Daily Writing

Sunday, 25 August 2019

…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. James 4:14

James now builds upon what he had just said. The readers (whoever they may be) were presumptuous and said, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit.” The words were presumptuous and boastful because they made a claim upon a matter as if it had already been settled, but which they had no right to the claim in the first place. As James tells them, “whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.”

Our next breath, much less what will happen later in the day or on the next day, is not guaranteed. To assume that we have control over time is to put ourselves in the place of God, who alone knows the future. What He is fully aware of is completely unknown to us. This is a concept that Solomon spoke of centuries before –

“Do not boast about tomorrow,
For you do not know what a day may bring forth.” Proverbs 27:1

A day may bring an earthquake. It may bring forth a heart attack. It may bring forth a car crash or a snake bite. We have no idea what lies ahead of us, and so to lay claim to “tomorrow,” when we are still unsure about “today,” is the height of arrogance. James then asks his reader to consider this –

“For what is your life?”

The question is a broad one that could be answered in a million ways, but he has already set the parameters for the expected answer. He is speaking of time, and so the answer to the question should likewise be dealing with time, particularly the present. One could ask, “What is your life at this very moment in time?”

Again, he is not asking about the condition or quality of life at this moment of time, but rather of its relation to the future. And so the question could then be further refined as, “Is the beating of your heart now (signifying life which exists) any determining factor of it still being beating in a day, or in an hour, or in one minute?”

Again, Solomon reflected on this same type of thought in the book of Ecclesiastes –

“For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?” Ecclesiastes 6:12

Man doesn’t know what the state of his existence will be from moment to moment, and he certainly can’t tell what will happen after him, when his existence ends. And that could be at any moment. A shadow passes as the sun moves, and the sun constantly moves. Further, a shadow can also move as a body moves in relation to the sun. And some bodies move very quickly. Therefore, a shadow can come and go in a heartbeat. Because of this, James says something akin to what Solomon said with the words, “It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

The verbs are present participles. Young’s translates them, “for it is a vapour that is appearing for a little, and then is vanishing.” There is no set timeframe for the event. It happens and then it ends as it is happening. One can think of Solomon’s words which appear right at the opening of the book of Ecclesiastes –

havel havelim ha’kol havel – “Vapor of vapors the all is vapor.” One can walk outside on a cold morning and see his breath. It is a vapor which appears, and within a short moment, the vapor disappears. This is what Solomon says everything is, and this is what James says our life (which is our personal “everything”) is. It is appearing and it is vanishing.

Solomon’s admonition for this condition is found in Ecclesiastes 12. Jesus gives a thought concerning the matter in Luke 12:13-21. Take time to read those passages today.

Life application: James says our life is like a mist. It comes and it is gone before our eyes. Job says –

“Man who is born of woman
Is of few days and full of trouble.
² He comes forth like a flower and fades away;
He flees like a shadow and does not continue.” Job 14:1, 2

The Bible speaks of our life as fragile and temporary many, many times. Because of this, it implores us to seek God while we can. More often than not, those who face death will try to find religion quickly. The problem is that we may not find the truth in the religion we seek. In such desperation our minds become over-taxed with the stress of the moment and we may grab onto a faith which is misdirected.

However, God has given us a wonderful plan of redemption, and it is available to all people. To call on God in the wrong way is to fail to call on God at all, so we need to pursue His offering now, while our heads and thoughts are clear. Because your life is so very temporary, make the best of your time in the present by seeking after God and calling on the Lord Jesus for your salvation. As Paul states as clearly as possible –

“In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” 2 Corinthians 6:2

A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” Amen.

Saturday, 24 August 2019

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”;  James 4:13

James is beginning a fourth thought in this one chapter. He started out by speaking about pride and how it affects our relationship with God in verses 1-6. He then went to the idea of submitting to God through humility in verses 7-10. This was given as a cure for the pride of the first section. After that, he wrote two verses concerning judging others. And now, he will write about arrogant boasting concerning our future when our future is wholly unknown to us.

