02/25/2024
Today let’s study James 4 and see if we are living our lives according to what is written there. Are our lives aligned with God’s Word, and the lessons that Jesus taught us? Are we submitting our will, and lives, totally to the Lord? Are we yielding ourselves to Him in every way? Let’s dig further into this through a brief study of God’s Word on the subject.
“Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”
James 4:2-3 KJV
As I read E.M. Bounds his thoughts led me even closer to this scripture when he wrote…
"Prayer is based on the purpose and promise of God. Prayer is submission to God. Prayer is never disloyal to God." – E.M. Bounds
As I studied James 4 it became clear to me that we were being warned not to pray based on our human desires and the lusts of the world, but instead to pray within the will of God and for the pursuits of the Spirit as he followed that will. Thinking on this it suddenly dawned on me how something that sounds so simple can become complex in its execution.
I have seen pastors, and many others, whose ministries were destroyed when the force behind them changed from serving God within His will into making a living, or directing their activities to please and advance themselves. Only by placing our Lord God above ourselves and all other things, and by praying humbly in total submission and obedience to His will, can we expect to receive His promised forgiveness, and its reward.
“For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
James 4:15-17 KJV
Righteous men led astray by their own lusts and desires. We aren’t meant to earn or work our way to perfection, or to lead our own selves into righteousness. We are only meant to want these things by seeking them, and to make ourselves available to the Lord by believing in Jesus and having faith. Our salvation is a gift from God that has been earned for us through the blood of Christ. Jesus taught against any other self-serving behavior when he said...
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Matthew 6:33 KJV
And…
“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 CSB
So, just as we can seek, pray, and walk in the will of God, we can also walk away from them if we do not want to maintain our relationship with God. However, although we have this freedom to walk away, God’s desire is that we remain; not only for a moment, but for all eternity.
Several years ago my father in law was dying. He had been a masterful gardener all of his life and had a beautiful garden in his backyard, but as he became more frail and couldn't tend it, the weeds began to grow up in it, and the beauty that was once so prevalent there began to fade away. Our relationship with God is very similar to my father in law's garden... without our constant prayer, attention, and faithfulness, it will wither and we will drift apart from Him.
James 4 is a chapter of warning and instruction; it alerts us to the dangers of our own human nature and then speaks to how godly men should behave, and maintain their faith. It warns us of our pride and espouses humility instead.
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
James 4:10 KJV
When we submit to God we find ourselves becoming humble before Him, and when we place His will before our own we find that we prosper in our faith. Today let's contemplate God's will for us, and compare what we read in His Holy Word with how we are leading our lives, and how well we have received His commandments into our hearts and everyday walks with Him.
“I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” Psalms 40:8 KJV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for teaching us to be humble and meek, but thank you most for forgiving us as we come before you in contrition, and completely submit ourselves to you, and your will. Thank you for the love that you have for us that is so complete that you sent your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us so that we would be redeemed and forgiven of our sin debt, and by His resurrection from death, be given the gift of eternal life in your presence. Help us Father to believe fully in you… without doubt, no lukewarm commitment or our faith in you, only our firm and complete belief and submission to you and your will. You are merciful, kind, and full of grace Abba, and your love for us is without limit. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who was, and is, and is to come. You are our Heavenly Father to whom we submit ourselves completely, and from whom we ask our forgiveness, salvation, and for the gift of eternal life. Your promises are forever true, and your will is unchanging. In you there is no variation or shadow; you are steadfast. Hear our prayers Father, and praised be your name always; throughout all eternity. Lord, you are good, and your peace gives us a rest in its perfection. We find ourselves comforted in you as we are cradled in your arms and we snuggle ourselves close to your breast in total submission… We worship you Father, and thank you for your having loved us so completely, and having bathed us in your saving grace in Christ forevermore.
Amen
Rich Forbes