Author: Ben Bourland

Back home today and back to work. Work has not gotten better over the weekend. I am faced with some very tall demands. It isn’t a ton of work, it is just heavy work. I was telling Marianne tonight that I need to see this time as a place where I must operate in a mindset that I get to do my best and at the same time sit back and watch God work.

9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who were made in God’s likeness!
10 Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be so.
11 Does a fountain send forth [simultaneously] from the same opening fresh water and bitter?
12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither can a salt spring furnish fresh water. James 3:9-12 [AMP]

This is a super convicting passage when I think about the missteps I have had with my speech in regard to my kiddos or even co-workers in the past. Here I am in church praising God in both song and prayer; then turn around and completely lose my composure and spew poison from that same mouth that set out to glorify God days earlier. The other thing in the first verse is the description of those we ‘lose it’ with being those who were made in God’s likeness (imago dei). In verse 10 James tells politely that ‘this should not be so’.

The comparison with fountain sending forth different types of water (fresh and bitter) or a fig tree bearing anything other than the fruit it naturally produces.

I continue to be here in Chelan, WA on vacation with the family in this beautiful place. I am so thankful to the Lord for the ability to take little trips like this. It has been so refreshing and nice to get specific time focused on each other.

James 3:6-7 [AMP]
And the tongue is a fire. [The tongue is a] world of wickedness set among our members, contaminating and depraving the whole body and setting on fire the wheel of birth (the cycle of man’s nature), being itself ignited by hell (Gehenna).
For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea animal, can be tamed and has been tamed by human genius (nature).

These two verses are extremely damning to our speech. It’s incredibly powerful how James does not characterize these evil tongues toward any single population (believer vs unbeliever)…Everyone has THIS evil member of their body. The whole aspect wrapped up in the ability to tame an animal, and how we’re able to do this with pretty good efficiency, yet man has still not been able to tame the tongue.  What this pretty much tells me is that we need to learn to cage the animal; not tame it.  God’s word gives us all we need to know about understanding His character and how to be more like His Son. In regard to our tongues, it needs to be more about when to hold it versus went to try to control it.

In today’s passage James asserts the directional power of the tongue as well as its destructiveness.

3 If we set bits in the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we can turn their whole bodies about.
4 Likewise, look at the ships: though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can boast of great things. See how much wood or how great a forest a tiny spark can set ablaze! James 3:3-5 [AMP]

In verse 3 James uses the image of how a bridled horse can be controlled by manipulating a bit that is in its mouth. Verse 4 uses a similar image of a large ship that even though it has all the influences of the environment around it, a helmsman can direct the ship in any way he pleases. So, when applied to me -> …just as the bit determines the direction of the horse and the rudder the ship, my tongue can determine the destiny of my life. When I exercise careful control of the tongue, it can be presumed that I am also are able to direct my whole life in its proper, divinely charted course: through God’s strength in this area, I can become ‘perfect’ (v. 2). But when my tongue is not restrained, small though it is, the rest of my body is likely to be uncontrolled and undisciplined as well.

Finally, in verse 5, there are 2 points that James makes: 1) Even though the tongue is small, it can have big impact in what it can communicate and manipulate. I have seen amazing orators be able to move whole audiences into action or words from factious intentions make divisions and splits between people. Just look at the fact that the internet refers to talking video heads as -> INFLUENCERS. 2) 5b talks about the destructive power of the tongue which is appropriately connected to the ‘tongue boasting of great things’. When the tongue speaks, it has the potential to cause great destruction just as a small spark can destroy acres of forest and millions of dollars in personal property. I have been reading a book called Irreversible Damage by Abigail Shrier…frightening how much the words of supposed ‘experts’ have on the lives of teens and adolescents.

Personal Application: I must recognize the lasting power of my words on my children, my co-workers, and friends/family. More importantly, on the souls under my care in regard to eternal ramifications. I know that God is sovereign, and His will and purposes will be met, but I can cause disruption and harder avenues because of my choices. I can stand as a can of water to diffuse rather than a can of gasoline to incite. I must make minute, hourly, daily choices to control my tongue and thus enabling my desire to have a ‘God glorifying’ walk as a follower of Jesus Christ.

Today I start James 3 where the first 10 verses focus on the disaster waiting to happen that is ‘our tongues’. The first 2 verses start this conversation with calling out the ministry that stands to be most impacted by this wild member of the body -> Teachers of the Word.

