Be Blessed!

This morning, I am still pondering the book of James and wisdom. What are some of the pitfalls we can experience as we try to live for God? How are we blessed of God? How many people do you know who know the Word of God but don't live out it's principles? James tells us beginning in 1:14, that we are tempted when we are drawn away by our own desires and enticed. Pitfall #1: allowing ourselves to be enticed away from the Lord. How do we avoid this pitfall? Philippians 4:8 tells us, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things." If we meditate on things that are pure then there is no room left for us to meditate on the evil desires that will most assuredly lead us astray.

James 1:22 tells us, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." Pitfall #2: Only hearing the Word. We can avoid this by understanding that it takes knowledge and wisdom working together. Knowledge of what God's Word says and wisdom to know how to apply it to our daily lives. But what if we know what we should do but still don't want to do it? When this has happened to me, I have asked God to help me want to do His will because my desire is to be a faithful servant. The great part of doing what we know to do is in verse 25, "But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." This is how we are blessed of God! He is not a respecter of persons but He does recognize those who actually do His will.

James 1:26 says, "If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless." Pitfall #3: Speaking before we think! This one is a hard one for many of us. How do we even begin to correct this problem? Matthew 12:34b-37 says, "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgement. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." We must place our treasure in heavenly things. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Finally, James tells us in 1:27, "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." Pitfall #4: Not considering those less fortunate than ourselves. We are told we must love the Lord with all our heart, with all our soul, all our strength and with all our mind and our neighbor as ourselves. This is a commandment and is not optional in order to live a life pleasing to God. We must not overlook the needs of others when it is within our power to help.