THE TWO WISDOMS (Memorial Day)
JAMES 3:13 4:10
Memorial Day is a day of remembrance...remembering those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. But for most, it's nothing more than the official start of the summer season, when the picnics and all the outdoor activities begin.
For others it has a deeper meaning, remembering someone close who lost their life because of their commitment to preserving the freedoms we so often take for granted. Those left behind carry a sense of loss and grief as well as pride in the courage and faithfulness their loved ones showed as they served our country.
But I'm of the opinion that those who have actually been there...those who have served in the armed forces...those who put themselves in harm's way, have a deeper sense of appreciation and a greater understanding of what this day really means.
For example, Nancy is quite obviously pregnant. And she's at the point now where misery is a way of life. Back pain, foot pain, walking up the steps wears her out. She can't sleep well. And I've been doing as much as I can to help her. I know it's difficult for her...and it's not been a picnic for me...but I certainly don't have as great an appreciation for childbirth as she does.
That's kind of the way it is with war. Most of our nation stood behind our men and women in the Gulf War...the sense of patriotism and support and pride was tremendous. Thanks to CNN and other networks, most Americans had a better view of the war than those actually involved.
But they weren't able to feel the tension when the sirens went off announcing another scud missile was approaching. They didn't know the fear of wondering if they were being gassed by chemicals or being poisoned by the smoke and fumes of the oil fires. They didn't feel the heat and the cold of the desert...or face the snakes, scorpions and sand fleas that tried to share their sleeping quarters.
They didn't have to unload the wounded...or see young men with missing limbs...or smell burned flesh...or carry the body bags to the refrigerated cars. Those are some of the memories I have of my tour in the Gulf..those are some of my thoughts on Memorial Day.
Actually my feelings are mixed. I'm proud to be an American...I'm proud to have served my country during two wars. But I also learned to hate during the Gulf War. In just a few short months I saw enough misery and death and destruction to set inside me a fire that burns and likely never will go out...in fact I hope it never goes out.
But it's not directed at Saddam or the Iraqi's or anyone else like that. They were just pawns in a game...Satan's game. And that's where my hatred lies. Satan is the one who caused all the horror and heartache. And I hated him so much while I was in the desert that I dedicated my life to fighting him in whatever way I could. That's why I'm here today.
But the Gulf War is long over and nobody wants to hear my war stories. I've learned that the only people who like war stories in the first place are those who have their own war stories to share...or those who have been touched very deeply by war. And that's why my job as a preacher of the gospel is so difficult.
As Christians we're called into a spiritual war from the moment we accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. But most today who claim to be saved have neither the heart nor the stomach for battle. They're quick to send others off to fight but want nothing to do with that kind of sacrifice themselves.
And when we talk of fighting great spiritual battles...and tell war stories of how God brought us through difficult times when it seemed the enemy was about to finish us off...most couldn't care less because they can't relate. They've never joined the real battle for the life and soul of an individual. They want the benefits without the conflicts.
Today we're going to look again to the book of James and examine this whole idea of fighting the most important battle of the ages. But we first need to determine whose side we're fighting for...we need to draw some clear battle lines.
In chapter 1, when James laid out his 3 main topics, the third was to keep oneself from being stained by the world. With all his usual bluntness, James assures us that we have launched into the third main topic...being a friend of the world is an enemy of God.
This new subject grows so naturally our of his teaching on the place and power of the tongue. Last week we saw that if the source is pure then what flows out will be pure. But how do we get a heart that is pure? In the last section of chapter 3, James answers that by showing that there are 2 wisdoms...one produces division and sin, and the other brings in a harvest of righteousness.
Wisdom means a lot to James. And he's fully aware that wisdom begins with knowing God. But nowhere does the Bible place much value on knowledge that remains cerebral. Nothing is truly known until it also reshapes the life! (REPEAT)
There is a God given wisdom, and it's our personal responsibility to seek it and to put it at the center of our lives...and to really live by it. And we'll never have this wisdom if our lives are not constantly kept in a right relationship with God Himself.
The central issue James had in mind is that there are two wisdoms doing battle in our lives. They stand in stark contrast to each other in origin, characteristic, and results. Godly wisdom is to be shown by it's deeds. Let's begin with what James sees in the relationships of Christians between each other. READ 4:1 4
James uses the vocabulary of war to express controversies and quarrels, and bad feelings among Christians...and he uses these words because there is no other way of showing how horrible it is. He is seeing the relationships of the church through the eyes of God.
