James 4:11-17
When we left the book of James a few weeks ago we had looked at the way to over the adulterous way we treat God. The way we do that is to submit to God, humble ourselves before Him, and draw near to Him. When we draw near to Him, He in turn draws near to us.
James is going to continue in that same line of discussion in verse 11.
We could probably spend the entire time on just verses 11 and 12 but I will try and keep is short. Before we get into the actual commands James gives here, I want to point out something important. Notice that James calls them brothers, or brothers and sisters. Back in verse 4 he called them adulterous people. This is a case of two things being true at the same time.
They are indeed adulterous people because of how they are acting but that does not change the fact that they are brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to understand this teaching today. It has somehow become acceptable to condemn brothers and sisters in Christ when they do not do, or act, or believe as some think they should. It is deemed acceptable to call them names and speak evil, or criticize, them. James condemns that way of thinking.
Don’t criticize one another. The KJV says speak not evil. Something that can get lost in translations like the CSB or NIV, that is made clearer in the KJV or NASB, is that James uses the same word three times. What the CSB translates as criticize, defame, and defame is really the same word being used over and over. The KJV translates is consistently as speak evil.
What does it mean to criticize, to speak evil, or as the NIV says, to slander someone? Behind the idea of speaking evil or criticizing is the act of condemnation. The person who does this is taking the role God has reserved for Himself and is assigning that role to themselves. By doing this think they are then able to set the parameters for what is condemnable and what is not condemnable. They are acting as judge.
Judging makes a presumption of the destiny of the individual and only God is authorized to do that. The reason God reseves that role for Himself is because He is the only One who knows the heart. James has already discussed this idea previously.
This is why James can say that whoever does this judges the law and if you judge the law you are no longer a doer of the law but a judge.
There is only one lawgiver and judge and that one is able to both save and destroy. If James was a bit snarkier, he might have said there is only one lawgiver and judge, and it is not you! Stop pretending you are that person. As human beings, we cannot save anyone and therefore we must not condemn anyone either.
Notice what James does at the end of this verse. He asks, “But who are you to judge your neighbor?” Who is my neighbor? Previously James was speaking of not criticizing, or speaking evil, or judging fellow believers but now expands that to include everyone.
Take anyone whom Christians condemn because they consider them to live outside of God’s will. It could be Muslims, homosexuals, atheists, anyone. What does condemning accomplish? Nothing! God is not sitting on His throne saying, “Let me see what Eric thinks I should do with this person.” My opinion counts for nothing. If my opinion counts for nothing it doesn’t offer any benefit for me to give my opinion.
A better use of my time is not to criticize and condemn such a person but to show them who Jesus Christ is and what Jesus Christ accomplished for them. Once they know who Jesus Christ is, then He can convict them towards salvation. If they reject Him, then He alone passes judgment. Our time is better spent being witnesses of Jesus Christ.
Verse 13 and 14 are not really a change in course but rather just a different emphasis on the same argument. It is still speaking about taking on a role reserved for God. Similar to not knowing the hearts of other people, we cannot know what tomorrow is going to bring. He is likely focused on the rich, businesspeople because that is who he mentions in 5:1. The presumptuousness James is focused on here is the rich delaying doing something until it is of personal benefit to them. They don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring so if it is something that needs to be done then it should be done.
This applies to us today as well. We don’t have to be someone who is considered rich. We can all be guilty of postponing doing something until the benefit to us is maximized.
Instead, in verses 15 and 16, James argues you should say “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” Boasting in our own strength and understanding is arrogance and all such boasting is evil.
James is not saying we should not make plans for the future. Making plans is wise and being good stewards of God’s resources. Without plans, nothing would get done because we would just wake up and do whatever seemed right that day.
The key phrase we always need to keep in mind as we make plans is “if the Lord wills.” Too often when we make plans we are unwilling to change those plans if it becomes clear they are not in line with God’s will. That is what James is arguing against here.
If the Lord will, we will do this or do that, and if we discover it is not the Lord’s will then we won’t keep trying to make it happen. To do so is sin because are saying to God that our plan is greater than His plan.
Finally in verse 17, James wraps up this argument here by reminding us that it is sin to know the good and not do it. This applies to both sides we just looked at. We would be quick to acknowledge that doing something that is not God’s will is sin and likewise to not do God’s will is sin. I don’t think anyone would disagree with that statement.
But it is just as much a sin to postpone doing good until it benefits us more. I could help someone now but if I wait 6 months I can help them and get something for myself in return. James says that is wrong. Do good regardless of how it affects you personally.
All of this comes back to what James says in verse 7, “Submit to God.” If we keep that as our focus, we can never go wrong.