Healing a divided church through God’s word, The Book of James.
Chapter 1 v.2 Be glad when you realize you are having trouble. That trouble will wake you up and cause you to search The Word for wisdom. When you discover that wisdom you need to accept it and not question it. If you doubt and question, the Lord will not be able to use it to bring you maturity.
v. 12 Don’t give up if your troubles don’t go away. God will bless you as your faith is being tested. We can be tempted to use the ways of the corporate world by being a tough CEO to solve our problems. It may be a problem associate and we can use the corporate solution and “fire” him to remove the problem from our plate. But does that really solve the problem or just remove it from the day to day operation? Shouldn’t we pray and let God solve the problem by bringing unity and healing or directing the person to go elsewhere?
v.19 Says we should be quick to listen and slow to speak. If we get angry, we cannot do God’s work. It may take time, but which ever side we are on we must wait for God to change hearts and then God’s good works will be done. This is a matter of all being humble. It doesn’t matter if we are the CEO or the party that feels they have been wronged we must wait…which takes being humble. That is a tough posture for either party to take. Also, a caution at this point is not to take on anothers offense. When we think or know that another has been offended or wronged we are quick to come to their defense. That is a natural, worldly reaction that will only make the matter worse. If it is not our offense then the best thing we can do is pray and not agree or disagree with either party.
v.26 is a real key here. We must learn to control our tongue. By discussing, these matters too much we only cause more friction and cloud the issue. Instead of choosing sides and formulating stratigies we need to make sure we are pleasing God our selves by doing v.27 which says “Religion that pleases God the Father must be pure and spotless. You must help needy orphans and widows and not let the world make you evil”. If we spend more time doing God’s work and less time talking about it we will allow God to do the healing in His time.
Chapter 2 tells we are not to favor the rich over the poor. Do we make our buildings so nice that they are only comfortable to the rich? Is that pride on our part that we are the best, or the biggest, or we give the most, or we have the best “worship team” or orchastra? Could the millions we spend on facilities and entertainment be better spent on the poor or the homeless or the orphans and widows of our city or the world? Do we have such a big paid staff that the rest of the body doesn’t see a need to minister? Does that big staff use too much of God’s offerings that could be used better to do God’s work? Are we really more concerned with our comfort than our character? Verse.12 says you will be judged on whether or not you are doing what Christ wants you to do. So watch what you do and what you think. v.14 to 26 basically says that we better be helping others to prove our faith. We know a human body is dead when there in no breath and the body of Christ is dead when there are no good deeds. Each of us individually and as a local body need to examine our deeds and see if they are doing Christ’s work. We aren’t saved by works, but our works will prove that we are saved.
Chapter 3 hits hard at the tongue again. Don’t be too quick to bring up anothers faults, for we all make mistakes. And if they are a teacher they know they are held to a higher standard. Verse. 9 says that the same tongue can’t praise God and curse another. Is that what is happening now? God help us if it is. Verse.16 says wherever there is jealousy or selfish ambition, there will be disorder and every other kind of evil. That can happen if we are more concerned about our image or personal goals and letting them interfer with God’s direction for the ministry.
Chapter 4 tells us to look at what is causing the the quarrels and fights. Is it evil desires, jealousy, wanting what others have or what others have accomplished or what we can’t afford? God will give us strength to overcome all these evil desires and others if we don’t cave in. As verse.7 says if we resist the devil he will flee from us. And don’t forget the most important first part of that verse” to give yourself humbly to God”!! V. 11 says don’t criticize or speak evil about a brother or you will be fighting against God. Only God who made the law can judge us. Chapter 5:10 infers we should have patience in our sufferng(if we are actually suffering) as the prophets did. They stayed true even to death and recieved their reward. Job, David, Joseph, and many others stayed true, suffering unjust trials and were rewarded in the end. Does anything we are going through now compare to what they endured? Is the instant gretification mentality of our current soceity causing us to make unwise decisions? The last half of this chapter puts it all together. Don’t swear by anything, just say yes or no. If anyone is suffering, he should pray. If any has reason to be thankful, sing praises. If anyone is sick, call on the elders to anoint with oil and pray for healing. Admit your faults to one another and pray that you may be healed. If anyone among you has slipped away from God someone should help him understand the Truth again.
It all comes down to loving God and loving each other and being willing to lay down your own wants and desires for others and doing the will of God, which is helping widows and orphans in their need.
If we can do this, the Church divided will become the Church unified and can get on doing the work that God has called us to do. That is my prayer.
