Author: Ben Bourland

8b [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery].
9 [As you draw near to God] be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep [over your disloyalty]. Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection and heartfelt shame [for your sins].
10 Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant]. James 4:8-10 [AMP]

This passage comes directly after “Come close to God and He will come close to you…” What really hit me was that this ‘Brokenness’ is an aspect of ‘coming close to God’. I read this book called “Brokenness: The Heart God Revives” and it is so applicable to this passage today. The book primarily talks about the fact that in many cases Brokenness is the start of revival, and it is infectious when it happens. The book recalls a conference that the Author attended where the primary speaker came up on the opening keynote and poured out their confession of sin, guilt/shame they were carrying, and literally wept in front of all of these people in their grief over disappointing their Lord and Savior. What happened next was that person after person came up on stage in front of the mic and did the same thing regarding their sin. The conference organizers were obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit and let the confessions go on and essentially canceled the rest of the planned content. Can you imagine? So, that is the mindset I am drawn to in this passage today. What do I have as unconfessed/unrepentant sin that I need to be in recognition of, to grieve, and to be somber over how what I have done has drawn me away from God.

Today has already been a day of preparation; getting ready for our guests as we celebrate through Thanksgiving.

Today I spent time pouring over several verses on ‘Thanksgiving’ to set in the attitude for the rest of the day.

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 [ESV]

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 [ESV]

34 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever! 1 Chronicles 16:34 [ESV]

As the head of my household, I feel responsible for reminding my friends and family who will be joining us tonight, what the real reason is for this day as we eat and fellowship with one another. God in His goodness and mercy has seen fit to put us right here where we are, in this place in time, to be a light in the darkness, and salt to the earth. Our world with it secular worldview, is not tolerant of a God-based mindset and faith. However, we are called to live for God alone and in doing so, through obedience to His Word, will show how God can change the human heart. How to push the focus from ‘Self’ to be applied to those around us as we are called to serve.

I am reminded of the 2 greatest commandments:

1. Love the Lord your God with all of your Soul, Mind, and Strength.
2. Love/Serve your neighbor as you would want to be loved/served.

Today is a day to be thankful for Who God is and the providence and sovereignty He wields as an all-powerful God. It is also a day of prayer; praying that the Holy Spirit would make us aware of His movement around us so that He is able to grow our faith and keep our eyes set on what He does…not what we do and how what we do is seen by others. We should Fear God and only think about what we can do to glorify Him in every aspect of our life here under the sun.

Day before Thanksgiving and will have a busy day. Also, today I need to finish my trimester self-performance review where I look back on what I accomplished at work, what I plan to do going forward, and development areas I have identified for myself. As a manager, I look forward to the task of filling the manager portion out for my employees. My time in prayer here just before this time reflecting on this one verse, I was overwhelmed with the gratitude I have for not only my Savior, but also for all that God has given me; in my health, my friends, my family, my job, and my home. I literally have nothing to complain about.

So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you. James 4:7 [AMP]

One small verse today that packs soooooo much punch. The biggest takeaway from the verse is the ‘Order’.

1. Be ‘Subject’ to God
2. Resist the devil

Be SUBJECT to God

This really just another way of saying be humble and fear God. Whenever you see ‘fear God’ the type of fear that is being referenced is usually a fear of disappointment/disapproval. This whole passage starting here in verse 7 reflects back on Proverbs.

34 Though He [God] scoffs at the scoffers and scorns the scorners, yet He gives His undeserved favor to the low [in rank], the humble, and the afflicted. Proverbs 3:34 [AMP]

God gives His grace (unmerited goodness and favor) to those who are humble. So, when I see this ‘Be Subject’ it is calling me to disown my self-sufficiency. To lean directly into the cloak of my Father in Heaven for all of my needs, comfort, worth, and safety. Here on the earth (under the sun), it is hard to do this with all of the distractions this world throws at us. The ruler of that world is…the devil. James says that when I am subject to God I then need to resist the devil.

Resist the devil

The devil is, above all, the ‘tempter’ (Matt. 4:3; 1 Thess. 3:5), seeking always to separate God and human beings. We as Christians must resist this separation. When we do, James promises that the devil will flee from us. Whatever power satan may have, we can be absolutely certain that we have been given the ability to overcome that power.

Additionally, I think this being subject to God means that we are prayerfully living our life immersed in His Word to understand Him better. As we understand God better, His character and His commands, we can better identify the devil to resist him and the separation he sets out to achieve.

Application

Continue to be in God’s Word every day. Hide God’s Word in my heart and meditate on it throughout each day. Actively resist the devil. Be watchful and not lulled by the world’s opinion on eternal matters.

My first ‘real’ day off from work for this week and it was so nice to just relax…and bake bread. My father in-law really likes the homemade bread, so I kicked up my sourdough starter a little over a week ago in prep. I baked 2 loaves today and have another batch ‘bulk rising’ as I type this. Tomorrow is Turkey dinner prep day, and I am so excited to have the crew over and enjoy a good meal; being grateful for all the Lord has done for us this year.

