p>\n But them why Jesus said ” Judge<\/strong> not<\/strong> according to the appearance<\/span>, but judge<\/strong> ( G2919<\/a>) righteous<\/span> judgment.” John 7:24.<\/a> ?\u00a0 We are supposed to be discerning, but our judgments should be based on God\u2019s revealed truth<\/strong>. We are not to judge in our own standards. Besides evil is not from God, He hates evil (Psalm 97:10<\/a>). Also our motives are very very important. There is a kind of judging that seeks to put down, harm or condemn others, while exhortation and admonition (right judgment) seek to correct and restore them. Also it’s very important to discern what others teach you about the Word of God ( James<\/strong> 5:19:20<\/a>, Rom.16:17-18<\/a>, Rev. 2:2-3<\/a>, etc).<\/p>\n The only lawgiver is God, He alone has the power to judge, save & destroy (i.e to preserve or take away life).<\/p>\n
\na) Our desires for pleasure promote strife
\nb) Friendship with the world is enmity with God
\nc) God resist the proud but gives grace to the humble
\nd) Submit yourself to God. Resist the devil<\/p>\n
\na) Do not speak evil of the brethren.<\/p>\n
\na) Boasting is evil – Plan the future with God’s will in mind
\nb) To him who knows to do good & doesn’t do it, to him it is sin.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nbut gives grace to the humble.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n