In yesterday’s reading we finished with James highlighting the important work of peacemakers in the Christian community,

“Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness,” James 3:18

But today he changes gears by asking a challenging question:

“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” James 4:1-3

The World vs. God

In his brief introduction to the book of James, Eugene Peterson wisely observes:

“Christian churches are not, as a rule, model communities of good behavior. They are, rather, places where human misbehavior is brought out into the open, faced, and dealt with.”

Pastor James confronted the spiritual adultery of the first century church members who found it all to easy to choose friendship with the world and all its alluring attractions. Like a stern schoolmaster, James gets right to the point in his attempt to correct bad behavior among church members:

“Don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God?” James 4:4

“Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble’ James 4:5—6

James brings his mini-sermon to a resounding conclusion with some timeless and powerful words that Christians of the 21^st century need to heed just as much as did the Christians he was speaking to in the first century.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom, Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” James 4:7—10

Now, as the strong leader and shepherd of his scattered flock, James issues three stern warnings as he continues to appeal to the believers to live more Christ-like lives in whatever cultural context they find themselves living and working.

A Warning Against Judging Others

“Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another” James 4:11

To make his point clear, consider Webster’s New World dictionary definition of slander:

“The utterance in the presence of another person of a false statement or statements, damaging to a third person’s character or reputation: usually distinguished from libel, which is written.”

A brother or sister should not make such statements against a fellow believer says James.

“There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?” James 4:12—13

A Warning About Self-Confidence

“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘if it is the Lord’s will we will live and do this or that.’ James 4:13-15

A Warning to the Rich

“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.” James 5:1-6

Here James is speaking out in the tradition of the Old Testament prophets. God’s Word is burning in his heart, and the urgency and force of his appeal is as relevant to us as to his first audience.

Pastor James in Action

As he concludes his epistle, we see James the pastor in action, he ends his letter with several encouraging statements—all remain timeless and applicable today. Read his exhortations slowly, let them sink down into your heart as you prayerfully read and meditate on these jewels from James:

“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. Watch a farmer patiently planting and nurturing his crops, while waiting for the all-important spring and autumn rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.” James 5:7-8

“Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged.” James 5:9

“Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Remember the story of Job and how he persevered through unimaginable setbacks and losses with a firm faith in God. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy” James 5:10-11

“Avoid swearing and coarse language. All you need to say is a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’” James 5:12

Pray for Each Other

Finally, James urges us all—his beloved brothers and sisters—who fellowship with one another in Christ—to make prayer a staple of our everyday, ordinary discipleship:

“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord . . . confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

“Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” James 5:13—18

A Final Word from James

“My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” James 5:19-20

Paul’s First Letter to Timothy

Having completed our reading of James, we now turn to Paul’s first letter to his young mentee Timothy—“my true son in the faith”–1 Timothy 1:2

Quoting Eugene Peterson’s introduction to 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus:

“The best leadership in spiritual communities formed in the name of Jesus, the Messiah, is inconspicuous, not calling attention to itself but not sacrificing anything in the way of conviction and firmness either.

In his letters to two young associates—Timothy in Ephesus and Titus in Crete—we see Paul encouraging and guiding the development of just such leadership. What he had learned so thoroughly himself, he was now passing on, and showing them, in turn, how to develop a similar leadership in local congregations.”

Paul’s first instruction is designed to help prevent the spread of false doctrine in the Ephesian church. Paul encourages Timothy to stay in Ephesus,

“So that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Timothy 1:3—5

Paul Received Mercy

At one time Paul was the enemy of Christ, but he became an example of God’s grace:

“I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.”

Conduct in Worship

Paul continued his letter to Timothy with very detailed instructions on the conduct of worship, especially emphasizing the need for believers to practice the corporate and individual practice of praying so that

“Petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people . . . This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.”  1Timothy 2:1—6

This chapter ends with additional instructions from Paul to Timothy.  As there are now varying practices among contemporary denominations and churches regarding the specific roles of men and women in ordained ministry—we leave that for each individual reader to explore with the help of their local churches and denominational leaders.