To open this thought, he begins with, “Come now.” It is a phrase given to grab the attention of the reader. Today, when we want to capture someone’s attention, we might say, “Check this out,” or “Get a load of this.” This is the same type of thought here. James is calling the mind to attention in order to make his new point.

He then speaks of anyone to whom the interjection might apply by saying, “you who say.” Whoever the coming statement applies to at any time is who is being spoken of here. It is his way of saying, “Does this apply to you?” If it does, then that person needs to consider James’ words. And the thought that may apply to any given person is, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, and make a profit.”

This sounds like a rather innocuous thing to say. It is certainly something that anyone might say at any time about any matter –

“Next year, we will take a trip to Israel.”
“I retire in three more years, and then I will start a new career.”
“I will be attending my daughter’s graduation in June.”

James is asking us to reflect on this type of thought so that he can correct our boastful attitude. He will begin to explain what he means in the next verse.

As a side note, the word translated as “buy and sell” is emporeuomai. It is used only here and 1 Peter 2:3. It is the root of our modern word “emporium,” and it especially means “to trade.”

If you have not read James before, what part of the statement do you think he is calling attention to? Is it the time reference? Is it the idea of traveling? Or, is it one (or all) of the three desired actions of 1) spending a year at the city, 2) buying and selling, or 3) making a profit?

Life application: Until the full idea of what James is referring to is revealed, let us simply remember that business and making money is part of our lives. From the very fall of man, the toil of labor to sustain ourselves has been something intended for man to do –

“Cursed is the ground for your sake;
In toil you shall eat of it
All the days of your life.
¹⁸ Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you,
And you shall eat the herb of the field.
¹⁹ In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread
Till you return to the ground,
For out of it you were taken;
For dust you are,
And to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:17-19

Therefore, to sit around idly accepting handouts, when there is gainful work to be had, is actually a violation of our intended purpose. There are times when work can’t be found or when man is physically limited, but this is the exception and not the norm. Almost everyone can be productive and there is always something to accomplish if one wants to put his foot forward and accept responsibility.

As the Bible says, it is the sluggard who complains that there is a lion in the streets (meaning the slothful man will find ANY reason to stay inside and watch TV rather than getting out and working). If you are not producing according to your abilities (other than such reasons as a poor economy, ill-health, etc.), then you are bringing discredit upon yourself. Have respect for yourself – there is no lion in the street.

Heavenly Father, please give each of us the ability, the desire, and the opportunities to be productive. May we not whittle away our years doing nothing. Instead, may our works be such that they bring You great glory. And as we are blessed to be productive, remind us to turn and cheerfully give a portion back to You – in gratitude for what You have done for us. Amen.

Friday, 23 August 2019

There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another? James 4:12

The word “one” is in the emphatic position in the Greek. It states, “One is the Lawgiver Who is able to save and destroy.” The words remind the reader of Jesus’ words of Matthew 10:28 –

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

At that time, Jesus didn’t get into a great theological discussion about the nature of the judgment which would result in such an action. He simply stated that God is to be feared and that He has the power to take action according to His judgment.

However, it is obvious here that James is referring to Christ Jesus who has been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Paul says in Romans 2:16 that it is God who “will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ.” He is the same Lord who gave forth the covenant at Sinai, and who then – through His incarnation – fulfilled that law and established the New Covenant in His blood.

In the capacity as Lawgiver, it is He alone “who is able to save and to destroy.” As this is so, then James now makes evident the contrast to what he wrote in the previous verse. There he spoke of the one who judges the law. In doing so, that person “is not a doer of the law but a judge.” However, since “One is the Lawgiver,” then such a person has wrongfully stepped into a supposed position of authority. Because of this, James asks, “Who are you to judge another?” As Albert Barnes says of this –

“There is nothing more decidedly condemned in the Scriptures than the habit of pronouncing a judgment on the motives and conduct of others. There is nothing in which we are more liable to err, or to indulge in wrong feelings; and there is nothing which God claims more for himself as his peculiar prerogative.”