​1 NOT MANY [of you] should become teachers (self-constituted censors and reprovers of others), my brethren, for you know that we [teachers] will be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity [than other people; thus we assume the greater accountability and the more condemnation].
2 For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature. James 3:1-2

James’ warning about venturing into the teaching ministry is clear. Those who answer this call should not do it frivolously or speedily. There are other passages in God’s Word where much is required from those who much is given. I have the utmost respect for those who have been called into the teaching ministry and because of the risk the tongue poses to those who are having to continually open their mouths. Even in leadership positions this is an occupational hazard. This is a great reminder to apply this passage squarely to my own life in regard to my place in the church, my job as a father, and being a husband.

I love this quote from the Tyndale Commentary on James 3:1-2. “So difficult is the mouth to control, so given is it to uttering the false, the biting, the slanderous word, so prone to stay open when it were more profitably closed, that the person who has it under control surely has the ability to conquer other, less unruly, members of the body.” It is so on the mark even though it is put in the positive tone.

Family and I arrived safely in Chelan at our little getaway, and everyone has gone to bed after playing Clue (Bella won). I sit here in the quiet of the Livingroom in this quiet place to reflect on the next passage of reading here in James. I am on James 2:14-26 which is all on the relationship of faith and works.

It is one of those interesting passages where one author (apostle James) takes a different tack than another author (apostle Paul). Although both fundamentally agree on the saving power of Faith, James takes an argumentative stance on the importance of ‘works’ in the life of one who has been saved by faith.

14 What is the use (profit), my brethren, for anyone to profess to have faith if he has no [good] works [to show for it]? Can [such] faith save [his soul]? James 2:14 [AMP]

James comes right out of the gate swinging! What James is saying right here in the beginning is that ‘Saving Faith’ has a fruit of ‘Good Works’. If your ‘so called’ faith does not produce works, then you should question the kind of faith you have.

15 If a brother or sister is poorly clad and lacks food for each day,
16 And one of you says to him, Good-bye! Keep [yourself] warm and well fed, without giving him the necessities for the body, what good does that do? James 2:15-16 [AMP]

The root of what I think James is getting at here is that a person who has been truly saved (Converted – a new creature) and is driven to seek the heart of God and in learning God’s heart, would never turn away this person (without clothes and food), without helping them.

21 Was not our forefather Abraham [shown to be] justified (made acceptable to God) by [his] works when he brought to the altar as an offering his [own] son Isaac?
22 You see that [his] faith was cooperating with his works, and [his] faith was completed and reached its supreme expression [when he implemented it] by [good] works.
23 And [so] the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed in (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on) God, and this was accounted to him as righteousness (as conformity to God’s will in thought and deed), and he was called God’s friend. James 2:21-23 [AMP]

Not only did Abraham have faith in God, but he was also willing to walk forward in obedience to what God told him to do; even when it meant sacrificing his own son…the only offspring he had that God had promised he would build a great nation (God’s Nation) from. I believe that Abraham was ready to follow through with plunging the knife into Issaac because he believed God would somehow either intervene or maybe even miraculously heal his son. Abraham put his faith to work in obedience.

24 You see that a man is justified (pronounced righteous before God) through what he does and not alone through faith [through works of obedience as well as by what he believes].
25 So also with Rahab the harlot—was she not shown to be justified (pronounced righteous before God) by [good] deeds when she took in the scouts (spies) and sent them away by a different route?
26 For as the human body apart from the spirit is lifeless, so faith apart from [its] works of obedience is also dead. James 2:24-26 [AMP]

At the end of the day here is what I believe James is getting at -> James does not dispute the power of faith to justify or to save. What he is concerned to do is to define the true nature of faith. As he does throughout his letter, James attacks superficial and inconsistent Christians who claim they have faith but fail to act on the basis of their faith. It is absolutely vital to understand that the main point of this argument, expressed three times, is not that works are a kind of second, unrelated, addition to faith but that genuine faith naturally produces works. That is its very nature. So, as a professing born again Christian, if I am not producing works associated with obedience to God’s Word through sanctification, caring for people, and building God’s Kingdom through a deep knowledge/understanding of Him gained through daily study in His Word, I better take a second look at the genuineness of my Salvation through Faith in God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

Today was my first day back in the PNW after traveling to Silicon Valley and it was a very busy day here at my desk. However, being close to my family again is so much better. I was able to break away at a good hour this afternoon to prepare for a short trip with the fam easy of the mountains. Looking forward to a couple of days just us all together.

