Faith in Action. Lesson 6: Protecting Your Faith. James 4:1 17. Humility Cures Worldliness

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1 Faith in Action Lesson 6: Protecting Your Faith James 4:1 17 Humility Cures Worldliness In a nutshell ~ James has pointed out that the truly wise person is one who pursues peace, purity, and promotes relationships without partiality. Now he reveals the opposite: pride produces strife and division, which are the direct result of demonic worldly wisdom. Read James 4:1 10. Why do wars exist in this world? Why do so many families fall apart, even Christian families? And why are more and more churches dealing with fighting and division? James answers these questions by stating the tragic fact that wars and factions do exist among believers. 1. What causes all the quarrelling among God s family? v.1 Power possessions pleasures, these are the reasons we humans are never content. These are strong desires that keep us on a futile pursuit of never ending personal satisfaction. These powerful forces are at work within us to always want more no matter what the cost to ourselves or our loved ones. When we don t get what we want, often the price we pay is very high. 2. James goes on to mention the most common reasons for unanswered prayer; what are they? a. v. 2 b. v. 3 c. Notice the difference between the attitudes and actions of verses 2 3 and those seen in 1 John 3: What are the conditions for answered prayer in vv ? 1

2 d. What similarities do you see between 1 John 3:21 23 and what James has been teaching in his epistle? There is nothing wrong with desiring a life that is satisfying and fulfilling. In fact, God bestows His blessings upon us so that we will enjoy life (James 1:17). What He desires is that we look to Him and not to the world for our enjoyment. When the pleasure we seek is at someone else s expense or it jeopardizes our obedience to Him, it is worldly and sinful. 3. What does James say about those who desire friendship with the world? v. 4 What does it mean to be at enmity with God? a. By what name does James refer to those who seek after it? What does this label tell you about this person s devotion to God? Up close ~ A spiritual adulterer or adulteress is someone who prefers to be friends with the world rather than a friend of God. Read Romans 8:5 10 and answer the following... a. What is the danger in setting your mind on the things of this world? b. Is it possible to please both the flesh and God at the same time? Please explain. c. If Christ dwells in you, how will that affect your lifestyle in this world? d. Take a look at 1 John 2: Consider what it means to be at friends with the world versus that of friendship with God. Share your thoughts below. 2

3 The same pride and self-centeredness that causes us to fight with one another also causes us to lust after the things of this world. It creates an unhealthy appetite for excessiveness and for things that are harmful even destructive to our relationship with God. He is jealous over us (v. 5), wanting us to keep Him as our first love and priority. 4. What releases us from this self-centeredness? v. 6 Put this in your own words. When the Holy Spirit indwells us, we see that what the world has to offer us in friendship amounts to no more than cheap substitutes for what we really want and need, which is God Himself. 5. In order to be God s friend, who do we have to resist? When we do resist, what is the result? v. 7 The cure for worldliness is humility before the Lord. Although we don t deserve it, when we submit to Him, He lifts us up in due time. 6. What is the key to coming close to God? a. v. 7 b. v. 8 c. v. 9 d. v. 10 e. Compare verses 7 10 with 1 Peter 5:5 9. When you humbly submit to God, what are you also doing to your adversary the devil? How does Peter describe him? f. What does God promise you when you humble yourself before Him and then stand fast in your faith? Will you claim this promise for yourself today? 3

4 Key Verse ~ (Memory verse) James 4:7 8a Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Review this verse often throughout the week. Write it out a couple of times in the space provided to help you commit it to memory. By week s end, try to notice how and where you are able to put it into practice. Note your results. Do Not Judge or Boast Read James 4: James is teaching his readers to glorify God by putting others first. In doing so, we demonstrate not only our love for Him but also for one another, which promotes peace and righteousness in the body of Christ. 1. The law of love (Matthew 22:37 40) says you are to love God first and love your neighbor as yourself? v. 11 If you speak evil of a brother or sister in Christ, what does that make you? What are the implications of this? Share your thoughts. When you are quick to criticize someone else, you put yourself in the position of a judge and you are, in essence, breaking God s law. Since God is the Lawgiver and Judge, it is not your place to sit in judgment of anyone else. To deliberately break a law is to treat it with disrespect and disdain. James says that it is the same as speaking evil of a brother or sister in Christ. It is an easy step from criticizing someone to hating them. The bridge crossing over from one to the other involves sitting in judgment of them. 2. According to 1 John 2:8 11 and 1 John 4:20 21, what has happened to the believer who hates his brother or sister in Christ? If you ve been guilty of this sin, confess it to the Lord and receive His forgiveness today. 4

5 Touch point~ Before you criticize another, remember God s law of love and determine to say something good or kind about them instead. Take a moment to ask yourself the following: Will what I am about to say... glorify God? bring me closer to Him? stumble or injure my brother or sister in Christ? Personal: Can you apply these three questions right now to a situation in your life? Please briefly share the situation and how you are going about handling it. What adjustment(s) can you make in applying God s Word to your situation? James next uses the illustration of a business man in denouncing the sin of boasting about one s life. Do you notice what is missing from the picture? Does this person ever take God into consideration? 3. What is your life according to verse 14? Why is it wrong to plan as if tomorrow is certain? a. Who should be consulted in all of your plans? v. 15 b. These believers were priding themselves by boasting about their future plans. What does James declare about such boasting? v. 16 c. If you fail to do good meaning to consider God in every aspect of your plans, what are you actually doing? v. 17 d. Personal: To say I will and leave God out of the equation is the essence of sin. Take a look at the I wills of Lucifer in Isaiah 14:13 14 and then take a little personal inventory by asking the following... Am I guilty of self-confidence by omitting God from my prayers and plans? Am I anxious for more or content with what I have? When God speaks to me through His Word, do I submit or resist? 5

6 The wisdom to be discovered in James is likened to beautiful pearls held lovingly in the Father s hand, waiting to be dropped one by one into the reader s mind and heart. The value of each is priceless (Matthew 13:45 46). At the Spirit s leading, select one Pearl of Truth from your lesson and explain why it is precious to you. Pearl of Truth ~ Take the Pearl of Truth you ve selected and pray it back to God. Praying the Word not only blesses His heart, it allows you to make it your own! As you showcase it by putting it on display in your life, others will be drawn to the Lord by its beauty. Write out your prayer in the space provided below. Pray the Truth ~ 2010 Janis J. Vance, All Rights Reserved. Used by permission. 6

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