James Chapter 4
Keep selfishness in check and
Submit to God
Read James chapter 4
Review
Chapter 1 - spiritual maturity in dealing with trials and temptation, being a doer of the word
Chapter 2
1. Living Out Your Faith in Spiritual Maturity
A. In Service toward others
Without favoritism
B. The relationship between faith and works
Faith without works (dead, useless)
Faith perfected by works (example of Abraham)
Chapter 3
C. In Holiness
1. Controlling Your Tongue
2. Living Wisely - Controlling Your Thoughts
Chapter 4
D. In Humility
Keep Selfishness in Check & Submit to God
Verses 1-2 - connect with James 3:16
your pleasure/selfish ambition
envious/ jealousy
fight and quarrel/disorder
Verse 2 - "you do not have because you do not ask"
- by doing so, we keep God out of the equation, we try to live life on our own
Verse 3 - "you ask with wrong motives"
- this is not acting with wisdom and understanding - connect to James 3: 13
- connect to James 3: 14 - the motive of selfish ambition
Verse 4 - "friendship with the world"
- connect to James 1:27 (Keep oneself unstained by the world)
- the world promotes selfish behavior (personal pleasure, personal gain)
Read Romans 8:5-8, I John 2:15-16, Matthew 6:24, John 15:19
Verse 5 - Read I Corinthians 6:19-20, II Corinthians 6:16-17
Verse 6 - Read Psalm 138:6, Matthew 23:12
Verse 7 - resist the urge to be selfish
Verses 7-10-Humility is where you will find grace from God (see verse 6)
Verse 8 - double-minded
- connect to James 1 :8 (unstable - purify your hearts and commit to your faith in God)
Verse 9-10 - Let God exalt you, do not exalt yourself
Read Luke 14:7-11
Verses 11-12- connect to James 2:13 (judgment vs. mercy)
- God is the judge - we are to be humble
- it is arrogant to judge others (we cannot save or destroy)
- we should, however, be discerning when it comes to sin (hate the sin, but love the sinner)
Verses 13-15 - do not be presumptuous - we can plan our future, but we must realize that God can change our plans
- we must recognize His sovereignty and submit to His will for our lives
Verse 16- connect to James 3:8
Verse 17 - "the right thing to do" - (be a doer of the word - be humble before man and God)
- connect to James 2:16, 18, 26