James 4:11-17

James 4:11-17

At times it feels that the book of James is a commentary on “The Sermon on the Mount.” Jesus said, “Do not judge” in Matthew 7:1. We see that expanded and explained in verses 11-12. The law here doesn't refer to the law of Moses but rather the royal law of love, to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbors as ourselves. When we judge, we are judging both God and our neighbor. Judging here is not about rendering a decision but condemning the person. To condemn a person makes us the god of that person and of the One who made them. We must remember, “There is a judge, and it is not me.”

This ordering of the universe with ourselves at the top comes out in our attempts to rule the future. Verses 13-17 are not a condemnation of planning. But rather a condemnation of planning as if we were the god of the universe. This is the original sin of Satan and is a consistent temptation from him to us. The events that most dramatically changed the course of our lives are often unplanned: a fall, a car wreck, storms, or a diagnosis. We cannot plan the unexpected. We cannot prepare for all contingencies. So it is profoundly arrogant to say, “I shall”. It is worth noting that the plans appear to be entirely selfish. When our plans are selfish, we tend to leave God out of the planning. There is nothing wrong with a business or personal plan, but it needs to be rooted in the humility of “if the Lord wills.” We have as much real control over the future as we have over the morning fog. God alone controls the duration of the fog and of our lives.

To say “Lord willing” needs to be more than a cliché. It needs to not only be on our lips but also in our hearts. Its absence is an indication of autonomy and pride. Its insincere presence indicates hypocrisy. But when said and lived as a prayer, it is the mark of a free, loyal, and obedient servant. In verses 1-10, James addresses the issue of worldliness; here he addresses the issue of the “pride of life,” the invitation of Satan to attempt to reorder the universe with ourselves at the top. In the verse that follows, he will address the flesh. He uses verse 17 as a bridge. This verse addresses what precedes and what follows. This is no loophole for the ignorant. Knowing what to do is to love God and man; failure to do that is sin.

“Grant me, Lord, to reject the temptation of pride. AMEN”