PRIDE VS HUMILITY

[47]

LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES - James

Read James 4

     "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.    James 4:6b-8a NKJV

* * *

     James continues to address the conflicts among Christians and the temptation to live in a materialistic worldly manner. He says, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (4:4)

     The source of the infighting according to James, was covetousness and arrogance. “Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”(4:2b-3)

     In regard to arrogance he says, “Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. ( 4:13-14)

* * *

     Lord, this passage speaks to my heart. We spend so much mental energy just worrying about what tomorrow will bring. Help us to keep our eyes on You and not forget to ask for the provision of our needs - and for wisdom to use your gifts rightly.

* * *

     ...Instead you ought to say,"If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.   James 4:15-17 NKJV