Let's face it, most of humanity is made up of doers. We like to feel in control, powerful, in charge of problems and able to find solutions. This is so true and we are all that. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Yet, our relationship with Father is one of dependence, trust, rest, and obedience to instruction. We are capable of finding solutions but the solutions the Lord wants to guide us to are eternal not quick fixes.
We like to work on ourselves. We like to see areas that need improvement and come up with a plan to do it. But the areas that need improvement are not areas that we can improve. It is beyond us. Instead, we are told to cooperate with the Spirit who will convict us according to righteousness. The work of change is his responsibility and we learn to submit and cooperate. That fact is, everything we need has already been planted in us when we received Spirit and Spirit teaches us how to let these seeds grow and to walk according to this new nature.
So what does that look like?
Let's use an example from James. In chapter two James teaches that our entire responsibility is summed up by the royal law, "To love and respect our neighbour as we love and respect ourselves". Of course this is not a love we are capable of but a love that comes from Jesus living through us. Paul describes this love for us in 1 Corinthians 13 and it is very radical compared to our watered down and limited version.
James goes on to talk about how this love is demonstrated in our faith-works. This is not a faith that remains a theory or talking point but a thing that operates in us, provoking us to action, every moment of our day for the rest of our lives. This is a powerful thing that has been seeded into us. It is not limited to kindness, but has kindness in it. It is actions we are provoked by love to take that goes beyond what we have resources to accomplish but still we do it trusting that Dad has us covered because this action is his righteousness. I hope you can understand the mumble jumble.
This is great in and of itself but the point I want to make is found in the third chapter. Here James addresses the issue of the words we use. He describes the power of the tongue, comparing it to a ship's rudder, the bit that controls the horse and the flame that starts a forest fire. I have heard many sermons from this passage and most teach that we need to learn to control our tongues. But the thing is James says we can't. He says that humanity has tamed everything in the world but we will never learn to tame the tongue. Still we persist in teaching that by our effort we can change.
What is the solution? James says consider the source. He says bitter and sweet water cannot come from the same source. So it is not a matter of taming the power of the tongue because if the source is good then the power will be used for good. Instead of tearing down it will build up. Instead of cursing it will declare blessing. Now, we do have something to do with the source.
The problem with the tongue is the same problem as our actions. Everything rests on what James says is our purpose : "To love and respect our neighbour as we love and respect ourselves". Jesus told us we would not be able to do anything outside of him and that we need to remain attached to the vine. The vine, Jesus, is the source. He constantly renews our heart. He constantly refreshes us. His joy is our strength.
It is never about self-improvement. It is always about keeping step with the Spirit, being attached to Jesus, being renewed in him every day, being dependent on him, taking direction from him, living for his purpose and his glory. James says the royal law sums all of this up and, to be honest, is a lot easier than being careful with our words. If I concentrate on my relationship with Jesus, my source of all things, then the powerful tongue will only ever speak words that love, respect and honour other people. Because the Source is sweet the water will be sweet.
No comments:
Post a Comment