For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
James 4
What is James’ advice about planning for tomorrow? How should we approach it? How does it affect your plans? Everything in this Chapter is about desiring God. If our desire is for other things, it leads us to fights and quarrels. Instead, we need to rely on God, who faithfully meets all our needs. If, however, we come to Him only to fill our own desires, we miss the point. In the same way, when we desire what the world offers, we become enemies of God. We can only desire one or the other, not both.
James also speaks of more subtle ways in which we fail to desire God alone. One is when we fail to love those God loves. When we condemn fellow believers, we condemn ourselves because we break the very law by which we condemn, loving neither the God we claim to desire nor His people. Another is when we desire to be in control of our own lives. We get so set on working out our own plans that we fail to seek God’s plans for us. Instead, we should earnestly seek what He plans for us so we will not fail to obey and follow His leading.
Is. 13-14
For what sins does God announce judgment on Babylon? Contrast this with His word for Jacob (Israel). “I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.” (Is. 13:11b). The Bible mentions pride a lot, so I thought I would take a deeper look at the word. I looked up its definition and saw a fairly broad range of meanings. I saw satisfaction from your achievements, consciousness of your own dignity, reasonable self-esteem and confidence, the belief that you are better or more important than others, and an inordinate opinion of your own status. A mixed bag, for sure!
Then I saw an article talking about the shift in connotative meaning of the word pride over the centuries. The article noted how the original meaning of the word was in line with the not so good definitions mentioned above. As the article stated, pride was not something to be proud of. The word has slowly shifted toward more positive connotations over the years and we now see it as the defiant banner of sexual perversion. Isn’t that just like Satan? He loves to take a truth and slowly twist it until it become a fully accepted lie. He twists what is good into something evil and what is evil into something good. And so it is with pride.
The pride the Bible speaks of is definitely not a good thing. In fact, I think the reality of it really goes much deeper than placing yourself above others. I believe pride in any form is an anti-God attitude. At its best, it excludes God. At its worst, it is in direct defiance of God. Being satisfied with our achievements is great, but we need to recognize they come from God. That is why Paul stressed so much that we should boast in God alone. When we revel in our own importance, however, we have fallen prey to Satan’s trap. He has convinced us to follow his ways and place ourselves where only God belongs. “You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God;’” (Is. 14:13a).
Pr. 21
Choose one proverb that speaks to you and create an action step for today. I am always interested in notations of alternate translations for words and phrases in the Bible. The various translation possibilities often add depth to the meaning. I saw one such case this morning in Proverbs 21:21. “Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.” The word translated “prosperity” here, can also be translated as “righteousness”. I like that, because it indicates that true prosperity is only found in righteousness and that true righteousness always leads to prosperity. The two are inseparable; you cannot have one without the other. Understanding, of course, that true prosperity is not always what we think it is.
One last note from this chapter – I couldn’t help but notice verse 23. “Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.” This is right in line with what we saw in yesterday’s reading of James. James spoke about how what we say directs our path. This proverb speaks that same truth. Additionally, it indicates how we can bring trouble to us by saying the wrong things to others. Words are very powerful indeed.