James 4:17 (New International Version)
Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.
This verse has haunted me since I was a young girl.
Seeing a piece of trash as I am walking and not picking it up but knowing that I should....
is that sin?
Hearng that someone is sick and not visiting them or sending them a card but knowing that I should...
is that sin?
I've asked myself this question over and over in different situations in my life.
The truth is, I don't know where the boundary lies with this verse.
But last night, I saw a little "hint" of what James might have been talking about right in my own home.
One of our kids needed something and I brought it to them. As they sat eating and watching TV, I stood with the item and waited to hand it to them. Several things needed to be done before they could use it, and I felt as if they expected me or Tim to do "all the work" in getting things set up.
I was frustrated at their lack of effort to jump in with a "thank you" and "here let me help" and finally had to speak up.
My child's initial reaction to my irritation was "But I didn't do anything wrong," which was true. However, my next words were the words that seemed to echo exactly the words of James in James 4:17.
I replied,
"It's not what you did that I am upset about. It's what you didn't do."
Suddenly James' words seemed to make sense in a whole new way.
It's an attitude thing.
It's a total awareness of "good" right in front of me that I walk away from or ignore that draws me into question.
Just as I long for my children to do good when they see the need right in front of their faces, I believe God longs for us to do the same kind of good.
Not just talk about doing good or being good but actually LIVE it out.
What am I going to do today?
My prayer is that I will see the good I need to do and DO IT.
The extra mile kind-of good.
Wondering what God will set before each of us today and praying that we will choose to step out and do the good we are called to do.
Does anyone else have thoughts on this verse? I'd love to hear them.
4 Comments:
James is telling us to confort humility and not arrogance. To know Gods will and to do it. If a brother or sister is in need and does not do what ought to be done it is a sin. In our everyday lifes things can get commemplace, we get stressed.compulsive. and just to busy. WE need to humble ourselves and not have arroganace in our behavior but do His will.Love you Lorraine Krista's ,mom
Raney!!!!
Oh, it is so good to hear from you!! I miss you! Are you coming to visit for the summer???? I still remember being at your home years ago when Evan got sick and had to be taken to the ER....what a night!! We had such a nice visit, though, and I hope we can come visit again some fall during the pumpkin season!
I love your thoughts on James!
Love you!
Tammy
PS Did Krista tell you that Erich is getting married in September??
that is so funny you said that about the trash! i laughed out loud! i do the same thing. normally, i will just auto pick it up without really thinking, but then sometimes if i see it and walk by it, it is like a battle within myself on whether im going to turn around and get it. most of the time, i turn around because if i dont, i feel like ive turned away from God. i have to admit sometimes it is irritating to me. i just want to keep on walking without that little nudge bothering me to do the right thing. i think that is just a small example of what our entire walk with Christ is like.
Better words have never been spoken. Things are so "there" in front of us, and sometimes we miss a wonderful opportunity to serve God in a small way, just because sometimes we want to find the "bigger" things to do. Thank you for your words. Our revival began last night, and his sermon just went right along with your words. God does work in mysterious ways--even if he just confirms His words.
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