Scriptures for Sunday
Dear brothers and sisters,
This Sunday we are warned about two egregious sins in James 4:11-17 coming easily from the basic sin of pride: evil speaking (11-12) and presumptuous planning (13-17). How much less would we talk if we didn’t talk about other people in a bad way? If we spread false rumors about someone we are guilty of slander, if they are true we are guilty of gossip. In doing this we not only use our tongue for evil, but we judge the law of God by cherry picking the doctrines we want and rejecting those who “are not bowling down our alley.” Would you not agree that gossip destroys all trust and fellowship?
The other sin is well known to us at FBF since I preach it every New Year: the match sermon. How quickly the smoke/vapor/mist appears and disappears. So we must not be proud and assume God will grant us years of life and prosperity, but say “if He wills” I will do this or that. Psalm 90 reminds us how brief our time is in this world so walking in the fear of the Lord is wise.
Certainly we are to discern and understand others, but that does not give us freedom to judge and condemn them as well. Look at Deuteronomy 13:1-11 for discerning false teachers and how they were dealt with in the Law of Moses. In Matthew 7:1-5 Jesus warns against having a condemning and censurable attitude which disapproves of those who are different. You know, the person who criticizes others for just about every little thing from table manners, TV shows, and dress; stuff that does not amount to a row of pins.
Romans 2:1-3 has the great insight that what I condemn in others I do myself. This is seen when a loud mouth criticizes another for talking too much! He wanted to be the life of the group, not the other person.
Meditate on James 3:13-5:6 for the signs of a worldly attitude: jealousy, envy, selfish ambition, pride, slander, judgmentalism, and materialism. Plainly these are terrible sins which we must work to avoid if we are to please the Lord and reflect His beauty to a lost world. Remember we do not belong to ourselves, but to Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.
See you Sunday,
Lee