James, as the half brother of Jesus, lived with the will of God Incarnate (John 1:1,14). There is no doubt in my mind that when James wrote his epistle, he remembered what Jesus said and did around the house. Jesus Christ, as Son of Man, lived in submission not only to the will of His Father in heaven (John 4:34), but to His earthly parents as well (Luke 2:51). He always sought to do the things that pleased Him (John 8:29).
Such should be the desire of our hearts this morning as the blood-bought children of the Living God. Once again we are warned about judgmental and slanderous speaking (James 4:11,12). We are also cautioned about worldly attitudes in our business ventures (James 4:13- 15). The Spirit of God, through James, reminds us that our lives on earth are very short, and only that which we do for Christ will really matter in eternity.
How important it is for us to have eternal perspectives, saints. How important it is for us to redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16) in things that pay eternal dividends. James is warning us about the danger of wasting our lives on temporal things, instead of investing our lives on the things that are eternal. Priorities and perspective are so important. When you and I are planning out our week, do we begin by making the things of The Lord the priority with everything else penciled in, or do we pencil in mid- week study and prayer nights, and ink in something else?
Time is short (Revelation 1:3); Jesus is coming soon, and you and I are not getting any younger. May we embrace the will of God for our lives more than anything else, and in doing so, bring glory and honor to our glorious King and Redeemer, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Peter 4:10,11).
