5 Things that Happen When We Forget God is in Control and We Aren't

This post is adapted from a lesson Brett taught to students on James 5.

Toward the end of James 4, verse 15 reads, "Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” (CSB)

The end of James 4 discusses how limited we are in our knowledge and power. An indication of our understanding of this is seen in everyday life. In this example, James shows that through simple things in our speech, we are able to recognize if our hearts really understand that we aren't in control. By talking in a manner that says, "if the Lord wills", we practically show that we know this truth.

As James goes on in his writing in what we call "chapter 5", he rattles off 5 teachings that, I believe, come out like a spring from this truth. So, here are five things that happen when we forget God is in control and we aren't:

1. We wield underserved power over other people.

Look at James 5:3-4:

"3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up treasure in the last days. 4 Look! The pay that you withheld from the workers who mowed your fields cries out, and the outcry of the harvesters has reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts." (CSB)

James uses rich people and their accumulation of money to explore this idea, but it is very important that we realize this is just one example. We all have our "stuff" we are in search of - whether it be money, success, etc.

If we draw these earthly pursuits - these "gods" - to their natural conclusion, we see how absurd they are. James shows that in verse 3. He talks about how money will just wither away on this earth, and in their withered state they will be "witnesses" against us. In other words, their withered state shows the reality of our spiritual state.

In verse 4, James shows us that when we pursue these earthly things, we will just climb over other people to get them. When we forget God is in control, we want to control, and we measure control by the "stuff" in our lives. We use other people in order to get even more "stuff", and then having that "stuff" gives us (we think) more justification to keep doing the same - a vicious circle.

The last thing to remember with this one - you may not be "rich" like in the story, but the viciousness James speaks of (sin) is very much so in our spiritual vocabulary. In other words, you very well could do the same if you were in the same position.

2. We aren't patient.

James 5:7-9 says:

"7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.

"9 Brothers and sisters, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door!" (CSB)

Patience is a great virtue. I personally know of nobody who would argue this fact. For one thing, being a patient person makes you less annoying - I'm a big fan of being a less annoying person.

But our generally simple idea of "patience" doesn't quite capture what I think patience in the Bible is. Look at verse 7. There is the waiting of the farmer, but the farmer is waiting with expectation because of what has happened before. The end is known, and therefore he is patient.

Likewise, James says, we must also be patient in life because "the Lord's coming is near." No matter how long we have to wait for something, we can do it expectantly because His coming is guaranteed. God is outside of time and space, and the Bible teaches that the battle has already been won. In relative terms, it is "near" because, outside of space and time, it has already happened. Therefore, in space and time, we can wait expectantly - sure of the outcome just like the farmer.

Then, in verse 9, James tacks on this idea of not having to judge others because "the judge stands at the door!" It seems a little out of place, but let's look really quickly...

Have you ever seen that emotional moment in a court room when the family of the killed stands up and forgives the accused? If you want a good cry today just look up some on YouTube - they're real tear-jerkers.

How is it possible for them to do this? Or, even more, how is it possible for a family to let it go after they can't find out who did this to their loved one? How can they be so patient for justice?

The key lies in verse 9 - the idea that if we recognize God is in control, we can let go of our need to dish out justice and let the ultimate judge take care of it.

Side note: I'm in no way saying that earthly justice in the formal sense through our earthly governments is a wrong thing. It is a very good thing and a gift from God. Conversely, I'm saying that whenever this earthly system fails - and it will fail because we are broken people - we can patiently wait for justice (or restoration through salvation!) because God sits on the ultimate judge's throne.

3. We don't endure.

James 5:10-11 says:

"10 Brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name as an example of suffering and patience. 11 See, we count as blessed those who have endured." (CSB)

Endurance isn't just about surviving. And it's not just about being patient and waiting. Endurance takes it to another level. It's about holding on to something.

