James 4:17
"Therefore, anyone who knows what is right but fails to do it is guilty of sin."
I am so getting my butt kicked on the idea of not just plucking a verse out of the contextual garden of scripture. We bumper sticker so many scriptures and make our own context, but then we set ourselves up for being blow out of the water when Gods will and our idea of a verse don't line up.
This scripture was being talked about on a forum recently and the ideas were running wild on what exactly this meant. With out context of what James is saying before this statement, it becomes a blanket statement about sin and knowing what is right because of Jesus shining a light into our life, but we miss the grand picture for a simple religious idea.
When we do what we know is wrong and against Gods word, we do know it is a sin. But why the "therefore"? I've heard it said many times, "if there is a therefore, find out why it's there for!" :-)
The rest of this thought of James is:
James 4:13-16
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town, stay there a year, conduct business, and make money." You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead you should say, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live-and do this or that." But you boast about your proud intentions. All such boasting is evil.
All the sudden, we see a picture not of James simply rebuking known sin, but tell these people and us that we are made for Gods purposes and His mission. We make decisions in our life so flippantly without seeking to know Gods will or why He has placed us in a place, time, or situation. We declare our intentions with well built scriptural defenses, but he his declaring, "Find Gods intentions!"
Therefore, this statement in verse 17 is saying, "If you know Gods will for a situation, and you choose to do something else......that is sin!" After all, the core defining issues of sin is REBELLION TO GODS WILL. When God says, "Talk to this person", or "Stay at your job", he has a reason and to do otherwise is rebellion to His plan.
Where have you in the past, known or felt God was leading you into a situation that you choose to go your own way?
He has the perfect plan.......It just doesn't always look like it from our earthly perspective. Choose His will and you will find the blessing, honor, and glory of God over your life. Never miss the greater context and miss His plan for you.
Be blessed :-)
- Posted in the moment
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