Verses 4-17 – Covetousness: Its Cause and Cure
Verses 4-5 – It is spiritual adultery to be “married” to Christ (Romans 7:4) yet love the world (2 Corinthians 11:2-3). In the Old Testament, God called Israel’s idolatry “adultery” because the idols had robbed Him of their devotion. How can Christians have one foot in the world and the other in “heaven” when they have been called out of the world? (John 15:18-19) We have been (or must be, if not yet) crucified to the world, and the world to us (Galatians 6:14). When the believer becomes a friend to the world, he becomes at enmity with God. He grieves the Holy Spirit within, who jealously yearns for our love and faithfulness. It is sad the way many Christians live in and for the world. In fact, it is difficult to tell whether or not they are even saved!
Verses 6-7 – When a Christian lives for the world and the flesh, he becomes proud, and this is where the devil goes to work, for pride is one of his best tools. God wants to give more grace more than Satan can ever give! The Christian must use the Word to resist Satan (Luke 4:1-13), and the Holy Spirit will help him to do this. But God cannot help the Christian who is proud, who refuses to repent of sin and humble himself. Grace is for the humble, not the proud. We must first submit to God; then we can effectively resist the devil. It is important that the Christian examine his heart to see if any of these enemies are making progress.
James turns now to three important warnings and calls these Christians to repent of their sins. Unless individuals in the church are right with God, there can be no peace.
Verses 8-10 – Warning against pride
Wherever there are wars and fights, there must be pride; the wise Christian sows seed of peace. Pride puts us at a distance from God. Pride defiles our hearts and hands. It is the sin of double-mindedness, and this is basically lack of surrender. “Purify your hearts” carries the idea of having a chaste and faithful heart, not loving the world or grieving the Holy Spirit. These believers were living in worldly pleasures and laughter was their main joy. They needed to be sober and serious and put sin out of their lives. James promises that if they humble themselves, God will lift them up. See Matthew 23:12, Luke 14:11, 1 Peter 5:6, Proverbs 29:23.
Verses 11-12 – Warning against criticism
When a man is worldly-minded and proud, he is always quick to criticize others. The fights among these Christians had their origin here: They were judging one another and speaking evil of one another. Here is the tongue again! Read James 1:19-20, 26 and 3:5-6 again. How many churches have been divided and disgraced by hateful, critical tongues? The Bible teaches us that we must have Christian discernment (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, 1 John 4:1-6), but this does not mean that we can judge the hearts and motives of others. If every Christian would devote himself to obeying Christ and His commands, and not seeing how well others obey Him, our churches would have harmony and peace. James suggests in verse 12 that the only one with the right to judge is the one with the power to punish; and only God has this power.
Verses 13-17 – Warning against self-confidence
Next, James denounces self-confident, boastful planning independent of God. He pictures a man who has a complete plan laid out for the future. Notice the details. He thought about when: today or tomorrow; the persons involved: we; the place: this or that city; the duration: spend a year there; the activity: carry on business; and the anticipated result: make money.
What is missing in this picture? He never once brings God into the planning and business. In life, it is necessary to make some plans for the future, but to do so in self-will is sinful. To say “we will” or “I will” is, in essence, sin. Note, for instance, the “I wills” of Lucifer in Isaiah 14:13-14… “I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the top of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”
It is wrong to plan as if tomorrow was certain. “Do not say…tomorrow.” (Proverbs 3:28) We do not know what tomorrow holds. Our lives are as frail and unpredictable as a puff of smoke. God should be in all our plans, and our plans should be made in His will. We should live and speak in the realization that our lives are under His control. We should say: “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
“You boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.” They were arrogant in their confidence that nothing would interfere with their time schedule. They acted as if they were masters of their own fate. All such boasting is evil because it leaves God out.
James sums up the chapter and points out that we can sin by neglect as well as by deliberate action. It is not simply what we do, but what we do not do that is sin! Life is so brief that we cannot afford to waste it. We must make our lives count for Christ before He returns.
“Anyone, then, who know the good he ought to do and he doesn’t do it, sins.” (v.17)