James references the prophets who spoke on behalf of God. You know what happened to those guys? Most of them got killed. Yeah. We look at them now and speak reverently of them, but people in their day wanted them killed - and they often succeeded.

James says these guys endured. They didn't survive - so survival isn't endurance. James says they were patient in their suffering. He didn't leave it there though. He then says they endured.

He uses Job as an example (if you want to be really depressed, introspective, and then really happy - at the very end - then read the book of Job. It's Colin's favorite book of the Bible I'm pretty sure). Not only was Job patient... not only did he survive (with no help from his friends, by the way - real jerks)… he held on tightly to the Lord as the source.

Like Job, we are going to have doubts. And we are going to slip, sin, and stumble. But, endurance is about holding on to God without compromise through all of it, because He is in control and we aren't.

4. We feel like we have to justify ourselves.

It's taken a long time for me to even begin to understand what is significant about verse 12:

"Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “yes” mean “yes,” and your “no” mean “no,” so that you won’t fall under judgment." (CSB)

It seems like it is all by itself in this chapter. It doesn't really go with what was before, and it doesn't really go with what is to come. But, if we look at it with our theme of God being in control and we aren't, we can begin to understand a little bit of what James is teaching.

The idea of "swearing" by another thing was pretty popular in this day. It was a way of justifying yourself - ascribing to yourself more power than what you really have in and of yourself. In economic terms, you are "putting up collateral" by saying "I am going to do this by the power of (insert your favorite thing to swear by here) or it may as well not exist."

I think what James is trying to tap into is the idea that, if you understand that God is in control and you have been gifted the Holy Spirit as a believer, you don't have to swear by any power because you follow the only power. If you are a true believer in God, the giver of power, your word should be good enough simply because it is your word.

There is a lot more to explore here, but for time's sake (and my small knowledge on the matter) we are going to move on to the last point.

5. We don't pray.

Read your bible... pray... Jesus. The "Sunday School" answers. But they are Sunday School answers for a reason - they are important. James thinks prayer is important, too. Verses 13-14:

"13 Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord." (CSB)

When we recognize who we are in relation to God, we want to pray. And why wouldn't we? Who wouldn't want to tap in to the power of the ultimate power-giver - the ultimate authority? If we truly understand - in the essence of our being - that God is in control and we aren't, we will pray in all circumstances, like James describes here. From the lowest of lows to the highest of highs.

James goes on to describe how prayer does have power. It does do something.

Are you going to get everything you desire? I can tell you right now that the answer is a big, fat no. How does God decide how to answer our petitions? I don't know other than the fact that I know He is working all things according to His will and sometimes our petitions aren't aligned with that.

So that leads us to a greater purpose of prayer than just petitioning for things... it is about improving our relationship with God. The more we pray... study the Bible... the more we align our hearts with God's. And as that happens, our prayers, through the power of the Holy Spirit, begin to align more and more with God's ultimate purposes. Our desires mirror God's. For me, this is the ultimate goal of prayer, and it only happens when we see that God is on the throne - in control - and we aren't.

Epilogue:

James, seemingly in contrast to Paul, is concerned a lot about what we do. There is no real contrast, though. The complete Christian life orients our actions (normally associated with James) around our sincerely held belief that God - Father, Son, and Spirit - has done the work of our salvation and we simply accept it (normally associated with Paul's teachings). We see that the two perspectives are intrinsically linked to one another - unable to be separated.

Through the life application James explores, we are able to check ourselves and train ourselves in a Christlike life. Not only that, but we are able to help others do the same. James ends his book this way:

"19 My brothers and sisters, if any among you strays from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let that person know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins." -- James 5:19-20 (CSB)

Through this understanding that our actions are indicative of our beliefs, we can hold one another accountable and correct one another out of love so as to "turn a sinner from the error of his way." And when we are the ones held accountable, we can respond in love and say, "thank you."

You only get that a complete understanding of the Christian life - not just "action" or "belief."

Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.