He is correct. We are not in the position to pronounce our self-determined judgments upon another. We do not set the standard. When we do, we usurp the right of the Lord who alone possesses that authority.

Having said that, He has expressed the standard in His word. This is one purpose of Scripture. And, therefore, we are given the authority to make right judgments which are in accord with that word. This is painfully evident throughout the epistles as well. Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 show this. James makes this evident in the final two verses of his epistle. John tells us to make right judgments in 2 John 1:10. These are just a few examples which call believers to judge according to the word which has been given. The Lawgiver has given His law; His people are to conduct their judgments in accord with that law.

Life application: It is Jesus who is able to save and destroy. This is because He authored the law and then fulfilled the law. Therefore He is both qualified to judge infractions of the law and also to pardon infractions committed. Why? It is because He, after fulfilling the law – completely and perfectly – received the punishment of the law on our behalf.

The cross, leading to His death, was just punishment for any infraction of the law. When we trust in Jesus Christ, we accept both His fulfillment of the law and the pardon offered through His substitutionary death (a precept allowed under the law). In other words, the punishment we deserve was also fulfilled by Him.

America’s founding fathers understood the concept of both pardon and single trial for punishment of an offense, and laid them out in the Constitution –

“The President … shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States…”

“No person shall be… subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb…”

We all have sinned; we all deserve death for our sins. Jesus fulfilled the law by not sinning and then was crucified under the law. However, death could not hold Him because death results from sin (of which He had none). Now, when we trust Him, we are free from the law because He received the trial and judgment in Himself on our behalf. We can now stand pardoned through His shed blood. What a bargain!

It is hard to imagine, Lord Jesus, that You were willing to live the life we cannot live. You then gave Yourself as a sacrifice of atonement for our failings. How can we not accept Your pardon and receive Your mercy! You are our Lord and we will follow You all of our days. Glory to You, O Lord Jesus! Amen.

Thursday, 22 August 2019

Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. James 4:11

In James 2, he spoke of showing partiality, dishonoring others through a judgmental attitude, fulfilling the royal law, and etc. This same type of thought is seen again here. There is a standard which is given in the law (whatever law applies). However, by our judgments of others in regards to that law, we become judges of the law. In this case, there is the law of God. This will be made explicit in the next verse.

Within the Bible, there have been various laws given by God. He gave a law to Adam. He gave a law to Noah. He gave a law through Moses, and etc. In Christ, a New Covenant is established. It is what comes through Christ which James is referring to. As there is a law, there is a Giver of that law. One precept in particular, that is understood within the law, is to love one another. This is what is on James’ mind. Jesus summed up the Law of Moses by saying –

“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-39

Within the New Covenant, love continues to be a predominant theme. To ensure that this precept is held fast, and to ensure that we do not step over the boundaries of authority of the law, he now says, “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren.”

To speak evil of one another is not a means of demonstrating love. As he is addressing the brethren, this is a problem which is found within the body of believers, and it is something James determines to correct. It is a precept also found in Paul’s writings (Ephesians 4:31, for example), and by the hand of Peter as well (see 1 Peter 2:1). There should not be evil-speaking about one another because, as James says, “He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law.”

James has given the royal law in James 2:8, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” It is a precept which extends beyond the Law of Moses, and it is one which carries through to all times. But by speaking evil of a brother, one is not loving that person. Rather, he both speaks evil of him to his harm, and he speaks evil of the law. This is because the law has said to love the neighbor. By not doing so, that person is speaking evil of the law itself. Therefore, he “judges the law.” He is sitting as an arbiter of the very law that the Lawgiver has given. That is a most unhappy position to be in!

To sum up the thought, and to finish his words, he then says, “But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.” The Lord has given the law. We are under the law. But if we judge (a verb) the law, then we are not one who is doing the law. Rather, we have become a judge (a noun). As the Lord gave the law, and we are not doing the law, then we stand under the law’s judgment. At some point, we will face the Lord who gave the law, and we will be held accountable for having failed to do the law. In the Christian context, this does not mean a loss of salvation, but a judgment of reward and loss. And there can be no reward for actions which are outside of the law which has been given.

