James 4 - 2.4.25

SCRIPTURE:  James 4:6b-8. “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 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.”

OBSERVATION:  James addressed the root problem that many of the so-called Christ-followers were dealing with; pride and arrogance.  Their sinful and evil desires reflected the pride that was in their hearts. They were attempting to maintain a “friendship” with the world, and yet be followers of Jesus. 

Many of the affluent believers had become so self-centered and arrogant that they were excluding God from their daily activities. 

James called them double-minded, and adulterous people. “Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred to God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend to the world becomes an enemy of God.”  James was referring to the kind of pleasure that kept them from pleasing God.

APPLICATION:  The best way for me to get rid of any pride and arrogance in my heart is to humble myself before God, and submit to Him. Pride makes me self-centered, but when I draw near to God, and apply His wisdom, He draws near to me, and purifies my heart as I turn from my sins, and ask for His forgiveness. 

PRAYER:  I submit myself to You God, and pray that You will help me to imitate Jesus’ example in my day to day relationships with both Christians and non-Christians, and that I will demonstrate the kind of unselfishness, humility, and self-sacrifice that I am only able to do as I love You more than what the world has to offer.

- Robin Orefice