Tag Archives: James

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4, AV) In school it was easy to make enemies by association. I mean, if you befriended a certain group people, you mightContinue reading “The Wrong Enemy (James 4:4-5)”

“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (James 4:2b–3, AV) I am reminded of a song made popular by Janice Joplin titled, “Mercedes Benz.” In the song, the lyrics go, “Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz? My friends all have Porches, IContinue reading “Errant Prayer (James 4:2b-3)”

“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?” (James 4:1, ESV) Growing up, I had two siblings, a younger brother and a younger sister. In the winter, we would often become bored, especially in the evenings when it got dark early andContinue reading “The War Within (James 4:1-2)”

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” (James 3:17–18, AV) When I was in high school, I got involvedContinue reading “Contrasts (James 3:17-18)”

“For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” (James 3:16, ESV) Years ago, I worked for a company that printed paper in Savannah, Georgia. I started as the Plant Engineer since they had major equipment issues. It took a year to redesign the machine and get it intoContinue reading “Confusion (James 3:16)”

“But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.” (James 3:14–15, ESV) After serving in the U.S Army as an officer, I went to work for a FortuneContinue reading “Earthly Wisdom (James 13b-16)”

“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.” (James 3:13, ESV) When I moved to New Hampshire from Savannah Georgia, it was in March. While the winters were not over in March, the snow-falls were slight by New Hampshire standards, usually 12Continue reading “Wisdom Seen (James 3:13)”

“Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” (James 3:9–10, AV) Certain things just do not fit together. I remember in 1973, attending the ArmyContinue reading “Shall It Never Be (James 3:9-12)”

“For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:7–8, AV) When I was a young boy, my grandmother moved to theContinue reading “Taming the Wild (James 3:7)”

“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” (James 3:6, AV) There is a commercial that airs occasionally which features Smokey the Bear. TheContinue reading “Forest Fires (James 3:5-6)”