Solomon certainly took "carnality" to the next level with his partying, pleasure seeking, and chasing the women around. I'm not sure he really ever experienced the true spiritual experience with God like his father David did.
James & Ecclesiastes - What is Wisdom?
- Thread starter SilverFox7
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Solomon certainly took "carnality" to the next level with his partying, pleasure seeking, and chasing the women around. I'm not sure he really ever experienced the true spiritual experience with God like his father David did.
Yes, I like your Solomon "under the sun" perspective versus our goal to be "under the Son" like James encourages. The wisdom of God is what it's all about - developing a strong relationship with Christ and learning and living obediently through grace and the power of the Spirit.
Ecclesiastes 11:5-6
King James Version
5 As thou knowest not what is
the way of the spirit,
nor how the bones do grow in the
womb of her that is with
child:
even so thou knowest not the works
of God who maketh
all.
6 In the morning sow thy seed,
and in the evening
withhold not thine hand:
for thou knowest not whether
shall prosper,
either this or that,
or whether they both shall be alike
good.
These verses tie in nicely with verses 3-4, and they probably are best read in context together. There are a lot of things we can’t control in life, but we can do our part to make a difference for ourselves and others.
Hard work pays off. It may not happen immediately, but the seed that is sown with diligence and care will eventually yield a bountiful crop. For those of us who are able bodied, we need to work a full week and sometimes even carry more than one job to “keep food on the table.”
Solomon apparently didn’t understand “the works of God who maketh all,” but he at least realized that God is in control. His mind and ways are so much higher than ours, and how a baby forms, lives in the womb, and is ultimately born into this world is one of the greatest miracles of life. Even non-believers stand in awe at the power of birth.
And Solomon does seem to have a glimmer of hope in the trials and toils of life because verse 6 ends on a positive note. Work hard at our job first thing in the morning and keep working into the evening, for we don’t know which one will yield the greatest benefits. However, Solomon says one or the other “shall prosper” and maybe even both.
I’m far from perfect, but one area I have committed myself to is working hard at my jobs and in my studies. With God’s help and strength, my wife and I have enjoyed the “abundant life” together, celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary last night. The hard work has paid off, yet there’s more work to accomplish.
John 4:34-38
Revised Standard Version
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white for harvest. 36 He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
King James Version
5 As thou knowest not what is
the way of the spirit,
nor how the bones do grow in the
womb of her that is with
child:
even so thou knowest not the works
of God who maketh
all.
6 In the morning sow thy seed,
and in the evening
withhold not thine hand:
for thou knowest not whether
shall prosper,
either this or that,
or whether they both shall be alike
good.
These verses tie in nicely with verses 3-4, and they probably are best read in context together. There are a lot of things we can’t control in life, but we can do our part to make a difference for ourselves and others.
Hard work pays off. It may not happen immediately, but the seed that is sown with diligence and care will eventually yield a bountiful crop. For those of us who are able bodied, we need to work a full week and sometimes even carry more than one job to “keep food on the table.”
Solomon apparently didn’t understand “the works of God who maketh all,” but he at least realized that God is in control. His mind and ways are so much higher than ours, and how a baby forms, lives in the womb, and is ultimately born into this world is one of the greatest miracles of life. Even non-believers stand in awe at the power of birth.
And Solomon does seem to have a glimmer of hope in the trials and toils of life because verse 6 ends on a positive note. Work hard at our job first thing in the morning and keep working into the evening, for we don’t know which one will yield the greatest benefits. However, Solomon says one or the other “shall prosper” and maybe even both.
I’m far from perfect, but one area I have committed myself to is working hard at my jobs and in my studies. With God’s help and strength, my wife and I have enjoyed the “abundant life” together, celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary last night. The hard work has paid off, yet there’s more work to accomplish.
