World Changers Or World Chasers?

 

WED Evening Prayer Reflection 111820 (James 3: 13-4:12)

The letter of James once again delivers some profound life advice! He says: “Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.” My friend Joe and I recently studied the Gospel according to John 15. One of the discoveries we made, is the relationship between us abiding in Jesus and the fruits that become evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. The letter of James certainly does not shy away from the discussion of faith and works.

Which one is important? Faith or works? James explains how both are part of the life of a believer. The grace of God in our lives helps us accomplish what pleases God. Believers’ works are directly linked with their response to the love of God by faith. In order words, what we do comes out of our gratitude and love for God.

In these verses, James rejects some of our attitudes and works that are really incompatible with the message of Jesus Christ. James wrote in v. 14: “But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambitions in your hearts, don’t be boastful and false to the truth…” Think about it, it is true: whenever our selfish ambitions are supersized, we want to get what we want no matter what. We say things like: We will deliver results regardless of the means we use: Sort of like, the ends justify the means! People always end up getting hurt in the process, and James says that where there is that kind of envy and supersized selfish ambition, there is wickedness of every kind, which is totally unspiritual, earthly and devilish.

James goes on to show that the disputes, conflicts and wars among us come from our cravings/ our supersized desires that are at war within us. This reminded me of the common depiction in movies where the bad guy says: “I want the whole world for myself…” These supersized desires are achieved because someone is not able to let go of what they can’t have. For example, Herod took his brothers’ wife Herodias and John the Baptist was decapitated for pointing it out.

King David took Bathsheba the wife of Uriah the Hittite. Uriah was killed to cover the sin. The wars, fights and conflicts for land acquisitions worldwide had entire families wiped out. These examples are showing how true James statement is. He says you do not have because you do not ask. We don’t know how to ask; or we ask wrongly because we want to spend what we get on our own pleasures (James 4:3). Again, here there is a deep problem of selfishness, and perhaps also a hidden need to surpass others in an unsolicited competition and dominate others/ maybe to be seen as powerful? I am afraid this is a human problem. It is called sin. James warns us that we cannot be friends with the world and be at the same time, friends with God. In other words, this human need to dominate others and to get results by trampling on others is the Modus Operandi of the world. That’s how the world works!

The more our focus and determination is geared towards the ways of the world, the further from God we get: A friend of the world becomes the enemy of God. We were created to worship God, what disappointment it must be for God to watch us grovel in front of insignificant things, things that ultimately can’t bring lasting peace and joy in our lives. Things that ultimately cause suffering of others around us. Someone will say to me, yeah but Father Christian, it is the way of the world. Yes precisely! We should try to stay clear of its trajectory.

James leaves us with a seasoned advice: “Submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners and purify your hearts… Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will exalt you.”

Pray with me!

Lord Jesus, Son of God! Have mercy on me a Sinner!

Amen.