James 4:13-5:12
To Mature in My Faith, I Need To:
- Keep the right perspectives
“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.” James 4:13-16 NIV
- Procrastination says: “I have time”
- Maturing faith says: “Live like you are dying”
- Lack of understanding says: “God is real, but He is not really involved in the details of my life”
- Maturing faith says: “God is real, and very involved in every detail of my life”
2. Keep the right priorities
“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.” James 4:17-5:1-6 NIV
- Immature faith asks: “What is the least amount of sin I have to avoid to stay in God’s grace?”
- Maturing faith asks: “Am I doing everything that Jesus told me would bring abundant life to myself and others?”
- Temptation says: “Heaven is heaven, but business is business”
- Maturing faith responds: “Because heaven is heaven, business is never just business”
3. Keep practicing patienceand perseverance
“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.” James 5:7-12 NIV
- The enemy says: “God is mad at you, that is why you are suffering”
- Maturing faith says: “I need to consider it pure joy when I go through trials, because it will produce perseverance in me”
- Small faith says: “Why me? This isn’t fair!”
- Maturing faith says: “No matter what I will hope in Him because the best is yet to come!”