Knowing and Doing the Right Thing
The Epistle of James: A Call to Spiritual Maturity • Sermon • Submitted
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Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.”
Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.
Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”
But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.
Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.
Background
Background
In the days of the apostles, traveling was a luxury for most people.
Those who were able to travel were mostly businessmen. They were considered luxurious, because they were able to buy things and experience adventure that were beyond the capacity of most people.
Those who engaged is business were considered luxurious, because they were able to buy things and experience adventure that were beyond the capacity of most people.
Those who engaged is business were considered luxurious, because they were able to buy things and experience adventure that were beyond the capacity of most people.
Those who were able to travel were mostly businessmen.
Doing business in other places was a very attractive idea for the business people. It meant more earnings, more experience, and probably more influence.
Certain people in the early church were involved in such endeavors.
Certain people in the early church were involved in such endeavors.
James’ Arguments
James’ Arguments
Some people are given opportunity and access to certain things above the common men. But that opportunity and access does not mean it also the right thing to do.
Doing things, and getting things, just because you can, is in the eyes of God ignorance of one’s life and arrogance.
James 4.1
“you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow...”
Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.
Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”
But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.
“you boast in your arrogance...”
“arrogance” - Grk. alazoneia, false pride; arrogant boasting;
The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume ἀλαζών, ἀλαζονεία
The alazṓn is “one who makes more of himself than reality justifies,” or “promises more than he can perform,” often used of orators, philosophers, doctors, cooks, and officials. A link with pride is sometimes seen; hence in Hab. 2:5 the alazṓn is one who does not trust in God. The term occurs in the lists in Rom. 1:30 and 2 Tim. 3:2 in its usual sense and with a religious nuance. This nuance is stronger in the case of alazoneía in 1 Jn. 2:16 (“thinking one can shape one’s own life apart from God‘”) and Jms. 4:16 (“thinking one controls the future”).
James delivers his message in verse 17:
“to one who knows the right thing to do and does not doit, to him it is sin.”
The 2 most important things in life
The 2 most important things in life
When it comes to practical living, the 2 most important things are:
When it comes to practical living, the 2 most important things are:
to KNOW the right thing, and
to DO the right thing
“You shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may be well with you and that you may go in and possess the good land which the Lord swore to give your fathers,
Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear unapproved.
2 Corinthians 13.7
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
Romans 12.17
But how does one know what is right?
How does one know the right thing?
The Ways of the Lord are right
Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; Whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, And the righteous will walk in them, But transgressors will stumble in them.
Sinners only do what is right in their own eyes
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.
“You shall not do at all what we are doing here today, every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes;
Deuteronomy
Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.
this happens when there is no recognized authority (ex. king)
Judges
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Israel was warned against it
“There also you and your households shall eat before the Lord your God, and rejoice in all your undertakings in which the Lord your God has blessed you.
“You shall not do at all what we are doing here today, every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes;
“There also you and your households shall eat before the Lord your God, and rejoice in all your undertakings in which the Lord your God has blessed you.
“You shall not do at all what we are doing here today, every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes;
for you have not as yet come to the resting place and the inheritance which the Lord your God is giving you.
Deuteronomy 12.
How does one know the right thing?
The Ways of the Lord are right
The Ways of the Lord are right
Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; Whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, And the righteous will walk in them, But transgressors will stumble in them.
Hosea 14.
The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psalm 19.
Doing the right thing is doing the will of God.
Doing the right thing is doing the will of God.
Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”
“If the Lord wills...”
it is not a simple expression of religiousity
it is an earnest desire to know and understand God’s will.
We 4 responsibilities concerning God’s will:
we must “know” God’s will
“And he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear an utterance from His mouth.
For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
Colossians
we must understand God’s will
So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
we must prove God’s will
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
We determine God’s will by working at it.
The more we obey, the easier it is to discover what God wants us to do.
we must “do God’s will from the heart”
not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Doing that right thing
Doing that right thing
Conclusion
Conclusion
The mature believer does not do things, or buy things, just because he/she has the capability.
He seeks the will of God in everything he does.
The mature Christian delights in doing the will of God.