04/14/10

James 3-5

In chapter three, James talks about, well, talk. Like many of the proverbs, he spends time talking about the power of the tongue, calling it "a world of evil among the parts of the body" for "it corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire...No man can tame the tongue." He then writes of wisdom, both that which comes from heaven, "all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere," and that which is "earthly, unspiritual, of the devil" and is represented by "bitter envy and selfish ambition."

In chapter four, he encourages the readers to submit themselves to God. He tells them both that they do not have what they want because they don't ask God, and that when they do ask, they "do not receive, because [they] ask with wrong motives." He tells them that they must "humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." He urges them not to slander one another, and not to judge the law, for "there is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy." And he warns them not to boast of what will happen in the future, because, after all, "you do not even know what will happen tomorrow...you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."

Chapter five starts with a warning to the rich because earthly riches cannot last. Particularly, those who have gotten rich immorally should beware "because of the misery that is coming upon you." He tells them that all must be patient in faith "until the Lord's coming," and repeats admonition not to swear, but to just say "yes" or "no." Finally, he urges them to prayer, in all conditions. "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

Thoughts, questions, issues

• I think I already said this, but James is clearly a "works" guy, as opposed to a "faith" guy.
• There's a lot of this epistle that just kind of "feels" like a section of proverbs. Yes, the form is a little bit different, but I don't detect much in the way of specific issues that he's addressing. There's some general wisdom, in little sections, and exhortations to be wise, control the tongue, and pray.
• The end of the epistle is rather abrupt. I can understand someone removing a good-bye, I suppose, but it didn't really feel as if he had a message that he was conveying and he got to the end of it. It's as if he wrote out some thoughts that he had about the way Christians should be living and then decided to pass it around for everyone to see and share.

Proverbs 20:15-25

I commented the other day that it was not always easy to avoid the wicked. We get that admonition twice more in the first half of chapter 24.

Do not envy wicked men, do not desire their company; for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble...Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of the wicked, for the evil man has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

The injunction from verse 17, "Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice," is probably even harder. Which of us hasn't felt it? And, more importantly, if our enemy is wicked, or evil, why should we not feel it? When the wicked stumble, is not justice being done? Don't we look at the consequence of sin and feel that God has taken a hand?

But when we do that, we overlook or forget or ignore our own sin. Which of us is really ready for, yearning for, God's justice over all of our actions?

This is not easy. But it is something that is not only here in the proverbs, it is something that Jesus told us. It's a struggle, a constant struggle. At least, it is for me. There are many sins I struggle with for which the struggle is, I'm certain, not shared by all. Likewise, there are some sins that are a mighty struggle for others to which I'm not at all tempted. But I really don't understand how someone could not be tempted by this one...

Proverbs 24

1 Do not envy wicked men,
do not desire their company;

2 for their hearts plot violence,
and their lips talk about making trouble.

3 By wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;

4 through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures.

5 A wise man has great power,
and a man of knowledge increases strength;

6 for waging war you need guidance,
and for victory many advisers.

7 Wisdom is too high for a fool;
in the assembly at the gate he has nothing to say.

8 He who plots evil
will be known as a schemer.

9 The schemes of folly are sin,
and men detest a mocker.

10 If you falter in times of trouble,
how small is your strength!

11 Rescue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

12 If you say, "But we knew nothing about this,"
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good;
honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.

14 Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul;
if you find it, there is a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.

15 Do not lie in wait like an outlaw against a righteous man's house,
do not raid his dwelling place;

16 for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again,
but the wicked are brought down by calamity.

17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice,

18 or the LORD will see and disapprove
and turn his wrath away from him.

19 Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of the wicked,

20 for the evil man has no future hope,
and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

21 Fear the LORD and the king, my son,
and do not join with the rebellious,

22 for those two will send sudden destruction upon them,
and who knows what calamities they can bring?