So up until this point in the book of James we have been encouraged to:
mature in our faith
see trials from a proper perspective,
get wisdom
and recognize the difference between “tests” and “temptations”.
Now James embarks to tells us how to practice and apply that maturity in our lives:
Essentially James is saying – “Now that I’ve explained what grown up faith is emotionally and spiritually – let’s get practical – let’s see what your faith looks like.”
As parents – how do we recognize that our children are mature? We give them an opportunity to demonstrate their maturity. Hopefully they have heard what is expected and have seen BELIEF demonstrated in our lives, now it’s time for them to put into practice what has been taught.
Our father in heaven is no different. One of the primary ways to know if someone is mature is to see how they NAVIGATE through a test because actions are the true reflection of our belief.
Trials and tests define who we are:
Are you willing to do what necessary despite what you feel or will you compromise?
“Maturity is knowing that it is necessary to DO what is necessary.”
Can you govern yourself? When no one else is watching do you have the discipline to do what is true? Do you finish? “The end of the matter is better than the beginning.” Are you able to complete what you start? Are you ambivalent? Do you succumb to that which is culturally popular. Are you inflexible? Are your actions are based on ‘what has always been done’. Remember, the bible reveals God it does not restrain God.
If a culture becomes ambivalent the result will be a generation that does not know God.
A case STUDY: Judges 1:27 – 2:7 – 2:10 – 2:11-13
These verses show us that when a culture of people cannot govern themselves and complete the task God has presented to them the result of that compromise is a generation that is unable to recognize truth and therefore they are unable to recognize and know God.
If a culture becomes inflexible and is intolerant to practices of faith that are not within the tradition of man the result will be missed revelation.
The case study of the nation of Israel… the Jews. The Jewish nation missed Jesus because they were unable to remove the veil of religious activities and see. The hope of the nations came in a "package" that they were not prepared to receive.
That is why Belief is not about RELIGION instead it is about the SPIRIT that has placed wisdom in the hearts of true believers.
Practically: In the midst of a trial is a person defiant or are they teachable?
Be Teachable:
V19-21 – ‘be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger…’
“Quick to Hear” - In other words, be willing to listen (to what God is trying to teach you in the midst of a trial).
If I do not ‘hear’ what God is trying to say – I will not learn the lesson He is trying to teach me.” To hear it is necessary to put aside the former things – again, new wine must be placed in new wine-skins. Yet, it is necessary to be mature in your belief so as to not be ambivalent over issues that are important. Just like when someone “talks over” another and cannot hear what the other person is trying to say – so it is with the things of God.
To that point the next trait a person with mature faith demonstrates is that they are;
“Slow to speak” - “Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God… (Ecclesiastes 5:2)
- If I am not teachable I will not listen – because I will not listen I cannot give an answer.
How many of us have asked the question, “How are you doing?” With the response being, “Not much.” Obviously that person did not listen and was quick to speak a standard response. I realize this is a non-essential example but think about the ramifications if we approach God in the same way. God is prepared to provide a new revelation and we approach it with the same 'pat' answer we have always used.
PROVERBS 13:3 – “Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”
It’s worth noting – in the midst of a trial vows are often made haphazardly –
“If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not delay in fulfilling it… for you have voluntarily vowed to the LORD you God what you have promised with your mouth.” (Deuteronomy 23:21.23)
“Mature people watch what they think and because of that, they do not need to watch what they say.”
Finally, mature people are “Slow to become angry” - A person who vents their anger and frustration in the midst of a trial is seeking personal gratification – the bible says that anger cannot produce the righteousness of God.
- (21) A person who is teachable receives the ‘implanted’ (em-phy-ton) literally ‘engrafted’ word. When a plant is ‘engrafted’ into another plant – it takes on the characteristics of the primary life force. The purpose of engrafting is increase reproduction and sustainability.
Another opportunity for us to practice and apply a mature faith is our view of religion:
V22-27 Think rightly about religion:
The people with the most theories / theology have the most religious agendas and in the absence of experience bad theology is formed. “Experience is attained by applying what we believe.” If the word has been implanted we will do what God asks because our nature has been changed. If we hear and do not do the word we succumb to the delusion of creating an image of ourselves that is greater than the true reflection. Merely “knowing” and reciting scripture does not qualify as understanding in the Kingdom of God.
We live in a culture that values concept and principal over experience and because of that it is common to believe that we are qualified for advancement simply because we “know what to do”. How many of you realize that simply “knowing” how to perform heart surgery is not the same as ‘understanding’ how to perform heart surgery.
“In the Kingdom experience is what provides understanding – in the world it is the opposite.”
It is only when we take revelation and embark into experience that we gain understanding.
“PERFECT LAW” James 1:25) – is a way of describing the application of God’s love to life’s circumstances. Religion is perfect when it is not focused on “right” or “wrong” but rather what is true. A test case… is lying a good thing? Imagine if a woman came into a room in which you were sitting and said to you, "There is a man chasing me who wants to kill me, I'm going to go over there and hide in the closet, please don't tell him where I am!" Of course you sit there in shock for a moment but as you begin to gain your reason a man does walk into the room with a knife and asks you, "Have you seen a woman recently? I'm going to kill her!"
In this case lying is the true thing to do. Hear me; I am not saying that lying is acceptable. You will give an answer for your actions. what I am trying to communicate with this story is that we as believers must mature and move away from "right" and "wrong" and instead concentrate on what is "true" for the building up of the body of Christ.
V 25 - A mature person “looks intently” – literally “stoops down to get a closer look” at themselves. Am I applying the ‘perfect law’ in every area of my life? Do I create a false image of who I am?
V 25 – the “Perfect law” provides “the law of liberty” which seems like a paradox – how can law bring freedom? Because God is immutable (never changing) we don’t need to wonder if something is true or not true… we have been provided His word and His Spirit. Because I am secure in truth I am at liberty from worrying if my actions are right or wrong – I KNOW TRUE.
V 26-27
RECEIVING REVELATION
Our response to revelation is what allows us to “see ourselves clearly”.
The 1st indication of whether or not revelation has been received is by our speech (V26). The word used here for ‘religious’ is (thres-kos) refers to external observances of religion.
The issue of the tongue (speech) is expounded upon in chapter 3 but for now consider this:
I am deceiving myself if I believe in my heart that my external observances of religion count… if I will not control my speech.
- If I lie (do not tell the whole truth)
- If I slander or defame
- If I am sarcastic
- If I use vulgarity.
- If my language is different at home or at the office than it is at a gathering of believers.
The 2nd indication of whether or not revelation has been received is by our actions. (V27) I am deceiving myself if I believe in my heart that my actions are not a representation of what I truly believe. Mature faith cares for the “poor” and it also is “not polluted by the world” – meaning it does not seek security from the world. Because a mature faith does not love the world it is easy to give freely. In addition, a mature faith behaves in a manner that corresponds to what is proclaimed by our speech. It is not Hypocritical.
So what does it take to achieve the goal of a ‘mature faith’? Stand with confidence in the midst of trials. Know the difference between temptation and tests. See yourself clearly; by observing your speech and you actions and apply the truth to your life… regardless of how you feel.
No comments:
Post a Comment