James 1–5
One of the reasons we have a church is so that we can grow spiritually here. James defines maturity. Children are immature. God’s will for us is that we grow up (Hebrews 5:12; 6:1).
12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again… 1 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity… (Hebrews 5:12; 6:1)
And before we say what maturity is, let us say what it is not.
- Maturity is not age. It has nothing to do with how long we have been Christians. There is a saying: “I may be getting older, but I refuse to grow up.” It would be a shame if that described our spiritual maturity.
- Maturity is not a pose or how someone appears. Some people may simply look mature, more spiritual, or as though they possess a special dignity or holiness. But beneath that outward, visible mask they can hide immature hearts.
- Maturity has nothing to do with our achievements. It has nothing to do with our education or our titles. Someone has said: “As the island of my knowledge grows, so does the shoreline of my ignorance.”
Maturity is bound up with our relationships and our character. Moody said: “Character is what you are in the dark, or when no one is watching.”
How can we measure maturity? Not by comparing ourselves with other people, but by comparing ourselves with Christ. The word for “mature” in Greek is teleios, and it means “complete” or “perfect.” This word appears about five or six times in the letter. James gives us five marks by which we can recognize the mature Christian.
THE MATURE CHRISTIAN WITHSTANDS PRESSURE
In James 1:2–4 we read:
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2–4)
How do we meet our problems? How do we handle our troubles? Christianity is not merely a religion. It is a way of life. What is our “default reaction” — positive or negative, gratitude or grumbling? In James 1:12 we read:
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)
THE MATURE CHRISTIAN IS SENSITIVE TO PEOPLE
In James 2:8 we read:
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. (James 2:8)
To care about others, and not only about ourselves, is a mark of maturity. It also means not showing partiality, respect of persons, favoritism, or playing favorites. In James 2:1–7,9 we read:
1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. (James 2:1–7,9)
It is striking that at the end of Matthew 25 we are told that we will be judged by how we treat people.
THE MATURE CHRISTIAN CONTROLS HIS TONGUE
In James 3:2 we read:
2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. (James 3:2)
When you are ill and go to the doctor, what does he tell you? “Open your mouth and say ‘Ah’!” The tongue is an indicator of both our physical and our spiritual health. According to James, the tongue is an organ of control. That is why James gives us several illustrations (James 3:3–12):
- The tongue is like the bit for a horse.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. (James 3:3)
- The tongue is like the rudder of a ship.
4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. (James 3:4–5)
- The tongue is like the spark that starts a fire.
5 Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. (James 3:5–6)
- The tongue is like a venomous snake that cannot be tamed. It can, however, be shut up in its terrarium!
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. (James 3:7–8)
- The tongue is like a spring.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. (James 3:9–12)
The tongue can bring us joy and encouragement, or sorrow and bitterness. Some people say: “Whatever comes to my mind, I say it.” But that is not directness or sincerity; it is immaturity. We must be careful about what we say and consider whether what we say builds people up. In Ephesians 4:29 we read:
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29)
If we have not learned to control our tongue, we have missed the whole point of godliness. In James 1:26 we read:
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. (James 1:26)
If we gossip, slander, speak filthy talk, curse, exaggerate, lie, and spread rumors, then we are spiritual infants. Mature Christians speak the truth in love. That means:
- With the right attitude;
- At the right time;
- In the right place;
- With the right motive.
The Bible is a very practical book. It does not busy itself with lofty, high-minded matters. It deals with how we treat one another, how we meet the difficulties of life, how we speak…
THE MATURE CHRISTIAN IS NOT A QUARRELER BUT A PEACEMAKER
In James 4:1 the apostle says:
1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? (James 4:1)
Am I a quarreler or a peacemaker? Am I easily offended, or am I quick to forgive?
There are two causes for the fights and quarrels among us.
- Our selfishness. “I want what I want because I want it.” The problem here is pride. And it can be seen in our prayers (James 4:2–6).
2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” (James 4:2–6)
Of course, we do not want to admit that we are wrong.
- Judging others (James 4:11–12):
11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? (James 4:11–12)
I must not judge and criticize people. Why? First, I am not God. He alone is Lawgiver and Judge. He alone can save or destroy. Second, only God knows all the facts. Third, only God searches the heart and knows people’s motives.
The leaders of the church, however, do from time to time have to judge. This happens during the “inspection of the harvest.” In 1 Corinthians 5:12–13; 6:2–3 the apostle Paul says:
12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.” (1 Corinthians 5:12–13)
2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! (1 Corinthians 6:2–3)
THE MATURE CHRISTIAN IS PATIENT AND DEVOTED TO PRAYER
In James 5:7,11 we read:
7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. (James 5:7,11)
Patience is an expression of our dependence on God. The farmer must have faith, patience, and a spirit of prayer. The only way we learn to be patient is by waiting. It is important to learn the difference between “No” and “Not yet.” While we wait, we develop and grow.
Besides Job, in the last chapter of his letter James also speaks of Elijah:
17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. (James 5:17–18)
These are the marks of the mature Christian:
- Endurance under trials;
- Sensitivity to people and their needs;
- A bridled tongue;
- Peacemaking;
- Patience and prayer.
What grade will we give ourselves, personally, on each one of these marks? Let us be honest. And let us work to raise our grades. In this way we will develop and become more mature as Christians and as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.