James: Wisdom for Practical LifeSample

Submit to God

There is a certain attitude that does not submit to God. And James strongly rebukes this attitude in the passage. James is addressing the attitude that is boastful and arrogant. He calls this evil. 

Even though in our culture we don’t like people who boast, all of us boast in our hearts. Boasting reveals what our heart finds confidence and security in. It shows what’s important to us, what we value and what we live for. On the surface it looks like good planning, hard work and being diligent. But deep down in our hearts, it is an attitude that is wise in its own eyes, foolish, arrogant and proud. 

This attitude does not recognize that God is sovereign and in control, but instead relies on self-confidence and self-reliance. It is foolish behavior. And this foolishness results in selfish behavior. 

James warns us that though we might think we are in control of our lives, the reality is that life is fragile. We are like a mist that appears and disappears. Our life is fleeting. We will be soon forgotten. Nothing we do or keep is forever. It will waste away and rot. 

A life that submits to God recognizes this feeble and fleeting nature of life. It is recognized in the transient and temporal nature of earthly pursuits, and seeks and invests in eternal and glorious pursuits. 

Jesus submitted to the will of the Father even when in the immediate sense it led Him through a path of suffering that ended on a cross. Jesus did not boast about His power and authority. If anyone can truly boast, it was Jesus. But He humbled Himself and gave up His reputation. He became lowly and gentle. He allowed Himself to be led like a lamb to the slaughter. He lost control of His life so that our life can be in His loving control. He was abandoned so that we can be remembered. When we begin to understand the gospel in this manner, our hearts don’t become over-confident or self-reliant or self-indulgent, but instead boasts in the hope and glory of Christ. Our lives become generous and our hearts are set on things above.