“The rich people have it made.” I’ve heard that statement and similar statements by many people for many years. We live in a society that values having more of everything, but especially of material things. Read James 5:1. Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. James 5:1 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.5.1.NASB James now begins to move into all the ways in which the rich and wealthy people of the day are misusing their wealth. They have been given a great responsibility and yet they have not glorified God with their possessions. Everything we have belongs to God. If we will view our possessions with…

What is sin? Its a word that we hear often in religious groups talking about bad stuff that people do, but sin actually is more than just the wrong things we do. Read James 4:16-17. Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.4.17.NASB While sin certainly encompasses the wrong things that we do, according to this verse, it also is the things we know we should do but don’t. We can sin by our inaction. Seeing a need, a hurt, a problem, and not stepping in to help is wrong and is considered sin.…

Plan much? I know I am a huge planner and love a well thought out, well executed plan. Yet, I have to be careful I don’t get ahead of myself. Read James 4:13-15. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” James 4:15 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.4.15.NASB We do plan a bunch of things and we need to be able to have an idea of what God wants us to be doing. However, where we get into trouble is when we make plans that are our own plans and that don’t have the flexibility to follow God’s plan. God have every right…

God is judge. We are not the one who gave the law, therefore we cannot be the one determines whether someone has kept ut or not. Read James 4:11-12. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor? James 4:12 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.4.12.NASB God is the lawgiver, therefore he is the judge. We are to encourage others in the right way to go and we are to instruct others. But, since we didn’t create and define the law, we are not the ultimate one who judges. That is God and God alone who can hold…

Draw near through humility. God wants us to be in a relationship with him. He wants us to draw near to him because he will then draw near to us. Read James 4:8-10. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. James 4:8‭-‬10 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.4.8-10.NASB James starts out telling us to draw near to God because God will then draw near to us. He then…

Two steps. The Bible gives us just two steps to be able to experience power and freedom in our walk with Christ. Read James 4:7. Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.4.7.NASB Step number one, submit to God. If we are willing to tell God “yes” in every situation, we will experience His power. We must be willing to tell Him, no matter what, “yes, I will do exactly what you say.” That can be difficult when we don’t fully understand exactly what God wants us to do. Or, when we don’t see the final end result of what He’s…

Grace and humility. They go together and where you find one you see the other. See what James says about them in James 4:5-6. But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, ” God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble .” James 4:6 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.4.6.NASB God gives grace to the humble. The one who puts others first and doesn’t seek their own advantage, God gives them grace. The opposite of humility is pride, where you think more highly of yourself and your ability than you ought. True humility understands that everything about them that is good is a result of God working in their…

Are you guilty of adultry? No one ever wants to admit that, but James explains clearly that many of us are and why. Read James 4:4. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.4.4.NASB What is adultry? When a person pledges himself to another person only, their spouse, and then goes and gives his attentions and devotion to someone else. So, if we have promised ourselves to God and then are giving ourselves to the world by seeking pleasure and fulfillment from it…

Motives matter. When we pray and ask God for things, our motives for asking matter. We just read yesterday that our selfishness is the cause of the quarrels and fights among believers. Is it any surprise that James next addresses our selfish prayers to God? Read James 4:2-3. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:3 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.4.3.NASB Why doesn’t God answer prayer? When the prayer is selfish and self-centered, God doesn’t give us those requests because they would harm us more than help us. We are to be about seeking God’s Glory in our…