Written by: Loretta Andrews - Shine

James 3 v 1-5
My brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all make many mistakes. If people never said anything wrong, they would be perfect and able to control their entire selves, too. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can control their whole bodies. Also a ship is very big, and it is pushed by strong winds. But a very small rudder controls that big ship, making it go wherever the pilot wants. It is the same with the tongue. It is a small part of the body, but it brags about great things.

Notes
1 Corinthians 12 v 1- 11 tells us that God gives to each of us different giftings. One of those listed is the ability to speak with wisdom (teaching). The passage in James warns us that teachers will be judged more strictly than others. Many of us find it easy to think we can teach others a thing or two without really realising the huge responsibility that comes with such a position. 

All people are only human and all humans make mistakes, even doctors, politicians, royalty and teachers! The difference being, there are much bigger consequences to the Minister of Defence making a wrong decision, to you getting into trouble at school! In effect teachers, whatever they may be teaching are conditioning and directing the minds, and to some extent actions, of their pupils. With relation to the teachings of God, we can see how things like Cults have developed and caused no end of harm to many from people teaching distorted and extreme teachings. Though it seems an impressive and prestigious position, the responsibility that comes with being a teacher is very serious. James warns the reader not to take it lightly. Often when we see people in high profile positions that we look up to, we don’t see all the hard work and pressure that goes on behind the scenes. One word taken out of context, however small, could have drastic consequences. 

There is a lesson in this for us all – to understand and respect that teachers have a harder job than we might realise and to make sure we get our stories straight and truthful not distorting the facts. 

- back to James -

James 3 v 6-12
A big forest fire can be started with only a little flame. And the tongue is like a fire. It is a whole world of evil among the parts of our bodies. The tongue spreads its evil through the whole body. The tongue is set on fire by hell, and it starts a fire that influences all of life. People can tame every kind of wild animal, bird, reptile, and fish, and they have tamed them, but no one can tame the tongue. It is wild and evil and full of deadly poison. We use our tongues to praise our Lord and Father, but then we curse people, whom God made like himself. Praises and curses come from the same mouth! My brothers and sisters, this should not happen. Do good and bad water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree make olives, or can a grapevine make figs? No! And a well full of salty water cannot give good water.

Notes
James 3 v 6-12 explains the immense power of words. You’ve heard “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me” – well quite frankly that is rubbish. Negative words spoken into and over your life can have a damaging and lasting effect.

I don’t know if you’ve ever lost your temper and said things you’ve regretted later, most of us have done at some point. It is very difficult to control what we say, it is much easier to be negative than positive. Proverbs 10 v 19 says ‘If you talk a lot, you are sure to sin; if you are wise, you will keep quiet.’ Words can get us in and out of a lot of trouble, sometimes we don’t realise the influence they can have.

The second half of the passage warns against living a life of double standards. We can not say one thing and then act in the opposite way – that is what is called a hypocrite. It is no good praising God on a Sunday then doing all sorts that you know does not please God from Monday to Saturday. Not only is this blatantly dissing God, it is also a bad witness to those around us. The best way you can show Jesus to your friends and family is to make sure you practise what you preach! Ephesians 4 v 29 says 'When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need – words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you.’ If we can get into the habit of building others up, not tearing them down, to say positive rather than the negative, we will have more control over ourselves and our lives than we realise.

- back to James -

James 3 v 13-15
Are there those among you who are truly wise and understanding? Then they should show it by living right and doing good things with a gentleness that comes from wisdom. But if you are selfish and have bitter jealousy in your hearts, do not brag. Your bragging is a lie that hides the truth. That kind of “wisdom” does not come from God but from the world. It is not spiritual; it is from the devil.

Notes
The passage clearly shows us firstly, that there is a difference between ‘Godly’ wisdom and ‘Worldly’ wisdom and secondly how to tell the difference between the two. There are certain characteristics that help us to identify ‘Godly’ wisdom. If we can get our heads around this then you can imagine how handy it is for living your daily life amidst the everyday choices and decisions we have to face, big or small. 

I don’t know whether you know anyone who offers to do something for you but it later becomes clear they had a hidden motive. Yes, they were a genuine help, but they also were manipulating circumstances for their own needs. The passage addresses this when it says we should demonstrate true wisdom and understanding by ‘living right and doing good things with a gentleness that comes from wisdom.’ It kind of defeats the object of doing something good for someone if we then go round boasting to everyone else about the great kindness we have done. Like the passage says; ‘Your bragging is a lie that hides the truth.’ Now this kind of behaviour in the world can often be viewed as ‘wise’. Today we are encouraged to take care of number one, and to step on anybody who gets in the way. Of course God’s way, as it so often is, is opposite to this. Jesus encourages us to put others before ourselves “If someone wants to sue you in court and take your shirt, let him have your coat as well.” (Matthew 5 V. 40). He even tells us to love our enemies: “But I say to you, love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you.” (Matthew 5 V. 44).

There is a big difference between selfish ambition and having healthy goals for our lives.

- back to James -

James 3 v 16-18
Where jealousy and selfishness are, there will be confusion and every kind of evil. But the wisdom that comes from God is first of all pure, then peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help those who are troubled and to do good for others. It is always fair and honest. People who work for peace in a peaceful way plant a good crop of right-living.

Notes
We have been looking at how James shows us that there are two kinds of wisdom; Godly wisdom and the natural wisdom of the world. James tells us that there are 7 hallmarks of wisdom that is NOT from God: JEALOUSY, SELFISHNESS, CONFUSION, EVERY KIND OF EVIL, WORLDLY, UNSPIRITUAL, DEMONIC (From the devil). 