Life application: Context is important when reading verses like this one from James, and also the one in Matthew 7:1, 2 –

“Judge not, that you be not judged. ² For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Quite often we may hear or see this verse quoted by people who are attempting to defend the inappropriate lifestyle they live – in other words, “Who are you to judge me, didn’t Jesus tell you not to do that?” However, just a few verses down in that same passage we are told to make judgments and right moral decisions. Inappropriate judgment comes in the form of continuously pointing the finger at others and finding fault when there is no sound basis for it. It is also found in failing to be loving in our attitude and actions towards others. Allowing someone to continue in sin is not loving.

The law is written (whatever law that may be). When someone breaks the law, we know what the violation is and can make a sound decision concerning the offense. But when we sit as a judge of the law – speaking against one another without the weight of the law – then we sit in judgment of the law. For the New Covenant, it is the Lord who gave the law. Therefore, we have no right to sit in judgment on it. We can only apply it to ourselves and to others when a violation of it occurs.

Be careful not to quote such verses out of context because by doing so, we actually violate the very verses we are quoting. To accuse someone who is properly handling the law of mishandling it, it is the same as sitting as a judge over that person’s correct application of it. Always check the context of a verse or you might wind up using it incorrectly.

Lord Jesus, help us to rightly divide Your word, taking everything in its proper context. It is certain that when we misapply what You have given us, we ourselves then violate the very precepts we say that we are upholding. So Lord, give us wisdom when we live by and quote Your precious word. Amen.

Wednesday, 21 August 2019

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:10

The thought here is found throughout Scripture. When one is prideful before the Lord (Genesis 3, for example), there is a fall. However, the cure for that comes from the words of Scripture from that point on. After Adam fell, he did humble himself. It is not explicitly stated as such, but it does say, “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living” (Genesis 3:20). The name Havah, or Eve, means “life.”

The Lord told Adam that on the day that he ate of the fruit, he would die. He did. The spiritual connection to God, which is true life, died. But in the curse upon Adam and his wife, there was also a promise of restoration. Adam humbled himself through faith and believed, naming his wife “Life” as a sign of his belief. In this, the very next verse says, “And Jehovah Elohim made Adam and his wife coats of skin, and clothed them” (Darby).

The Lord accepted Adam’s act of faith and covered him. The picture is that of the Lord covering Adam and his wife with a substitutionary atonement. An innocent life died in order for its skin to be used. It is a picture of the innocent Christ covering His people in His own sinlessness.

From this point on, the idea of humbling oneself before the Lord is seen again and again. Jesus gave a beautiful picture of the difference between pride and humility in Luke 18 –

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ ¹³ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:10-14

Arrogance and self-righteousness is an abomination to the Lord. But humility before Him is something that He notes as commendable. As James says, “and He will lift you up.” In a state of humility, one will mourn over sin, have awed fear of God who can and will judge that sin, and will have a repentant attitude concerning his state. The Lord will look upon one in this condition and restore him, clothe him in His righteousness, and cover over the sin.

Peter follows in the same line of thought as well –

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5

Life application: When we are confident in ourselves, we demonstrate an arrogance which cannot be overcome by heaven itself. The gap already exists between God and us because of our sin. Therefore, to boast in anything we have done, or think we can do, makes no sense. If we could bridge the gap, there would have been no need for the law, for the prophets, and especially for Jesus. But God who is rich in mercy is willing to reach down to us through Jesus and lift us up – if we will only allow Him.

Stop trusting in your own goodness and look to the cross. The cross is what we deserve, but Jesus took it instead. What could you add to that? Humble yourselves and God Himself will lift you up.

Lord God, because of Jesus, You have brought us together again. Instead of hell, You offer heaven. Instead of Your back, You turn to us Your face. Where we deserve a cross, You sent Jesus to take our place – and He willingly bore that burden. How can we trust in our own righteousness when it doesn’t exist? Instead, let us come and worship You, through Christ our Lord. In Him is found our righteousness. Hallelujah and Amen.