James 4:13-17 - Homilies By T.f. Lockyer

"What is your life?"

The life of the savage is characterized by an almost total lack of true foresight; no calculations of the future. True civilization, on the contrary, is largely built up on the principle of far-seeing prudence. Yet there may be a false use of a true principle. And so it may come to pass that we manifest an unchristian reliance on the future, and an absorbed engrossment in plans for its direction. It is this which James condemns, He sets forth the false glorying, and, over against the false, the true.

I. THE FALSE GLORYING .

1. A false love of the world. "Trade, and get gain." So the parable of the rich fool ( Luke 12:16-21 ). And the essence of such sinful worldliness is this: "Layeth up treasure for himself. " But the gains on which men's hearts are set may be other than these material ones: position, power, fame, intellectual achievements. It matters not what they are, if they be sought covetously and selfishly, they come under the condemnation era false love of the world.

2. A false view of life. "Spend a year there." So the parable, as above. Really?

II. THE TRUE GLORYING . So also the contrasted glorying, "If the Lord will," etc., is not one of words—" D.V.," and the like. Use of words not unimportant as regards practical results; but it is really the attitude of the heart which God regards, and which constitutes us what we are. So, then, "he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" ( 1 Corinthians 1:31 ).

1. A trite view of life. "If the Lord will, we shall live."

2. A true love of the world. "Do this or that." A living will runs through all these things, and it is given to us to blend our wills with it, and so help to work out God's design.

"If on our daily course our mind

Be set to hallow all we find—"

that is the secret of a true, a godly love of the world.

We have knowledge of these things, for we have "tasted the powers of the world to come" ( Hebrews 6:5 ). Therefore, what shall be our sin, if still our glorying is in the world (see John 9:41 )? Oh, to us, as from heaven, the warning comes: "Ye Christians, arouse yourselves, and live for heaven and God!"—T.F.L.