The passage also shows that ‘Godly’ wisdom has 8 attributes that are opposite. Wisdom from God on the other hand, is fair and honest without partiality and it’s results are beneficial in the long run. His wisdom is good eternally. ‘Worldly’ wisdom is not spiritual it seeks quick fix answers for pleasure NOW not measuring the consequences. ‘Godly’ wisdom is the opposite it is pure. Wisdom from the world can destroy you and this is the work of the devil. But we do not have to fear anything because God’s wisdom does the opposite, it is ready to help and seeks to build up and bring wholeness! The chart below will help you to see clearly how the 2 wisdom’s are in opposition to each other.

The great thing about God’s wisdom is that it is readily available to us. All we have to do is ask for it: “If any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys giving to all people, so he will give you wisdom.” (James 1 V. 5). For more great words on wisdom and it’s amazing rewards read Proverbs chapter 2 V. 1-13 you can find it in the Old Testament (the first part of the Bible).

List taken from ‘Wisdom, don’t live life without it’ by Larry Lea. 

- back to James -

James 4 v 1-3
Do you know where your fights and arguments come from? They come from the selfish desires that war within you. You want things, but you do not have them. So you are ready to kill and are jealous of other people, but you still cannot get what you want. So you argue and fight. You do not get what you want, because you do not ask God. Or when you ask, you do not receive because the reason you ask is wrong. You want things so you can use them for your own pleasures.

Notes
James 4 gives us some valuable lessons on prayer. Human beings are drawn towards the action is, to what ever feels good. Today we want quick-fix results and we want them NOW! Jesus encouraged his followers to ask God for anything (God wants us to have our hearts desires). However, our motives are important. It is not on to ask God to win the lottery so you can be rich enough to own your own theme park!! But when we ask God for things in line with his will, we can be sure that he will give them to us. (John 14 v 13-14). 

Sometimes all we need do to receive from God is to ask; “Ask, and God will give to you…… (Matthew 7 v 7-8). We so often see people stepping on other people or hurting others to get what they want. We do not need to battle our way through life striving ruthlessly for our ambitions like the world often does – we just need to ask God. I know that it is God who has given me my hearts desires to sing in a band and be able to talk to young people about him at the same time. I remember asking God for this when I had not long been a Christian at 14 years old and even today I have to pinch myself that he has given me my dream job. 

God has been with me and it is him who has opened every door of opportunity for me I have only had to ask and then walk through them

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James 4 v 4-6
So, you are not loyal to God! You should know that loving the world is the same as hating God. Anyone who wants to be a friend of the world becomes God’s enemy. Do you think the Scripture means nothing that says, “The Spirit that God made to live in us wants us for himself alone.” But God gives us even more grace, as the Scripture says,
“God is against the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.” 

Notes
Once we hear the brilliant news about Jesus, we have to make a decision to either accept it or reject it. If we decide to accept it we do not then detach ourselves completely from the world and have nothing to do with our friends who are not Christians. There will be times when we can’t just go along with what our non-Christian friends are doing or with what the world says is okay if it causes us to compromise our faith. This can be difficult when you feel the odd one out and all your mates are doing something different but the rewards of following God’s ways outweigh the world’s short-lived pleasures by far. 

Christians will not always ‘fit in’ to the world, the very fact that we have the Holy Spirit within us means we will act differently in situations, make different choices and speak differently. People will notice that there is something different about you, you can communicate Jesus to others just by being you! It is the simplest and sometimes best form of evangelism (telling others about Jesus). 

When we first come to know Jesus and ask him into our lives the Holy Spirit automatically changes our hearts. However, we often then have to change our mind-sets and attitudes to catch up with our new heart change. We have to learn to think in a new way in line with our new identity in Christ as a new creation: “Do not change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.” (Romans 12 v 2).

- back to James -

James 4 v 7-10
So give yourselves completely to God. Stand against the devil, and the devil will run from you. Come near to God, and God will come near to you. You sinners, clean sin out of your lives. You who are trying to follow God and the world at the same time, make your thinking pure. Be sad, cry, and weep! Change your laughter into crying and your joy into sadness. Don’t be too proud in the Lord’s presence, and he will make you great.

Notes
Often we picture ourselves as running away from the devil, but the Bible says that if we ‘stand’ against the devil he will run from us! It does not say when we ‘fight’ the devil, God will fight the devil for us. All we need to do is to ‘Stand’ and trust in Gods strength.

However, when we are Christians there is no in between we are either for God or against him. God hates it when we are lukewarm. It is so easy to ‘act’ like a Christian on a Sunday but then live a totally different life the rest of the time. But having one foot in the church and one foot in the world is a most miserable existence: For one we do not enjoy the ‘life to the full’ (John 10 v 10) that Jesus. The Bible says that God would rather us forget the whole thing than be half-hearted about following him. God really challenged me when I was 19. I was a Christian and I said and did all the right things but I knew I wasn’t going 100% for God it made me realise how serious God took that. I realised that I wasn’t getting the most out of my Christian walk with God, I was only scratching the surface of the ‘rich and glorious blessings God has promised his holy people,’ (Ephesians 1 v 18). When I made the decision to be ‘hot’ for God I then began to experience what ‘life to the full’ was really all about. I have found it to be so true that when you humble yourself before God, in due time he will lift you up – it is he who will ‘make you great!’ Therefore, ‘give yourselves completely to God.’


word-on-the-web uses the Scripture text taken from the Youth Bible, New Century Version (Anglicised Edition) copyright 1993 by Word Publishing Milton Keynes