June 28, 2009 “Evil Speech, Evil Boasting!” James 4:11-17
The tongue is a monster and evil speech is the fire it breathes! James calls the tongue: 1. A fire – James 3:6 2. A world of iniquity – James 3:6 3. An unruly evil, full of deadly poison- James 3:8
Yet, with all he said in chapter 3 about the sinful human tongue, James was not finished! Here in chapter 4 James revisits the topic and points out two more patterns of evil speech he would have us avoid!
I. The first pattern of evil speech we should avoid is JUDGMENTALISM – James 4:11-12 NKJ James 4:11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?
Alfred Plummer describes this: “The context shows what kind of adverse speaking is meant. It is not so much abusive or calumnious language that is condemned, as the love of finding fault. The censorious temper is utterly unchristian. It means we have been paying an amount of attention to the conduct of others which would have been better bestowed on our own. It means also that we have been paying this attention, not in order to help, but to criticize, and to criticize unfavorably … but over and above all this, censoriousness is an invasion of the divine prerogatives. It is not merely a transgression of the royal law of love, but setting oneself above the law, as if it (meaning the Law of Love) was a mistake, or did not apply to oneself. It is a climbing up onto that judgment-seat on which God alone has the right to sit and a publishing of judgments upon others, which He alone has the right to pronounce.”
- It focuses on (hunts) the faults of others –
NKJ Matthew 7:1 "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 "Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
- It is lacking in brotherly love – James 4:11; John 13:34-35
NKJ John 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
- It is lacking in humility and reeks of pride – James 4:12
A. We should not covet the position of “Judge” B. We should not pretend to the knowledge of God, claiming we know another’s heart: this is beyond human ability to know - Matthew 5:21-30 C. This is why two or more eye-witnesses were required for condemnation in court – NKJ Deuteronomy 17:6 "Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.
- Before we move on, let us consider what is not condemned in these verses:
A. Discerning between right and wrong, making moral judgments is not condemned here – NKJ Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. B. Confronting obvious sin, with a heart to restore a sinning brother is not condemned here - NKJ Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. C. Legitimate church discipline is not condemned here – NKJ Matthew 18:15 " Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 "But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' 17 "And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. D. Our PCA Book of Church Order is a great treasure in this regard, if it is properly understood and followed. II. The second pattern of evil speech we should avoid is Secular or Ungodly Boasting- James 4:13-17 NKJ James 4:13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. These verses condemn our leaving God out of our thoughts, plans and speech. Our speech (as referenced here) is a mere symptom of a deeper problem – PRACTICAL ATHEISM! We may believe in God for the religious aspects of life – “I am saved by the blood of the Lamb!” Yet, we leave Him out of our everyday thought and life and our godless speech exposes this problem! Our godless speech also could contribute to this problem. As the way we think comes out in our speech, so also how we talk works back to impact how we THINK! It can influence how others think also!
“Oh, where is the sea?” The fishes cried, As they swam the Atlantic waters through; “We have heard of the sea and the ocean tide And we long to gaze on its waters blue.”
“All around us are little fishes looking for the sea; people living, moving, having their being in an ocean of God’s providence, but who can’t see the ocean for the water. Maybe it is because we call it by another name. The ancient Hebrews from whom the Bible came were a religious people. They thought in religious patterns, they spoke in religious phrases, they saw in every event the activity of God. It rained. It was God Who sent the rain. When crops were good it was God Who yielded the increase. But that is not our language, nor the pattern of our thought. We think in terms of law – chemical, natural law. When it rains we know it is the natural condensation of vapor. When crops are good we credit fertilizer. An amazing thing has happened in our way of thinking. In a world that could not exist for one moment without God, we have conditioned our minds to a way of thinking that leaves no room for Him.” J. Wallace Hamilton
- Secular speech leads to (or comes out of) godless thinking, it is deceptive, it divorces us from the reality of our mortality and God’s judgment –
A. Our life (in this world) is a vapor - :15; Psalm 90:5-6; 1Peter 1:24-25 NKJ Psalm 90:5 You carry them away like a flood; They are like a sleep. In the morning they are like grass which grows up: 6 In the morning it flourishes and grows up; In the evening it is cut down and withers.
NKJ 1 Peter 1:24 because "All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, 25 But the word of the LORD endures forever." Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.
B. Our life is known and watched (controlled) and ultimately JUDGED by God – Psalm 90:10-12; Matthew 12:36-37 NKJ Psalm 90:10 The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 11 Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath. 12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
NKJ Matthew 12:36 "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
- Therefore, we ought to speak differently, humbly, acknowledging our dependence upon God – James 4:15
This kind of speaking: A. Acknowledges God’s sovereignty “If the Lord wills” B. Professes our dependence – “we shall do …” if the Lord helps us – John 15:5 NKJ John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
The Christian life is lived only by His grace – NKJ Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. “Only One Life”
Two little lines I heard one day; Traveling along life's busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in 'that day' my Lord I’ll meet, And stand before His Judgment seat;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God's holy will to cleave;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its chores I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would with victory roar;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord to humbly say;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true whatever the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Oh let my love with fervor burn, From this dead world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Seeking the pleasure of Thy throne;
Only one life, "twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, "Thy will be done";
And when at last I'll hear the call, I know I'll say "It was worth it all";
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.
Author Unknown | 
Premium