5 Or do you suppose that the Scripture is speaking to no purpose that says, The Spirit Whom He has caused to dwell in us yearns over us and He yearns for the Spirit [to be welcome] with a jealous love?
6 But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it). James 4:5-6 [AMP]

These two verses warrant a quick speed bump to address. They are some of the most widely debated in terms of interpretation in James’ letter. It is not clear where in the Old Testament (Scripture) James is referring to but the leading interpretation (Thank you Tyndale Commentary) of the second part of verse 5 is -> God jealously longs for the spirit/Spirit he has caused to dwell in us. In other words…God wants our full heart (all of who we are) and He jealously (positive) want to be the only focus. Afterall, He is the one Who put His Holy Spirit in us when we came to Salvation through our belief in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.

God has a claim on us by virtue of His work in our lives. Our God is ‘a consuming fire’ and His demands on us may seem terrifying. But our God is also merciful, gracious, all-loving, and willingly supplies all that we need to meet his all-encompassing demands. God’s gift of sustaining grace can be received only by those willing to admit their need and accept the gift. The proud, on the other hand, meet only resistance from God.

Application: I stand to receive all that I can possibly receive from God by giving my ‘whole self’ to Him. Not only that but my whole family will stand to be beneficiaries of the goodness that comes when I surrender all that I am to the Creator. God demands everything but just as verse 6 says -> God gives what He demands; meaning that He will help me achieve in giving what He asks of me…BUT! It takes my willing humble spirit otherwise God will set Himself against my proud heart.

Last night the in-laws flew in and are staying with us for a week. So thankful to have them here for Thanksgiving!

3 [Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures.
4 You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world’s friend is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God. James 4:3-4 [AMP]

Remember, yesterday we covered James 4:1&2 which is a narrative on there being strife in the world because people are jealous and covet what other people have; when people’s desires go unfulfilled, there is due to be conflict because a sinful heart has no way (other than God) to redeem itself and set it apart. The end of verse 2 completes this thought with “You do not have, because you do not ask.”

So here in verse 3, the scholars who provided us the Amplified interpretation preface with “or”. This is where we start today.

James teaches us that even when we do ask God for something, we do so to fulfill a personal desire rather than to choose to operate under God’s desires. In these cases, God is likely to deny us the request. We can’t fool God and we can’t con Him into believing we are asking for something for righteous reasons when we’re not. Verse 4 goes further to compare this person (the one asking for something with the wrong reasons and ultimately to fulfill our own desires) to an adulterer or adulteress, breaking our marriage vow to God Himself.

Then James lays down a big one -> “Do you not know that being the world’s friend is being God’s enemy?”. Ouch!! He then repeats it against saying that whoever chooses to be a friend to the world SETS HIMSELF as an enemy of God!

Application: What are my motives when I ask God for something…or even when I ask Him for wisdom in making a decision for something (like a new car or house)? Are those motives structured around an impact here on earth or a Heavenly Kingdom impact?

These passages in James are so full of goodness to apply to our sanctification.  James knows with wisdom from chapter 3 of his letter that the strife we have in this world is all attributed to the desire for ‘x’ (put anything but God in the ‘x’).  It’s either something we don’t have that we want or something someone else has that we want.  The selfishness of our culture is beyond words.  However, even when you look at how wars are started, it is always over wanting ‘more’.  It’s the ending of verse 2 that kills me.  “You do not have, because you do not ask.”  Now I know where James goes in Verse 3 but I want to camp out here for a second.  

​1 WHAT LEADS to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members?
2 You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask. James 4:1-2 [AMP]

One of my biggest issues is self-sufficiency.  I always go to how I can fix, how can I attain, how can I….?  Rarely does it go to ‘Can God fix this, would God will that I have, or how can God…’?  I always heard this saying and goes something like this, “Search after and love God with your whole mind, heart, and strength, and then do whatever you want…. because, what you will be wanting is what God wants, you will be hearing His voice in your life, seeing His hand moving, and His Holy Spirit will be working in you.  I know this is where James is going with this, but I just can help but dwell here in verses 1 and 2 and do the same thing you did—look at the world and all of its problems…and the whole set of reasons are right here in 2 verses.

​1 WHAT LEADS to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members?
2 You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask. James 4:1-2 [AMP]

‘I have often wondered that persons who make boast of professing the Christian religion – namely love, joy, peace, temperance, and charity to all men – should quarrel with such rancorous animosity, and display daily towards one another such bitter hatred, that this, rather than the virtues which they profess, is the readiest criteria of their faith.’