9 But if you show servile regard (prejudice, favoritism) for people, you commit sin and are rebuked and convicted by the Law as violators and offenders.
10 For whosoever keeps the Law [as a] whole but stumbles and offends in one [single instance] has become guilty of [breaking] all of it.
11 For He Who said, You shall not commit adultery, also said, You shall not kill. If you do not commit adultery but do kill, you have become guilty of transgressing the [whole] Law.
12 So speak and so act as [people should] who are to be judged under the law of liberty [the moral instruction given by Christ, especially about love].
13 For to him who has shown no mercy the judgment [will be] merciless, but mercy [full of glad confidence] exults victoriously over judgment. James 2:9-13 [AMP]

This passage today follows the whole work up of not showing favoritism and you can see here in this first verse today; he revisits the sin. This passage though stands out in a different way for me though. It talks about sin being sin, but the sobering knowledge is that ANY one sin alone is enough to make us deserve separation from an infinitely holy God. This totally throws away the value of that perspective that I am not ‘as bad as THAT guy’. Everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God –

21 But now the righteousness of God has been revealed independently and altogether apart from the Law, although actually it is attested by the Law and the Prophets,
22 Namely, the righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah). [And it is meant] for all who believe. For there is no distinction,
23 Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives.
24 [All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus, Romans 3:21-24 [AMP]

This passage in Romans gives us the HOPE. For the one who believes with personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ is justified and made upright and in right standing with God…through the redemption provided by Jesus Christ.

What is awesome is that now we start to come to the ‘Works/Faith’ portion of James which I need to gird up for.

Today’s reading includes a repeated message by James about something Jesus said in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ interaction with the Sadducees and Pharisees. I have found in my study of God’s Word that anytime you find repetition it is something to pay attention to. I also find that God speaks to me in this way a lot. I will read something in my quiet time that strikes me in a new way, then I hear something in a podcast that day that references the same learning, then I hear it in a worship song at church, and then pastor Steve might speak on it in his sermon.

So, when I read something where something in the Old Testament is repeated in the New or vice versa, I pay attention to it and today is an example of one of those times.

If indeed you [really] fulfill the royal Law in accordance with the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as [you love] yourself, you do well. James 2:8 [AMP]

This is the only verse I am going to dwell on today because it is one of those that harken back to other scripture.

Small Tidbit – Today I had a strategy meeting with my peer Directors and our VP here in Silicon Valley and my prayer this morning as I started my day here in God’s Word, was that God would be glorified in how I conducted myself. The reason for this is because, as a group, we can get contentious about certain topics and paths forward. God gave me strength and I stayed in mindful attention to my behavior and speech. I am so thankful to report that we started out being all over the place but the Lord gave me the wisdom and where-with-all to get the group aligned on a posture of solving our problems by focusing on what specifically we need to both deliver to the Org and how that same Org expects us to lead in terms of Product Integrity. I owe this insight and fortitude to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It ended up being the most productive meeting we have had together so far. The reason I called this out is because, internally, I took the stance of ‘what would I want someone to do in this situation’ which maps to the quiet time topic today.

36 Teacher, which kind of commandment is great and important (the principal kind) in the Law? [Some commandments are light—which are heavy?]
37 And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect).
38 This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment.
39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.
40 These two commandments sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 22:36-40 [AMP]

Here we see that repetition example of when Jesus clearly called out the 2 Kingdom commandments.

1. Love the Lord your God with all your Heart, with all your Soul, and with all your Mind.
2. Love your neighbor as you do yourself.

These 2 commandments, when adhered to as God instructs and intends, provide the framework to follow Him in righteousness, contentment, and in alignment with glorifying Him. Put it to the test – the key is the order of the commandments. You must love God by searching His will purposes in your life E-V-E-R-Y-D-A-Y. You must be applying what you learn through your time in God’s Word to your life E-V-E-R-Y-D-A-Y. THEN—> Loving your neighbor as you do yourself (by you yourself being aligned to God’s will for you) will have Godly impact on that neighbor.

Today’s Quiet Time passage brought this question to my mind. James (and I believe the Lord) had a special place in his heart for the impoverished. Because they have so little that ties them to this world, they are so much more apt to grasp onto the Kingdom of God, and the truth of the promise of hope far more than anything else in this world. God’s heart is for those people because they are the ones who are most dependent on Him.

