James 4:17 - Homiletics

The greatness of sins of omission.

It is not only sinful to do wrong; it is also sinful to lose an opportunity of doing good. God means us not only to be harmless, but also to be useful; not only to be innocent, but to be followers of that which is good. How miserable is the satisfied acquiescence in the thought, "I never did anybody any harm"—a thought which is falsely used as a consolation at many a death-bed! The slothful servant who hid the talent in a napkin did no wrong with it, but nevertheless he was condemned. He had failed to do good. So God claims from all of us, not merely that we should "cease to do evil," but also that we should "learn to do well;" for "to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."