17th Century Jewish Philosopher Benedict de Spinoza

It seems that James is more bothered by the selfish spirit and bitterness of such quarrels than by the rights and wrongs of the various viewpoints. The source of these are the desires that battle within each one of us. We also see James’ point here reinforced in Peter’s letters as well:

Beloved, I implore you as aliens and strangers and exiles [in this world] to abstain from the sensual urges (the evil desires, the passions of the flesh, your lower nature) that wage war against the soul. 1 Peter 2:11

In James’ day, the arguments and conflicts that were disrupting Christian fellowship could not be ascribed to righteous passion or justifiable zeal; it was selfish, indulgent desire that was responsible. When we look at these verses and distill it down, we find that he is saying this:

• You desire but do not have, so you kill.
• You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight.

This way of looking at it places the emphasis on the fact that frustrated desire leads to violence. It also focuses on the aspect that envy and jealousy (and related emotions) inevitably lead to hostility such as quarrels, wars, and murder.

When you look at it this way, you can see how fast things can escalate without unchecked emotions and soberness. These last couple of days of reading continue to press on the motives that back my desires. Am I clamoring for more here on this earth or are my sights truly set on an eternal hope?

Today was a rough day. Marianne is not feeling well and spent 4 hours at the WalkIn waiting to be seen only to discover she has a ‘Secondary Virus’ that she received no prescription for to treat. I had the “Littlest” and then had to organize pickups of the bigger kids at 2 different schools all while trying to be on work calls. God is good and helped everything work and get done. So thankful!

James 3:18 [AMP]
And the harvest of righteousness (of conformity to God’s will in thought and deed) is [the fruit of the seed] sown in peace by those who work for and make peace [in themselves and in others, that peace which means concord, agreement, and harmony between individuals, with undisturbedness, in a peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts].

Today’s verse finishes up the section on wisdom. The amplified really amplifies this verse but is so good about really getting to the spirit of James’s remarks. Righteousness (living by Gods will and purposes in our life) and peace go hand in hand. I love the idea that the reaping of righteousness is sown in peace. Peace planted begets righteousness. When I think about it, righteousness is framed in and born from a mind that pursues peace. I’m still consuming this one.

Remember yesterday was all about what True Wisdom looks like and I made the comment that James likely meant that there are examples of ‘wise and intelligent’ people who have a wisdom that is not TRUE. Well, here we are. James is going to get right to the point on what wisdom is that is counter to True.

14 But if you have bitter jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry, selfish ambition) in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it and thus be in defiance of and false to the Truth.
15 This [superficial] wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual (animal), even devilish (demoniacal).
16 For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices. James 3:14-16 [AMP]

Unlike a wisdom executed in through commendable life that produces the fruit of good works through quiet humility, James talks here about wisdom drawn against goodness, driven through jealously and contention in our heart. James tells us that this is in defiance to of and false to the Truth. There is nothing about this ‘superficial wisdom’ that is from our Father in Heaven…it is earthly, secular, unspiritual, and can even be demonic.

I am immediately brought to my current work environment. I work with insanely smart people, but they are often driven by wanting to be in the level of their career. This aspirational drive to pursue earthly greatness is most times driven out of envy of those who are either in a place someone wants to be, or just selfish ambition born of greed. James tells is that where this kind of directed wisdom is executed; there will be a wake of unrest, disharmony, and rebellion. In the case of my current group, can also be manifested in cutting corners and driving subordinate employees too hard and putting the team through unhealthy marches and gauntlets.

I needed to hear this today because I must resist in my sinful thoughts that can manifest in these actions and pursue good works soaked in quiet humility. When I have sought and exercised True Wisdom, I have found that in the workplace, this can be one of the greatest witnesses of the Grace, Mercy, and Love of Jesus and often produces opportunity to share why I choose to operate the way I do. Opportunities to share what the God of the Bible has done in my life and how He has changed my heart.

I am posting a day behind today as we had ‘FriendsGiving’ with our Life Group peeps. It was an amazing night as I was able to cook some beef I love to make, and everyone brought yummy side dishes. Really enjoyed the evening!

13 Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let him by his noble living show forth his [good] works with the [unobtrusive] humility [which is the proper attribute] of true wisdom. James 3:13 [AMP]

This next passage (James 3:13-18) is on ‘Wisdom from Above’. This first verse explains what True Wisdom looks like -> A wise and intelligent person whose commendable life has the fruit of good works executed with quiet humility. What James also is likely saying here is that there are also ‘wise and intelligent people’ who are not in possession of True Wisdom. I would definitely not characterize myself as wise and intelligent but more curious and thoughtful. Regardless, I love the thought of living a life that produces goods works in a humble approach. Never drawing attention to oneself but having a positive impact on others. Moving quietly, being motivated by my God given love of others and discernment to see and help those in need…without fanfare or seeking recognition.

As I continue to read through James, I can see how all this weaves together. It will be fun to do a lookup by the #james tag here in this blog to see how my takeaways all work together.