John 4:34-38
Revised Standard Version
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see how the fields are already white for harvest. 36 He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
Ecclesiastes 11:7-8
King James Version
7 Truly the light is sweet,
and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes
to behold the sun:
8 But if a man live many
years, and rejoice in them all;
yet let him remember the
days of darkness; for they shall be many.
All that cometh is vanity.
Sunny days are a blessing. Here in Michigan, we enjoyed the nicest stretch of weather I have experienced in my 60 years here during September and October. We had one summer like day after another, and it felt like we were living in San Diego. People’s spirits are brighter and joyful during sunny days.
I live in West Michigan about 50 miles from Lake Michigan. Throughout the year, especially November through February, the skies are often a blanket of dense clouds. We are right up there with the state of Washington as having the cloudiest skies throughout the year – a lot of lake effect clouds, rain, and snow here.
Some lament, but it doesn’t affect my like that. I try not to let the weather determine my moods, and during fishing season I welcome the cloudy and rainy days because that means fewer pleasure boaters on the water and often some of the best fishing I have experienced for bass and pike.
I can thankfully say that although I have been through a lot of tough times, I have rejoiced “in them all.” God has blessed me and my family, and I am very thankful for the experiences. It’s all because of His grace and love. Yet, the darkest days lie ahead for me and my wife because the people we are closest to are older family members who may not be with us for much longer.
It's sobering to face deteriorating bodies and minds and know that all that “cometh is vanity.” This life is temporary, and if I’m blessed with another 20 years of a relatively healthy and productive existence, even that is grain of sand on the Lake Michigan shoreline.
All of these verses come from the James Moffatt translation – a beautiful literary masterpiece, my favorite reading Bible.
“…For what is your life? You are but a mist, which appears for a little and then vanishes. You ought rather to say, ‘If the Lord will, we shall live to do this or that’” (James 4:14-15).
“Thou hast made my days no
longer than a span;
my life is a mere nothing, in
thy sight,
no better than an empty
breath.
Man’s busy life indeed is but a
phantom,
making an empty ado,
amassing wealth and knowing not
who is to have his hoard.” (Psalm 39: 5-6)
Speaking of the vast majority of adult Israelites who were delivered from Egypt:
“He in his great pity cancels sins,
dooms not to death;
often he will avert his
wrath,
without one angry breath.
So he remembered they were
mortal men,
their life no better than a
passing breeze;
though often they defied him in
the desert,
and vexed him in the
wilderness,
with doubts of God again and
again,
that pained the Majestic
One of Israel.” (Psalm 78:38-41)
King James Version
7 Truly the light is sweet,
and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes
to behold the sun:
8 But if a man live many
years, and rejoice in them all;
yet let him remember the
days of darkness; for they shall be many.
All that cometh is vanity.
Sunny days are a blessing. Here in Michigan, we enjoyed the nicest stretch of weather I have experienced in my 60 years here during September and October. We had one summer like day after another, and it felt like we were living in San Diego. People’s spirits are brighter and joyful during sunny days.
I live in West Michigan about 50 miles from Lake Michigan. Throughout the year, especially November through February, the skies are often a blanket of dense clouds. We are right up there with the state of Washington as having the cloudiest skies throughout the year – a lot of lake effect clouds, rain, and snow here.
Some lament, but it doesn’t affect my like that. I try not to let the weather determine my moods, and during fishing season I welcome the cloudy and rainy days because that means fewer pleasure boaters on the water and often some of the best fishing I have experienced for bass and pike.
I can thankfully say that although I have been through a lot of tough times, I have rejoiced “in them all.” God has blessed me and my family, and I am very thankful for the experiences. It’s all because of His grace and love. Yet, the darkest days lie ahead for me and my wife because the people we are closest to are older family members who may not be with us for much longer.
It's sobering to face deteriorating bodies and minds and know that all that “cometh is vanity.” This life is temporary, and if I’m blessed with another 20 years of a relatively healthy and productive existence, even that is grain of sand on the Lake Michigan shoreline.
