Wisdom requires belief in its source. And without saving faith, the wisdom of God is void of meaning. Wisdom forces us to reconcile what we believe about divine revelation and the inerrant entirety of Scripture. It also magnifies to what degree we submit to the authority of Christ, obey and apply the teachings of Scripture, rely on the convicting promptings of the Holy Spirit, and surrender our personal will.
Read MoreA common practice of defining a topic or subject is to examine its complete antithesis. James uses this strategy to perfection in this passage by defining what wisdom is not, in order to magnify how precious true wisdom from heaven is.
Read MoreAs we studied previously in chapter 1, James admonishes his brotherhood of believers that if anyone lacks wisdom they should ask God for it, and He will grant that request without reproach. But that request must be asked in faith to avoid doubt that undermines who we believe God to be.
Read MoreSubmission is a topic most commonly referred to within the context of marriage, but James expands how we typically view submission by relating it to our tongue and its correlation to our personal will.
Read MoreJames continues his exposition on taming the tongue by speaking candidly regarding the pure evil it contains. He does not shy away in the slightest, using strong language and claiming it is set on fire by hell. Yet I wonder what our immediate reaction is when we read this verse.
Read MoreAt times, the Bible can be difficult to understand when we are presented with religious terminology, challenging concepts, and cultural differences. In those instances, practical examples and imagery play a vital role in unpacking theological truth that aids our spiritual growth and application of Scripture. In these verses, James uses a horse and ship to illustrate the importance of self-control as it relates to our tongue.
Read MoreThe third chapter of James begins with a 12-verse emphasis on taming the tongue. As we previously learned in verse 1, pastoral teachers (and we as well) are held to a higher standard of judgment because of the responsibility that comes with conveying (via our words) and representing (via our actions) the authority of God's Word.
Read MoreThis is an interesting passage. At first glance it would appear James is discouraging his brethren rather than encouraging, but nothing could be further from the truth. James is a shepherd tending to his flock of faithful brothers in Christ by looking out not only for their best interest, but that of the body of Christ as a whole.
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