Here is an castigation of the abuse of riches. It is given to those in the church! What was in James' mind when he brought this firie charge against those in the church?

Working hard isn't being condemned and working hard to make a profit is not condemned and planning to work hard to make a profit is not condemned.. Carrying out business merely for our own benefit is the commerce of self-idolatry and dishonors the God who presides over all our lives. An independent attitude that plans to work hard and make a profit for oneself is wrong. This attitude rises in us when we presumptuously look to the future with presumptuous confidence in ourselves.

Why does James say that judging another is an act of judging the law? Here is why gossip is wrong and an evil in the family of God: The presumptions of a righteousness before God that is found in ones moral sensibilities leads to gossip... speaking ill... judging another's performance. It is a judgment not only of others but a judgment of the law... and how Spirit uses that law to bring another into God's mercy and grace.

True repentance takes place in the humility of being brought before God. What insues is a repentance as we come before God, before our sins, and before ourselves. This is clearly expressed in James 4:6-10.

Repentance was a grace of God given an individual at the time of their salvation. It is a gift that remains open to the believer daily inviting them to walk with God. Consider here the gracious way of repentance.

The sins of the believer are addressed and culminate in the most shocking charge of all. Worldiness is adultery! And God is righteously jealous.

Hedonism says my personal pleasure is the ultimate good. Holiness means to be set apart from God. Holiness says "I am set apart for the pleasure of God alone."

Like a mighty river that settles into a calm deep channel of blessing. God's work of salvation flows out of the meek servant like water into a desert. James gives to us in James 3:17 a portrait of this river of wisdom as it flows out of our lives and into our world... We will consider what each expression looks like and also why this is.

A short consideration of the meekness and the purity that is expressed in those operating under the wisdom that comes from above.

We are told the earthly wisdom is made up of zeal and ambition gone in the wrong direction. The problem is that this kind of wisdom can easily appear to be spiritual in nature because there is a certain zeal and ambition also present in the practice of true wisdom. So how can you tell? What is the sign of a ministry conducted in earthly wisdom?