365 Reflections

A quick read of James and you would being rich is one of the worst things you could be.  But that would be a misreading.  It's not riches that are the problem.  It is the people we become when we have them. Notice James 5: James 5:1–6 (ESV) Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. 4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you. The rich people James speaks of have failed...

James 4:17 (ESV) So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. The sins you commit are obviously wrong. The sins you omit are just as wrong according to the scriptures. It may seem harsh to us, but according to scripture, the sin of NOT doing the RIGHT thing is just as wrong as doing the wrong thing.  How often we are quick to confess what we did wrong while failing to confess what we neglected?  The Lord takes these sins just as seriously, as in Matthew 25 - all three parables picture judgment coming on those who failed to do something before the time of judgment. But why don't we take sins of omission seriously?  It is because we think about them so infrequently. James 4:17 is found after James' command to those who plan for a future apart from the guidance of the Lord.  That those who plan tomorrow to make money and trade in business need to consider the brevity of their lives.  Then, after that, he ta...

Christians often need a WAKE-UP CALL. James is about to give one. James 4:4 (ESV) You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. To truly understand what James means in chapter four, you have to understand the Greek idea of friendship.  One commentator said, "Hellenistic friendship “involved ‘sharing all things’ in a unity both spiritual and physical.” What were they sharing? Covetousness and out of control desires that led them to do despicable things to each other. The "brothers" of James' audience were certainly a dysfunctional group.  It gives me hope for the church of the 21st Century.  They were killing each other (and some commentators do not take that as a metaphor from the text).  Wow. Even with all their faults and even in their horrible spiritual condition, James doesn't lead them to condemnation.  Of...

It has been said of many exuberant Evangelical Christians: "I can't hear what you're saying because your actions are speaking much louder." Faith apart from works is a major theme for James 2. James opens chapter three with a personal plea: "Don't go trying to be teachers. Most of you shouldn't be.  Because our tongues are the hardest parts of our bodies to control." Evidently James is addressing a certain condition of the church.  This "I want to be up front and important" theme of aspiring teachers who really couldn't toe the line in daily life.  We see their attitude addressed in verse 14: James 3:14 (ESV) But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. We still see this idol of importance in the church today.  People want to look significant.  They want to be in front of a crowd dispensing wisdom, they seek their value in guiding others through words of eloquenc...

James 2:1 (ESV)  My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. James deals with the sins we tend to be okay with in American Christianity.  Its probably why his book resonates so well with us in this generation. Partiality.  What is the big deal?  James says it's sin and he's absolutely correct. Who gets our attention?  Who is the person we hope comes to the party?  Who's approval and appreciation are we searching for? James says, " show no partiality" .  NONE. That is hard.  We all have a few people we prefer.  We all love to rub shoulders with the important members of society.  Once I sat next to an NFL coach on an airplane ride from Tulsa to Chicago.  It made my week!  Why? If we are holding our faith in the LORD of GLORY, then no one else is that important!  We have Jesus, who can compare? Why does it matter that we aren't partial?  Because partialit...

James 1:11 (ESV) For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. This is an often neglected verse from the first chapter of James. I think it is because most Americans hope it is not true.  For we are the rich ones.  We Americans are the ones who have "pursuits" and "dreams" that require or center on the accumulation of money.   Yet, the rich man will fade away in the midst of such things. Jerry Buss died this past week.  A billionaire who owned the Lakers is gone.  He has faded away.   Tonight I watched Schindler's List.  At the end of the movie, Oskar Schindler is leaving the factory where he saved 1100 Jews from the holocaust.  He looks at his car and says, "Why did I keep this car? This car was 10 more people."  Then he looks at his pin and says, "This pin was 2 more people."  He starts to se...

Most Christians of vast denominations agree, we should walk in the spirit. Most agree we should keep in step with the Spirit. Most believe we are or can be filled with the Spirit. But how many of us believe we should pray in the Holy Spirit? Jude did: Jude 20, 21 "But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.  Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life." I must always remind myself.  I am where I am today because of the infilling of the Holy Spirit.  I'm surprised at how many times I neglect this tremendous gift that yields powerful results. Praying in the Holy Spirit or tongues is a gift given for personal benefit.  The other gifts are given for other people.  This one is for you.  If you neglect it, you're the only one who suffers.  Paul said "He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself" 1 Cor. 14:4   This gift is for you...