The Will Of God
THE WILL OF GOD
JAMES 4:11-17
It is not enough simply to say “God willing”; our first concern must be to submit ourselves to the Lord for him to order our lives according to his will.
One of the commonest human frailties is that of setting ourselves above the law. Often it may be in a comparatively minor matter, such as when Christian motorists determine their own speed limits instead of driving within those laid down by authority. Sometimes it is in a matter of great importance and the climax is reached with a criminal who defies all authority and acts according to his own desires and his conception of his own profit. A proper regard for the law is necessary if people are to live in community. James is concerned, however, not simply with community life but also with the attitude of Christians to law. He is concerned at the way Christians sometimes act as though they are superior to law. The particular aspect which he deals with is that of speaking evil of others. Gossip and slander are more than the social pastime they appear to be. They proceed from an attitude of mind which presumes to sit in judgment on others, and so which assumes to itself a function that belongs only to God. This is a dangerous practice as well as a wicked one, for the God whose place the slanderer usurps is the One who is able to destroy as well as to save (4:12). None of us is so great (or so safe!) that we can engage in criticism of our fellow servants.
People sometimes ignore the will of God in other matters, as when they plan without taking God into account. James does not mean that we should not exercise reasonable forethought in planning our affairs. That is only a correct use of our God-given intelligence. He is opposing the attitude by which Christians plan as though they were worldly, completely ignoring God. All our plans should include an attitude of “If the Lord wills.”
The final verse in this chapter is notable. We usually think of sins of commission as the important ones and tend to overlook altogether the good we might have done. James reminds us that it is important to make use of every opportunity of doing good. Failure to do good is not simply a matter for mild regret. It is sin.