All of these verses come from the James Moffatt translation – a beautiful literary masterpiece, my favorite reading Bible.
“…For what is your life? You are but a mist, which appears for a little and then vanishes. You ought rather to say, ‘If the Lord will, we shall live to do this or that’” (James 4:14-15).
“Thou hast made my days no
longer than a span;
my life is a mere nothing, in
thy sight,
no better than an empty
breath.
Man’s busy life indeed is but a
phantom,
making an empty ado,
amassing wealth and knowing not
who is to have his hoard.” (Psalm 39: 5-6)
Speaking of the vast majority of adult Israelites who were delivered from Egypt:
“He in his great pity cancels sins,
dooms not to death;
often he will avert his
wrath,
without one angry breath.
So he remembered they were
mortal men,
their life no better than a
passing breeze;
though often they defied him in
the desert,
and vexed him in the
wilderness,
with doubts of God again and
again,
that pained the Majestic
One of Israel.” (Psalm 78:38-41)
Ecclesiastes 11:9-10
King James Version
9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy
youth; and let thy heart cheer thee
in the days of thy youth,
and walk in the ways of thine
heart, and in the sight of thine
eyes: but know thou, that for all these things
God will bring thee into
judgment.
10 Therefore remove sorrow
from thy heart,
and put away evil from thy
flesh:
for childhood and youth are
vanity.
This is great advice from Solomon, reflecting back on how fleeting childhood and youth are. Our younger days should be a time for rejoicing and taking advantage of the playfulness and wonder, a childlike perspective of innocence and happiness. Removing sorrow from our hearts and putting away evil from our lives is a worthy goal for every phase of life.
One of my favorite songs from the often overlooked great group from the classic rock era, Supertramp, is “The Logical Song.” I shared this with all of the freshman composition classes I taught for many years at local colleges when we covered poetry. This song is filled with some great reflections about youth:
When I was young
It seemed that life was so wonderful
A miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical
And all the birds in the trees
Well they'd be singing so happily
Oh joyfully, oh playfully watching me
But then they sent me away
To teach me how to be sensible
Logical, oh responsible, practical
And then they showed me a world
Where I could be so dependable
Oh clinical, oh intellectual, cynical
There are times
When all the world's asleep
The questions run too deep
For such a simple man
Won't you please
Please tell me what we've learned
I know it sounds absurd
Please tell me who I am
I loved my childhood years growing up on a farm. Life was beautiful, wonderful, and magical. As I grew older, though, my teenage years were painful with the divorce of my parents and the loss of my grandfather and father. Then, I had to take on the responsibilities of life – education, work, learning to be logical and practical – life isn’t always so wonderful, and what a great question, “Please tell me who I am?”
I didn’t know the answer to that question until Jesus told me.
John 1:12-13
New King James Version
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the [a]right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
King James Version
9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy
youth; and let thy heart cheer thee
in the days of thy youth,
and walk in the ways of thine
heart, and in the sight of thine
eyes: but know thou, that for all these things
God will bring thee into
judgment.
10 Therefore remove sorrow
from thy heart,
and put away evil from thy
flesh:
for childhood and youth are
vanity.
This is great advice from Solomon, reflecting back on how fleeting childhood and youth are. Our younger days should be a time for rejoicing and taking advantage of the playfulness and wonder, a childlike perspective of innocence and happiness. Removing sorrow from our hearts and putting away evil from our lives is a worthy goal for every phase of life.
