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Inspired by the practical wisdom found in James, we have written about some of our common everyday problems for about three months now. Let’s draw some of the threads together from those previous articles to tie a bow around this series: what are some basic, general principles to help guide us in life? In John 10:10, Jesus states part of his purpose in coming: I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. Everyone is looking for that…

For several weeks now, we have talked in this space about the daily problems we face. As we draw this series to a close, let’s discuss something we all contend with regularly: fear. In the face of fear, God says fear not. Did you know that God says that more than anything else in all the Bible? When Abram had come to the Promised Land at God’s direction and prospered greatly, but had had no child, we find God saying…

As we continue considering everyday problems we struggle with in this space, let’s think together about envy. A person can be a good, faithful Christian by all outward appearances—they can attend church services on a regular basis, they can live a morally upright life—and yet harbor envy in their hearts and stand condemned. And envy is common; we have all probably had some experience with the green-eyed monster from time to time. But I have yet to hear anyone publicly…

Those of you who are in our small groups program will recall that we studied judging others this past week. That is a good topic to discuss in this space, too, as we consider the daily problems we struggle with. Jesus famously warns, Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you (Matt 7:1-2). And James tells us, Do not…

We have been writing for several weeks now about grappling with practical, everyday problems, inspired by our sermon series in James. Let’s discuss ingratitude, something that I suspect most of us struggle with at times. Yet, we are actually commanded to be grateful. Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thess 5:18). For Christians, to be ungrateful is to be disobedient to God’s will. We are also taught by…

In our sermon this week, we will see James turn to the theme of speaking wisely. He mentions it earlier in the letter with these well-known words: Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger (James 1:19). It reminds us that much of the problem with controlling our tongues is speaking rashly, often out of frustration. In short, we struggle with impatience. How many of us can sympathize with that…

In Hebrews 5:14, the writer states, solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. As we continue to discuss the everyday problems we all deal with in this space, let’s consider the idea of discernment. To discern is to see and identify by noting differences. In particular, we are to distinguish between good and evil. That’s not the same thing as choosing between what’s pleasant…

Last week, we wrote here about the problem of temptation. Today, we want to discuss what is in many ways the root of all temptation: pride. The 18th century Anglican clergyman Thomas Adam declared, “Pride thrust Nebuchadnezzar out of men’s society, Saul out of his kingdom, Adam out of paradise, Haman out of court, and Lucifer out of heaven.” Even if I’m not entirely sure about that last one, it is no wonder that Scripture repeatedly calls pride a sin.…

On the night of his betrayal, Jesus poured his heart out in prayer to God in Gethsemane. Then he returned to his disciples. He said to them, “Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation.” (Matt. 26:41). Those words were particularly appropriate that night. Judas had already yielded to temptation, betraying Jesus and destroying his own hopes. Soon, the mob would overwhelm Peter and he would deny that he even knew Jesus. The rest of the disciples would…

We have been writing here for the last few weeks about some of the everyday problems that we all deal with, prompted by the practical focus of James that we are studying together on Sunday mornings. One of the struggles that lies close to his concern with wealth is discontentment. Would you consider yourself to be a content? Are you satisfied with your life? It seems that so many of us never are. There is a little ditty attributed to…

By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. On the willows there we hung up our lyres. For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land? – Psalm 137:1-3 There are times when all of us are tempted to become discouraged. “Don’t lose your song” is, in a sense, something…

In looking at some of our everyday problems—inspired by our sermon series in James—last week, we considered anger; today, let’s think about the related problem of forgiveness. How do we move from one to the other? As we begin, I think it is worth nothing what forgiveness is not. It isn’t merely ignoring those who wrong us. That’s fine if it’s because the offender is ignorant of what they did, but not if it is because we hold them in…