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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?

Boasting About Tomorrow

13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.

 

James is warning believers against the sins of slander, judgmental behaviors and thinking too highly of themselves and their abilities. He is pointing out to them that they need to rely on God to help them make life decisions. According to James their lives are short like the mist that comes and goes quickly. If they are making judgments or tearing down a fellow believer, they are breaking down God’s law and not acting as one of God’s followers.

If we walk with God throughout our lives and follow his commandments, we become more God centered instead of self-centered. It’s not to say that following him will be easier or that the decisions will always be in our favor. Following God humbles us to know that we are meant to be his servants, to be his hands and feet in our crazy world. May we practice kindness and love and share it with those who believe and those who don’t believe. May we be the ones to welcome the outcast, the forgotten, the unbelievers. May our lives be an example of the good things God is doing in our world.

May our lives glorify you God. Amen

Kris Ward

kris5124@icloud.com