I love the book of James. I’ve written here before that I respect straight-shooters. James and I would’ve been friends. I probably would have hated to love him. But, I’d rather you not mince words with me. Just tell me, flat-out, how it is.
Below is one of my favorite passages in James.
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. – James 3:14-16
Kind of a weird favorite, eh? It certainly isn’t full of poofy clouds, rainbows and feel good warm fuzzies. Perhaps that’s what I like about it. Right to the point. No sugar coating found.
I decided to dissect it a little tonight. It seems fairly obvious what James is talking about here, and in its context, to whom he is speaking. But there is so much in here for all of us. And it personally convicts me…a lot.
But if you have bitter jealousy…
The adjective pikros (“bitter”) describes a harsh stance of demanding to be recognized as wise, instead of being willing to learn. [Bible Gateway Commentary]
Dangitalltoheck! That’s me. Sometimes…I just wanta skip the elbow grease-dig in-discovery-learning process and stand in the spotlight posed as a smarty-godly-pants just cuz I may know a little something about a big something that requires, and deserves, much more reverence and respect. And why do I want that? Cuz I see others, who’ve been willing to learn, in the spotlight and I want that too.
All that and it’s only the 5th word in into that passage!
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts…
The second noun, eritheia (“selfish ambition”), exposes the sinful desire for personal glory–wanting the status of a teacher so that others will have to learn from me. [Bible Gateway Commentary]
Ouch. But admit it…we all want personal glory. I know I do. Now, this verse is speaking to teachers in the church. And I have seen much of this in todays church. But I see just as much of it in every day life of others as well. Someone with a platform suddenly becomes the poster christian who knows everything and is adored by thousands. And much of that turns in to personal glorification. We know it’s true.
Self-glorification: a feeling or expression of one’s own superiority.
This is dangerous ground to be standing on. And there is no room for it in the church. But lets be honest…it’s all over the church, isn’t it?
How our prideful hearts must grieve God.
Just reading into these verses deeper tonight I have to say sorry to the Lord for ridiculously trying to take His place. For arrogantly attempting to steal His glory. All because of my own insecurities…my own pride and selfishness.
James…you kicked my booty tonight. Thank you. Lord, you revealed many uglies in my heart. It isn’t fun and I kinda wanta delete this post. But, I won’t. Ima suck it up and own it.
Call me out friends. And if you permit me, I will lovingly call you out if I see this selfish-ambition in you. We are a community. A family.
It’s what family does.
Anything else you can unpack from this passage?
SO GOOD, Tam! Wow…I think I just got popped in the jaw by this one.
i hate to love James' words.
shoot!!!
Wow Tam,
That was awesome and powerful. I am a HUGE James fan too, and what I love about James is his straight forward approach also. You can tell by his writing, If you knew him personally, you would have always knew where you stood with him. One of my "strange" fave's is
James 1:2-5 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
I think it teaches us to appreciate sufferage when we go through it, because He is crafting us again when it occurs, making us more into what He wants. Tam, thank you for this post, and for not deleting it. God Bless-Jim
"If you knew him personally, you would have always knew where you stood with him. "
that is a quality i value so highly in relationships. dont make me guess. don't withhold something from me i need to know about.
I love the book of James too. I think it is my favorite book. Like you said, it just smacks you upside the head, as did your post today. We cannot be arrogant when we understand that every good thing in our lives comes from God. As James says earlier in the book, "Every good and perfect gift comes down from above, falling down from the Father of heavenly lights." Great post. Thank you.
yes! how can we claim that every good thing is from God yet act so arrogantly? i mean, how can *I*…
thank you, tim!
Reading through James right now with my mother in law right now, and while it is a tough and convicting book to read, we are loving it too! Going to email her this post!
thanks kristin…
and if your mom digs anything else out of this passage please do pass it along to me?!
james gets my heart every.single.time.
James is one of my favorite books. That dude pulls no punches.
Great post Tam!
James 3:17, "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy."
Do I live my life with certainty or with confusion? Am I sure of what is right and what is wrong? Are there any absolutes in my life? Instead of black and white, does everything seem gray and is the line of distinction blurred?
Remember the Peanuts cartoon in which Lucy says to Charlie Brown, "I hate everything. I hate everybody. I hate the whole wide world!" Charlie says, "But I thought you had inner peace." Lucy replies, "I do have inner peace. But I’m still obnoxious on the outside."
God’s wisdom will settle our minds and gives our hearts peace. If envy and strife follow on your heels like a bloodhound, maybe its time to let go of bitterness and let God’s peace begin to rule in you.
When you think like God thinks and you understand what the Holy Ghost is revealing to me, then myh life will reflect the very character of God and life will be greater than It’s ever been.
James 3:18, "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."
Those who are filled with bitterness, envy and strife are trying to receive from God but something is choking off the supply line and destroying the line of communication. We cannot have these things operating in our lives and claim to be Christians for they are the product of hell and light and darkness cannot mix.
The evil in that heart keeps God’s best from getting through to us. Like lemon juice that causes your lips to pucker, a sour spirit draws your heart and closes your mind. It’s like trying to drink in the blessings of God through a bent straw. Nothing much can get through.
Let’s open that channel
Last year James did a doozy on me. For the same reasons you listed above. God had me re-reading the book like a chain smoker. I'd finish it and would start it all over again for about 5 or 6 times at least.
It flabbergasted me just how much bitterness and anger is in my life.
Dealing with the same sin at the moment. Sharing the prayer…
"Lord I pray that the sinful desire for personal glory and recognition from others withers and dies and is uprooted in me, forgive me for its presence in my heart. I pray that my desire for God to be glorified and recognised by others grows in me in abundance."