One of my favorite songs from the often overlooked great group from the classic rock era, Supertramp, is “The Logical Song.” I shared this with all of the freshman composition classes I taught for many years at local colleges when we covered poetry. This song is filled with some great reflections about youth:
When I was young
It seemed that life was so wonderful
A miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical
And all the birds in the trees
Well they'd be singing so happily
Oh joyfully, oh playfully watching me
But then they sent me away
To teach me how to be sensible
Logical, oh responsible, practical
And then they showed me a world
Where I could be so dependable
Oh clinical, oh intellectual, cynical
There are times
When all the world's asleep
The questions run too deep
For such a simple man
Won't you please
Please tell me what we've learned
I know it sounds absurd
Please tell me who I am
I loved my childhood years growing up on a farm. Life was beautiful, wonderful, and magical. As I grew older, though, my teenage years were painful with the divorce of my parents and the loss of my grandfather and father. Then, I had to take on the responsibilities of life – education, work, learning to be logical and practical – life isn’t always so wonderful, and what a great question, “Please tell me who I am?”
I didn’t know the answer to that question until Jesus told me.
John 1:12-13
New King James Version
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the [a]right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
B
Blue155
Guest
Wisdom is the ability to know when to fart and to know when to be considerate around others when the need arises.
Is that a typo? Reminds me of a wise Steve Martin line years ago.
Watching this thread, I look forward to the @SilverFox7 treatment and insights in Ecc12 re: what Solomon says about aging and how the wisdom you speak of in effect becomes lost as the body begins to fail and do more of whatever it wants, whenever it wants and the consideration becomes more about apologies or increased avoidance of social engagements.
Watching this thread, I look forward to the @SilverFox7 treatment and insights in Ecc12 re: what Solomon says about aging and how the wisdom you speak of in effect becomes lost as the body begins to fail and do more of whatever it wants, whenever it wants and the consideration becomes more about apologies or increased avoidance of social engagements.
I'm beginning to learn that as I enter my 60's, and the point is really being driven home with my parents who are entering their 80's
A great summary on the definition of wisdom, which is applying knowledge and understanding to all the challenges we face in life.
I'm beginning to learn that as I enter my 60's, and the point is really being driven home with my parents who are entering their 80's
Yep. Early 70's here. Watched both of my parents succumb to the bodies some time before departing. Ecc12 is some light, poetic reality. Last few verses have always been some of my favorites in all of Scripture, and as time moves forward the Spiritual vs. the current physical becomes more acutely appreciated looking forward to the new physical reality always intended apart from sin...
The conclusion of Ecclesiastes is one of the best in classical literature, but before we get into that, let’s tie up some loose ends in the book of James that we haven’t covered yet. I know some of these verses will rub some people the wrong way, but again my focus is literary with an evangelical/orthodox Christian perspective.
I love James’ description of the “perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25). God’s law shouldn’t be a burden that constricts us. It is a law that was designed to protect us and give us freedom. When we are told not to do something, it’s because the action and/or behavior is harmful to us and/or others.
James encourages us to live within the law of liberty not as a “…forgetful hearer but a doer of the work…. The law of liberty is best described as the law of Christ with the Sermon on the Mount as the foundation.
James also addresses religion, our faith and beliefs.
James 1:26-27
New King James Version
26 If anyone [a]among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
We need to be careful what we say and how we say it because we as Christians represent the Kingdom of God on earth as Christ’s ambassadors. And, a great way to set a good example of our principles is to serve the needs of those who need love and support, orphans and widows as a couple of examples of people who are often forgotten and marginalized.
I think it’s also great advice “…to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” I like the way I’ve heard this explained in the past that “we are in the world but not of the world.” We let the light of Christ shine through us, and we are engaged in the challenges and problems our world faces, but we are representatives of the Kingdom who point to the ultimate hope we have in Jesus Christ and His return.
I love James’ description of the “perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25). God’s law shouldn’t be a burden that constricts us. It is a law that was designed to protect us and give us freedom. When we are told not to do something, it’s because the action and/or behavior is harmful to us and/or others.
James encourages us to live within the law of liberty not as a “…forgetful hearer but a doer of the work…. The law of liberty is best described as the law of Christ with the Sermon on the Mount as the foundation.
James also addresses religion, our faith and beliefs.
