Consuming Worship

Blogger Small Group: James 3

This is a Blogger Small Group entry in partnership with Run’n Like a Vagabond.

James 3:1-2 = I’m thinking a couple of things here. I keep hearing line after line from the book of Proverbs in my head. Stuff that basically talks about the wise as people who hold their tongue, keep silent in most situations, listen more than they speak, and speak only when necessary. Contrast that with the fool of Proverbs who is usually someone who can’t keep their fool mouth shut.

I’m also thinking about what we sometimes do in church culture, making the mistake of cojoling someone until they become a Sunday School teacher or small group leader, but they have no calling from God to do so. In our arrogance we think, “they’ll learn how to teach,” and they just might, but if they have no clear calling from God to teach, should they even dare?

3:3-6 = Another couple of thoughts here. First of all, this all comes down to “practicing what we preach.” I like what the NLT says in vs. 5 that the tongue “makes great boasts.” There might be a lot of talk, but is there any walk. I’ll be honest, when I speak to someone at church or out in the community and they say something like “the church ought to be doing _________,” I look at them and if they are already doing what they say the church should be doing I listen up. If they are not serving in the way they think it is so critical for the church to be serving, or at least actively involved in similar endeavors, I’m really not all that interested in what they have to say.

Also, in vs. 6, I see the extreme power of the tongue over the body. The NLT puts it really neatly again when it says the tongue is “a world of evil among the parts of the body.” Here again I think of Proverbs. It is so much better just to keep our mouths shut than to say things that will potentially cause harm to ourselves or others.

3:7-8 = Think you can control your tongue all by yourself? Think again! You’re better off trying to tame a wild animal than you tongue.

3:9-12 = Hypocrisy in a nutshell. Are we the type of person who praises God on Sunday morning, then proceed to lunch and tear down whoever we can. “My brothers, this should not be.” Reality check time: You cannot be someone who is worshiping in spirit and in truth if you can lie about, tear down, and otherwise slander others. It is just not possible.

3:13 = You want to know where to find wisdom? Stop looking at the person who is an engaging speaker—the politician or preacher who can talk a good game—look instead to the one who is acting out their faith in humility.

3:14-16 = Heart check time: If you grow jealous and envious of those around you, and do things so that you can boast about yourself, you are living out “earthly wisdom.” Heavenly wisdom, wisdom from God, does not act this way. Envy and selfish ambition causes disorder and “every evil practice.”

3:17-18 = Here is what heavenly wisdom looks like: it is above all pure (confession made, repentance enacted, humility practiced, piety expressed), then it becomes peace-loving (not looking to create division), considerate (put others first), submissive (places oneself voluntarily in service to others), full of mercy (doesn’t “give ‘em what they deserve), and sincere (no faking it).

People who can make these monumental changes in their character wll see massive returns for such a life.

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