Humility Cures Worldliness
September 13, 2022
Commentary
It is easy to find ourselves telling God what we want Him to do and then get angry at Him if He doesn’t do it. James now gives seven steps for victory in this warfare.
Submit to God (v. 7)Resist the devil (v. 7)Draw near to God (v. 8)Clean your hands (actions v. 8)Purify your hearts (motives v. 8)Repent (v. 9)Humble yourselves (v. 10)If we follow these instructions we will not be at war with God, ourselves or others. The key to this victory is submission to God (v. 7a). This submission involves purity of mind and purity of heart (v.8b). However, anyone who wants to be submissive to God must of necessity resist the devil (v. 7b). The promise is that if we resist the devil, he will flee from us (v. 7b).
Application
Dr. A.W. Tozer wrote: “The more I am like God the nearer I will be to God. Suppose I am sitting in my living room with a Siamese cat on my lap and my wife is several feet away in the kitchen; yet I am nearer to my wife than the cat because the cat is not like me.” Am I more like God now than I was six months ago?
James 4:7– 10 (NET)
7 So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter into mourning and your joy into despair. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.
Illustration: You May Win the Battle but there is Another One
The fighting Irish of Notre Dame playing on their own home court had the audacity to whip the Bruins of UCLA. Digger Phelps, the coach of that Notre Dame team said, “The victory is sweet but unfortunately in a short period of time we will have to go to Pauley Pavilion and battle them on their own court.” And everybody in California shouted “Amen” when he made the statement. And sure enough, in a very short time, every sports fan in the area watched UCLA on their home court soundly defeat the Fighting Irish. You may win the battle, but there is always another one to fight another day. (As told by Chuck Swindoll in his book of Illustrations and Quotes, p. 604).