James 1:26-27
New King James Version
26 If anyone [a]among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
We need to be careful what we say and how we say it because we as Christians represent the Kingdom of God on earth as Christ’s ambassadors. And, a great way to set a good example of our principles is to serve the needs of those who need love and support, orphans and widows as a couple of examples of people who are often forgotten and marginalized.
I think it’s also great advice “…to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” I like the way I’ve heard this explained in the past that “we are in the world but not of the world.” We let the light of Christ shine through us, and we are engaged in the challenges and problems our world faces, but we are representatives of the Kingdom who point to the ultimate hope we have in Jesus Christ and His return.
Agreed.
I see James telling us what a "work doer" is - one who with some level of intensity of intellectual focus looks into the "perfect law of liberty" and remains [in it], doesn't walk away forgetting, but does the work and will be blessed [for it].
It'll be interesting to see if you get any comments re: seeing this law as Christ's Law attached to the Sermon on the Mount. I also see it attached to the Faith of Jesus Christ James2:1, the word of truth that birthed us James1:18, the implanted word able to save our souls that we're to be doing and that functions as a mirror showing us who we are [in Christ Jesus] James1:21-24.
At the end of all this, I see the Perfect/Completed Law that provides Freedom (more precisely translated perfect law [of] liberty) as the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its full and complete scope - the Law/Faith of Jesus Christ - containing the new commands of YHWH's Christ/King (Psalm2) as in the Sermon on the Mount and the approximately 600 commands just in the NC Epistles and 1,000+/- in the NC Writings.
Amen. Our religion, faith, the law of Christ, and the gospel all go hand-in-hand. Christianity is a way of life and more importantly a relationship with God and our fellow man. Words are important, listening is important, but our faith and beliefs need to translate into fruit that glorifies God and serves others.
Actions do speak louder than words, and James talks about avoiding partiality and treating the poor with dignity and respect:
James 2:1-4
New King James Version
Beware of Personal Favoritism
1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in [a]fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in [b]filthy clothes, 3 and you [c]pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” 4 have you not [d]shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
Like Solomon, James gives us a wealth of practical advice on the way we as Christians should be living. His respect for the Lord is powerful as well, referring to Jesus Christ as “the Lord of glory.” I know for me, I can so easily forget that the Lord of glory is there for us at all times, and I just need to draw upon that relationship and strength. I get entangled in my daily work and responsibilities and forget who I am at times.
Even with James’ admonition not to treat people with partiality, that goes counter to our human nature. We love winners and shun losers. The poor can be viewed as failures who put themselves in that state, and we can become judgmental and harsh. “They just need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps.” Well, in some cases that’s true. But, if a child is born into a home of addiction, not receiving the love and care they need, how can we expect them to grow up and become “upstanding citizens?”
Matthew 25:31-40
New King James Version
31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the [a]holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Proper discernment and love as assistance, encouragement, instruction, even rebuke as that discernment in Christ in Spirit guides.
“Love is patient, love is kind…” as the apostle Paul so eloquently expresses what true Godly love is all about in I Corinthians 13, and as you noted sometimes love requires discipline and rebuke. God’s law is love. The Ten Commandments as amplified by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount provide a strong foundation for how we should be striving to live as God’s people. The first four commandments address our love towards God, and the last six deal with our love towards our “neighbor” as James says,
James 2:5-9
New King James Version
5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; 9 but if you [a]show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
James calls the recipients of this letter “beloved” and points out how God has chosen the “foolish” and the “weak” to “put to shame the wise” and “shame the things which are mighty” (I Cor. 1:27) as the apostle Paul agrees. God’s love, power, and strength work through us in faith and humility. I am weak and recognize that, so I can allow the Spirit to inspire, guide, and lead me to love Him and the people in my life. Love translates into action that glorifies God and benefits others.