James 2:5-7 [AMP]
Listen, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and in their position as believers and to inherit the kingdom which He has promised to those who love Him?
But you [in contrast] have insulted (humiliated, dishonored, and shown your contempt for) the poor. Is it not the rich who domineer over you? Is it not they who drag you into the law courts?
Is it not they who slander and blaspheme that precious name by which you are distinguished and called [the name of Christ invoked in baptism]?

I feel so convicted by this passage. What’s running through my mind is all the times that I’ve overlooked the poor. It’s not that I don’t care for them, it’s that they’re invisible to me. This is not something I am proud of; rather something I am shameful of. Am I one of these people James is taking to task? I definitely don’t feel that I treat “rich people“ differently than anyone else. However, I am not looking for the poor, and that is what I am convicted about.

As my title of this post suggests, maybe I’m supposed to be praying that I’m more like them. The love and adoration God has, for the poor, is wonderful. it begs the question, should we be praying to be poor? If I have less tying me to this world, then I am more apt to lean on God for everything that I need. My sole focus becomes a worship that is dedicated to the one who sustains me while I’m here on this earth. If I am able to achieve this mindset, even though I am “relatively rich“, then I could be a conduit of God’s resources to those who need it most. I do try to lead my family in this way, but I am realizing more and more that I am not doing this enough.

God, help me be a steward of your resources and give me a heart for the poor so that they are first on my mind rather than last. Help me to have loose hands that are willing to give freely to the places you are moving and the people you love.

We have already been counseled by James to be quick to listen and slow to speak, but now he puts a valuation on the person who cannot control his/her tongue. Yikes! Smackdown coming…

26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person’s religious service is worthless (futile, barren). James 1:26 [AMP]

Today, this verse cut me to the quick…

I like how Tyndale talks about this verse and the Greek word Thrēskeia [the word used in this passage for ‘Religion’ – “Thrēskeia (and the rare adjective thrēskos) is the term widely used in the Greek world to denote the reverencing and worshipping of a god (or gods). It often connotes outward acts of worship. The true test of any religious profession, suggests James, is not the outward ritual of worship, which many go through unthinkingly and with little heart commitment. No, the real litmus test of religion is obedience; without it, religion is worthless: empty, useless and profitless.”

The way I think about what James is saying here is that the mindless, outward facing execution of religious acts (going to church, reading your bible in front of your family, prayer over hurting people, service to the church, etc.) is worthless without obedience through application of what you are learning in God’s Word to your daily walk…it is a ‘Heart Condition’! Now James has a serious beef with bad speech and unbridled tongues…coming up here in chapter 3, he is going to camp out on this topic for a good ~10 verses.

So, one of the things I was sharing with my accountability partner yesterday was my inability to quench the fire that comes out of my mouth when my kids throw attitude, act ungrateful for what they have, or flat out disrespect their mother and me. I have not been obedient to apply God’s teaching in His word to this area of my life…in fact, it has come to the point where I have in some cases remained unengaged with my oldest because of my fear of what I might say if she says something matching things I said at the beginning of this paragraph. My accountability partner challenged me on this and now with this reading today, my obedience begins today, starting with an apology to my oldest.

James makes no bones about what it truly means to RECEIVE Gods Word. I see this passage supporting the doctrine of, “a faith that is not changing you, is likely not saving you”.

But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].
For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror.
For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like. James 1:22-24

Listening to the Word and hearing it are by all means important; but it is not truly consumed until what is learned, when a conviction has been conceived by the Holy Spirit, is applied to the life of the hearer. I think what James is saying is that if you read God’s Word and you are convicted by something you read and yet do not make the adjustments or changes in your life to align with the teaching you have heard, you are actually deceiving yourself into believing and aligning to something that is not the TRUTH. This feels super scary to me.

But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience). James 1:25

These contrasts of looking into the mirror and forgetting one’s face and looking carefully into the faultless law remind me of my life verse of Psalms 1:1-3 where verse 2 says of the Blessed Man -> “His delight is in the Law of the Lord, and he meditates on God’s Law day and night”. Verse 1 says that a Blessed Man does not sit in the counsel of the wicked nor stands in the same road with sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers. This is a man who is sold out to obedience to God and when he reads and learns something in God’s Word, he is quick to apply the learning to his life. There is so much more here…