Since last fall I have been studying James in the bible. It started with just memorizing it for bible quizzing, but as the quiz season was coming to a close I still found myself reading in James and thinking upon each verse. Many times when I open my bible to read, intending to read (for instance) in Acts, I eventually found myself turning to James. So it seems that these verses lay heavy on my heart.
I came to love the book of James even more while reading War Of Words by Paul D. Tripp on our family vacation a couple of weeks ago. I was greatly convicted through War or Words and James of the way I speak and use my words on a daily basis, and also just my whole outlook on life.
I'd like to share some verses, along with some of my own thoughts, and a few quotes from Paul Tripp.
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4)
Here, a quote from Paul Trip fits perfectly... " God is using the things in our lives to accomplish his work in us. These circumstances are a principal means by which God actually produces what he predestined for our lives before the foundations of the world. That we would be a transformed into likeness of Jesus." How often do we praise God and thank him in days of sunshine, yet grumble in days of rain!? The earth cannot continue to grow and produce beauty, as it does, without having both sunshine and rain! Is it not also so with our own lives? These verses always come to my mind when I am having a rough time and begin to grumble and think things like "why is this happening to ME!" or when I become frustrated at the struggles in life. And these verses have helped to reverse my whole attitude about a situation.
"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." (James 1: 19 - 20)
Once I heard these verses summed up this way "...Lead with your ears, follow with your tongue, and let anger struggle along in the rear!" I love that. Often I get myself in trouble by speaking before I think, or before I know the situation. It is so so very important to pay attention and to listen and observe those around you and to remember that whatever comes out of your mouth represents God! "With our talk we are imaging our creator and Lord, OR we are imaging the serpent Satan. Our words build and give life or they tear down and destroy." Words are not cheep.
"For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water." (James 3:2-12)
(vs. 7-8) Our communication problems cannot be solved by normal human means. Paul Tripp say's " Human conflict is rooted in spiritual idolatry." We need to make things right with God, we need to examine our hearts, repent, and ask for forgiveness. AND our hearts need to then change.
(vs. 10) Our words should first bring God all the glory he deserves. And second, our words should bring redemptive good into the lives of the people around us that God has brought into our lives.
The first verse that stuck out to me as I read and memorized James, is in Chapter 3 verse 16
"For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice."
And I thought that this quote from Paul Tripp went really well with it. "Where do you think all these appalling wars come from? . . . .They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves." - Paul D. Tripp
"What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions." (James 4:1-3)
"When desires battle for "turf" in our hearts, it will effect the way we deal with the people around us. Whatever controls our hearts will control our words." This quote from Paul Tripp made me self contentious about the way I speak especially to my siblings. Selfishness often rules in my heart when it comes to my siblings.....either I don't like what they are doing because it is inconvenient to me, or I find my self annoyed at their interrupting and for being a distraction when I want to be doing other things. So I speak words of frustration out of selfishness that things aren't going how I want...and those words can injure.
I've just skipped around and shared only a few verses with you, but really it is hard to get a good perspective unless you read the whole book. I would encourage you to read through James, pay attention, and see what sticks out to you. There is, really, so much more that I have taken from the study of the book of James, and also from reading War of Words.... but it is hard for me to communicate all that I wish that I could communicate from what I have learned.
Anyways, I am praying that these verse and what I have learned from them will be evident in me life, and that the changes I am making, and striving to establish in my life will be long lasting! And that I wont forget easily and turn back to my old ways.
Love and blessings, always <3
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