By Kyle Beshears
Associate Dean and Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
With Submission
James 4:6–17
Through Humility (6–10)
The churches to whom James wrote were facing internal turmoil. Bickering, anger and fights erupted, causing division between communities who were called to unity by the love of Christ (James 4:1). James diagnoses the problem as pride and prescribes the antidote as humility. This is because grace is found wherever humility abounds, for God “gives grace to the humble” (v. 6). This prescription is not without its challenges. How often have you attempted to be humble only to find yourself floundering in stubbornness, jealously, anger or, ironically, pride in your own humility? How then ought we pursue humility? Through the power of God by prayer. Early church father Augustine once prayed for this very thing: “There can be no hope for me except in Your great mercy. Give me the grace to do as You command and command me to do what You will.” Only by the power of God can we seek humility, resist the enemy and be cleansed in heart and mind.
Through Grace (11–12)
James is not advocating a laissez-faire approach to Christian community. Certainly, after all he has said thus far, he is not suddenly turning to an apathetic disregard for the behavior of fellow believers. He is, however, warning us that our judgment of others comes with a price. As the Lord Jesus taught, “you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others” (Matt. 7:2). Christ alone is the judge, the only one to whom the Father has given the right to judge (John 5:22). Instead it is our place to discern sin in ourselves and others, and to extend grace to fellow believers who are struggling in their obedience. Rather than judging one another, which causes division and grieves the Father’s heart, we should humbly and graciously “[bear] with one another in love” (Eph. 4:2) and “forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone” (Col. 3:13). The Lord Jesus has forgiven us; shouldn’t we forgive others in return?
Through Submission (13–16)
James now addresses people who plan for tomorrow without considering God. Admittedly we have all had these kinds of conversations with spouses, families and business partners. We make plans without acknowledging the sovereign role that God plays in our whole life. Yet the question ought to be asked: Will God bless our plans for the future if we cannot steward His plans for us today? And can He bless plans from which He has been excluded? To be clear James is not advocating that we walk through life without planning. However, when we make plans without considering God or without submitting our plans to His will, then we only set ourselves up for disappointment and failure. After all, “a person’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps” (Prov. 16:9). James echoes this proverbial reminder that God, who is sovereign over all, ought to be sought in every decision and plan.
Through Obedience (17)
Earlier James challenged believers to be doers of the Word and not hearers only (James 1:22). Here James reiterates that message in a different way — sin is knowing what is good but not acting on that knowledge. In this way James broadens how we understand sin. So often we think of sin as doing what God has commanded us not to do. However, sin is also dismissing what God has commanded us to do. Sin is not merely withdrawing from evil; it is also abstaining from good.
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