Midweek Study Notes - Session 8 (5th September)
Wednesday 5th September
BIBLE STUDY
Wisdom from James
This Bible study is based on the Letter of James and is intended for group discussion after an initial talk by the minister. The questions set out in each session of the study are intended to stimulate discussion and need not be kept to rigidly but all the questions arise from what is written in this Letter.
Session 8
Do My Plans Fit with God’s Plans?
Passage for Study: James 4: 11-17
Outline of Talk:
The thread running through these verses is “arrogance.” James is dealing with its effects and also how to counter it. In verses 11-12 arrogance shows itself in “speaking evil” against one another, and this amounts to speaking evil against the law of God and in fact judging the law. This ties up with God as Lord of our whole life. If we deliberately give only partial obedience to God’s will as expressed in his Law, then we are placing our will above His and are therefore standing in judgment over God’s Law.
Arrogance also shows itself in planning, as set out in verses 13-17. These Christians seem to have been planning their future without much reference at all to God’s will. They were showing an arrogant disregard for the sovereignty of God’s will, asserting confidently what they were going to do in the coming days. James sees this as boasting arrogantly, because it displays a self-confidence which ignores both God’s will and the uncertainty and brevity of life. This is why James refers to life as “a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” He is not being disparaging about our life in this world, but showing that people whose life is but a mist in comparison to God and eternity have no business planning their own way forward as if they could ensure their own future.
You will be given time in this study to think about what it means to be under Christ as the Lord of life. As Lord he is our Ruler and has the right to command how we should live and to expect our compliance with this. One result of this is that no Christian has the right to over-rule what Scripture says about lifestyle and choices relating to this.
In verse 17 James defines “sin” in a particular way – what we often refer to as “sins of omission.” It’s important to note the words “knows the right thing to do.” That’s very different to someone doing the wrong thing, or not doing the right thing, out of ignorance. What James is dealing with is a knowing omission, a decision consciously taken against what is known to be required, and this is what makes it sin.
From this passage we should be able to conclude how we must treat one another; how we are to plan for the future (there are two extremes – under-planning and over-planning); how we should react to broken plans and dreams; and what it means to have a Lord over our lives.
Questions for Discussion Session:
How would you define “arrogance” from what you find in verses 11-17?
As well as the present passage, look back at James 2: 8-10 and 3: 9-11. From this, what do you now understand about “speaking evil” against someone? What aspects of behaviour are included in this?
You hear a preacher say, “The fact that we have been saved by grace means that the Law of God should have no further place in our life.” Do you agree? Discuss.
You meet someone who tells you that they are trusting in Christ for salvation and then says, “But I think if Paul were living today he would not have written judgmental passages like Romans 1: 24-32.” How do you respond?
Read again verses 13-15. In the light of this, should Paul have done so much forward planning in Romans 15: 22-29?
From this passage how would you try to help the following people who have come to you with shattered dreams and plans?
A backslidden Christian
A mother whose teenage daughter has died.
An atheist
A Muslim
Next session 3rd Oct- Is my Eye on Possessions or on Christ’s Return? – James 5: 1-12