The “noble name” we are called today is Christians – we are disciples of Christ who strive to live our lives as He did. Or better yet, Christ lives His life in and through us. “Loving our neighbor as ourselves” is called the “royal law.” Along with loving God with all of our mind, heart, and soul, these two great commandments are royal; they come from the ultimate Authority and Source for our lives.
James, after calling us beloved, admonishes us to avoid showing partiality and love everyone. For the poor who truly need help, we should provide their basic needs. For the orphan and widow, we should spend time with them and let them know they are loved and cared for. Conviction and our consciences guided by the Spirit prompt us to love God and others with tangible fruits and results. And, of course, as we fall short, forgiveness and grace are always available at the Mercy Seat.
So here we go into one of the more painful areas of James’ epistle covering the faith vs. works concept that is a source of division among us. But, as I’ve discussed in other forums with people duking it out on this subject, faith and works really go hand-in-hand. They are not competitive characteristics.
James really puts the spotlight on works, which seems to conflict with a core doctrine of our Christian faith from the apostle Paul, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).
When my wife and I were searching for the right congregation to meet our needs (she was raised Catholic and my core roots were Evangelical), God led us to a Lutheran church that was a great blend of both. The service was structured like a Catholic mass with a core focus on communion, but the pastor’s sermons were thoughtful and heavily laced in an evangelical core message of service, sharing the gospel, and encouraging people to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ.
The ”screening process” as I can best describe it for becoming members of the church was a month’s long evening class covering core teachings from the Bible. The associate pastor was in his seventies and a staunch conservative Lutheran. He came to visit us at our home one evening, and when he sat down on our couch with us, he opened his well-worn Bible and read Ephesians 2:8-9 with conviction and emphasis. The pastor closed the Bible, and the rest of our conversation centered on the key concepts of grace and faith in our Christian lives.
Amen – grace and faith save us. It certainly isn’t our “filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6) self-righteous attempts to show off how good we are through carnal works. The works James is referring to are a byproduct of faith and grace, which Paul highlights as well to conclude his great thoughts on this topic, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). We should walk in those good works, which come from Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit that produces those works. It’s not our accomplishments anymore. It’s God working in and through us to yield good works, fruits of the Spirit.
With that in mind, here are some verses from James that will require a few sessions to analyze and breakdown. There is some solid meat in this section of James’ argument:
James 2:17-24
New King James Version
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without [a]your works, and I will show you my faith by [b]my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is [c]dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made [d]perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was [e]accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
James really puts the spotlight on works, which seems to conflict with a core doctrine of our Christian faith from the apostle Paul, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).
When my wife and I were searching for the right congregation to meet our needs (she was raised Catholic and my core roots were Evangelical), God led us to a Lutheran church that was a great blend of both. The service was structured like a Catholic mass with a core focus on communion, but the pastor’s sermons were thoughtful and heavily laced in an evangelical core message of service, sharing the gospel, and encouraging people to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ.
The ”screening process” as I can best describe it for becoming members of the church was a month’s long evening class covering core teachings from the Bible. The associate pastor was in his seventies and a staunch conservative Lutheran. He came to visit us at our home one evening, and when he sat down on our couch with us, he opened his well-worn Bible and read Ephesians 2:8-9 with conviction and emphasis. The pastor closed the Bible, and the rest of our conversation centered on the key concepts of grace and faith in our Christian lives.
Amen – grace and faith save us. It certainly isn’t our “filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6) self-righteous attempts to show off how good we are through carnal works. The works James is referring to are a byproduct of faith and grace, which Paul highlights as well to conclude his great thoughts on this topic, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). We should walk in those good works, which come from Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit that produces those works. It’s not our accomplishments anymore. It’s God working in and through us to yield good works, fruits of the Spirit.
With that in mind, here are some verses from James that will require a few sessions to analyze and breakdown. There is some solid meat in this section of James’ argument:
James 2:17-24
New King James Version
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without [a]your works, and I will show you my faith by [b]my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is [c]dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made [d]perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was [e]accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.