And he's not looking at inner conflicts, but rather the wars we wage against each other. Our passions are like an armed camp inside us, ready at a moments notice to declare war on anyone who stands in the way of some personal gratification we've set our hearts on.
Now this word passion is a morally neutral word that simply means "pleasures." And that wouldn't be bad except for the fact that our desires and pleasures are at the service of our sinful natures. Our sinful self will allow nothing to stand in its way of getting the pleasures we desire...so we fight and quarrel...we'll do anything to satisfy our desires.
But then in chapter 4 James moves from our relationship with other believers to our relationship with God. READ 4:4 6
Things here, in our relationship with God, are even worse than with other believers. And what should be a solution seeking the help of God through prayer actually goes unanswered because our passions tie the hands of God. Answered prayer depends on the condition of our hearts. James points out that the one thing our hearts are so often loyal to isn't God it's our own personal satisfactions.
James never says that God doesn't hear our prayers...just that we don't receive. God always hears...there's no such thing as an unheard prayer...or for that matter an unanswered prayer. But time and again the answer has to be "no" or "not yet" because we are incapable of receiving the heavenly gift.
The primary cause of unanswered prayer is the desire to meet self seeking pleasures, desires and needs. Everything James says from 3:13 4:3 is to show that disrupted fellowships have at its root a self pleasing heart.
His concern is not that we've wronged each other but that we've wronged God. And by seeking our own interests we have become friends with the world and that means we've become the Lord's enemies. The problem is a spiritual one...how to get right with God and stay right with Him.
We must never deceive ourselves into thinking we can live in intimate fellowship with God when our hearts are set on the things of the world. This is where the battle lies.
I grew up in the sixties and joined the Navy in 1971. It was at the height of the protest movement. At that time I was the consummate hippy...with one exception: I didn't avoid the draft...in fact I joined of my own free will. I was patriotic right down to my BVD's or Fruit of the Looms or whatever.
I didn't have a lot of hostility for those who honestly disagreed with the war to the point of dodging the draft. If they wanted to be wrong, they were entitled to it. I actually had more respect for them than I did the ones who went ahead and joined but weren't loyal to our cause.
Many joined for the benefits and did as little as possible to accomplish what they were there for. For the most part they did more harm than good because their loyalty was to themselves not their country. And it showed.
I see the same thing happening in God's army. So many join up just to keep out of hell, but then sit back and do absolutely nothing in the fight for the souls of those caught in the grasp of the enemy. They fall right into Satan's hands. Satan tempts them with all the pleasures of this life...and they give in without so much as a struggle.
And many of you here this morning are guilty of this very thing. God is able to give us the victory over Satan and all his temptations...but to receive it, James points to our responsibility. In verses 7 10 there are no less than 10 commands to obey...all of which spell out the terms of a humble walk with God. READ v. 7 10
I want to look at just 2 of these real briefly because they will give us the best start we could have to achieving a victorious walk with God. The first is submit, which is a word poorly translated into English because of the way we interpret submission.
The word James uses is much more an enlistment word...taking up allegiance to a great Superior in order to engage in the fight under his banner. When James says to submit he's saying, "Come join my army and fight for my cause."
The second command is to resist the devil...and it carries a promise that if we do he'll turn and run. There is no act of consecration to God that takes us out of the conflict. When we join the fight we become targets! But if we do stand and fight, we have the promise of victory!
Today is Pentecost Sunday...one of the most meaningful days in the history of the church. It was on the day of Pentecost that we were given the power to effectively fight the good fight of faith. Acts 1:8 says, "You will...not you might, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you."
Next to salvation, this is the greatest promise we could ever be given. It's the assurance of victory in our fight against the devil. And the promise is for you. Acts 2:39 says, "This promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off...for all whom the Lord our God will call."
He's called each and every one of you. But how will you be remembered? Will it be as one who faithfully gave your all in service to the Lord...or as one who joined up, but when the fighting started, when the battle was raging, you were so busy with your own pursuits that you deserted God's army.
Will you be one remembered as a part time soldier...one who worked for the Lord only when it was convenient? Many take the summer off to serve their own desires and leave the work of the Lord to a remaining few. Is that how you will be remembered?
Today we remember the heroes of our nation...those who gave themselves regardless of convenience...those who gave their all. That's what God wants of you! Submit yourselves to God...resist the devil...and be a part of the greatest victory in the history of man.
