tell you this is the way to be, but James says it is earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. Instead, he tells us, we should display humility by a life way. Be gentle and sensible. Be willing to listen to sound reasoning. Be compassionate and forgiving, as Christ has been with you. Do good.’ It is weak and foolish according to those who know how to get ahead in the world. But, for the Christian, whose treasure is in heaven, and whose Of course, living like this requires something, doesn’t it? It requires
reap in due season if we press on in this way of humbly doing good and don’t give up. It requires us to take the long view of things, and to be- lieve our God when He says our humble labor and patient waiting will be worth it. It requires us to believe that, having lived a humble, Christ- like life, we’ll be vindicated and made to share in a rich inheritance when Christ comes in His glory. It is the reward Christ calls us to pursue. And, to this end, we’re to have with humility with regard to our position in this world.
Possessions To which James adds a second call to likewise maintain humility with
regard to our possessions in this world. Put another way, we shouldn’t it? Holding before us images of beautiful people with nice things, with the suggestion that your life would be better if you were like them. And we’re too easily ensnared by it, aren’t we? Seeing that thing and desir- ing it. Convincing ourselves that we don’t just want it, we need it. And soon, if unchecked, doing whatever it takes to get what we desire. But, as citizens of a heavenly kingdom, James is warning us that we’re not to this world or the things of this world, which James says is enmity with knowing our real treasure is safe with Him. The Holy Spirit within us, we’re told, yearns jealously for this, for our single-minded commitment to living for our Savior.
It is the way we need to learn to think about our possession, holding them loosely as a people who already have more than we could ever dream, guaranteed and kept for us in heaven. Not only will this serve to show the world around us what a treasure we’ve found in Christ, but we ourselves will repeatedly discover that Jesus and His fellowship are far sweeter and more satisfying than all the stuff in the world. And so, we’ll be made to long more fervently for that day when our enjoyment of His fellowship will be made complete. It is how Christ lived. He often had no place to lay His head. He suffered greatly. He willingly endured
March/April 2021
looking to the joy that was set be- fore Him. And it is how He calls us to live as well. We’re to have with regard to our possessions in this world.
Other People Third, James teaches, the people
humility with regard to other people in this world. As those who must writes, we shouldn’t go around slandering and proudly judging one another, and thereby judging isn’t, of course, that there is never a time for pointing out and cor- recting sin in another person’s life. Rather, the point James is making is that we must be ever in our own eyes that need to be confessed and repented of if we would approach others with hu- mility, rather than harshly judging and condemning them. By which, James says, he is really warning us that we’re not to proudly judge the when we judge one another with a proud spirit, we effectively pro- nounce a judgment on God’s law standard to convict this person, so I’ll do it.’ It ought to go without saying that this is very danger- ous ground. This we’re not to do. Rather, James implies, we should humbly judge ourselves before It is, we must always remember,
great white throne in the coming day of judgment, not you or me. It may seem like an obvious thing to
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