A Doer or a Judge of the Law?
James 4:11-12
February 10, 2008
What examples does James give of a lack of humility in the following context?
How easy it is to express our lack of submission and humility with our tongue.
(Eccl 10:12; Romans 14:19; Colossians 4:6; Ephesians 4:29)
What is condemned
Speaking against your brother (Word used 1 Peter 2:12, 3:16)
Slander is speaking maliciously against someone. (Psalm 50:19-20; 101:5)
Word condemns uncharitableness rather than falsity.
Is all judging wrong? (Matthew 7:1)(7:5; 7:15-16; James 5:19-20; John 7:24)
What is righteous judgment?
What is the right attitude in exercising good judgment? (Gal 6:1-2)
What our critical, demeaning tongue reveals about us
It reveals a wrong view of your brother
What are our duties toward our brother?
Your brother needs your help, not destructive criticism.
It reveals a wrong view of the Law
It is pure, complete, perfect; but we are adding to it or misapplying it.
I need not subject myself to the law of love in this situation.
It reveals a wrong view of God
God has the authority and the ability to take care of his own matters.
God does not need your help.
It reveals a wrong view of self
You assume an office and a place that does not belong to you. (Rom 14:4; 10-13)
Satan is the accuser of the brethren, do not be like him.
Guidelines for the Proper Exercise of
Love
(1) Let the initiative to love come from you and do not wait for another person
to make the first move. Even if you are the very least among the godly, the love
of children is sweet and even kindles the love of adults.
(2) Do not seek to receive love in return; however, if you receive it, do not
let it end in yourself. Rather, thank the Lord for the refreshment and the
quickening you enjoy as a result of this. If you do not receive love in return,
let it neither trouble nor hinder you. Let it be sufficient to you that you are
permitted and able to love.
(3) Let there be high esteem for the grace which is or appears to be in another
person. Be not suspicious, but be quick to accept it as being genuine. Grace can
be very feeble in someone, and it will not harm you to love someone as a godly
person who is unconverted. Is it not your desire and obligation to love others?
(4) The offenses and falls of others must not impede you in your love, for even
great grace can coexist with great corruption – how much more this is true when
grace is feeble. You do not know how much strife another has concerning these
faults, how much he grieves over them in secret, and with how many tears and
prayers he seeks forgiveness.
(5) Show much love in your countenance, words, and entire conduct – even if the
heart is somewhat lukewarm. It is not hypo-critical when we externally manifest
and conduct ourselves as we ought to be while striving to involve our heart
in this as well, even though we cannot do as we desire. While thus engaged, our
heart will become more and more involved. However, to wish to create an
appearance, while being differently disposed in the heart, is hypocrisy. Showing
love will cause the heart to increase in love.
(6) Permit that light and grace, which is in you, be it ever so feeble, to shine
forth. Manifest it, and conduct yourself as such, doing so not for your sake by
seeking honor, but because God commands you to do so, and in order that others
might have the opportunity to exercise the virtue of love.
(7) Be much in prayer to the Lord, for love proceeds from Him. Of yourself and
in your own strength, you will neither attain to nor increase this love. If you
are thus engaged, the Lord will grant you more grace and cause you to grow,
until He will take you into the perfect love of eternal glory.