Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. — James 4:13–17 (NKJV)
James seems to be saying, “Don’t put off to tomorrow, what you can do today.”
Yes. James is moving on to one of the most obvious aspects of the fact that we’re not God—we don’t know the future. We all understand this truism, yet we often act like we don’t believe it.
This is sort of what James has been saying all along, if we act like we don’t believe it, then we don’t believe it. We have a confidence about the future that’s not really all that confident.
That makes sense.
The point is that we should never disconnect from God. He is Lord, whether we acknowledge it or not.
Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
“But,” James continues, “now you boast in your arrogance.”
That is kind of nuts. Do you think there’s a psychological connection between boasting about that confidence and that confidence being actually shaky?
That is a common psychological phenomenon, but James doesn’t make that connection. He’s more concerned with the consequences.
And note that this part is directly addressed to his first century readers. While it’s for everyone’s edification, the direct implication doesn’t apply to all.
But then the next sentence does apply to all. All such boasting is evil.
Yikes. Boasting is a big part of the American culture.
Exactly, and the strength of this statement is easy for Americans to miss. We tend to wear out every superlative. We speak of “giving 110 percent.” People we disagree with are “idiots.” People we don’t like are “worse than Hitler.” Overuse has robbed strong words of their meaning.
So, this point is going to land with a thud in the American mind, right?
Yes, and that’s a problem. This is supposed to be startling. The Greek word that’s translated as evil (πονηρός, pon-ay-ross) means wicked or evil. It is a literally damnable crime against God.
Seems like James then makes it worse by implying that just failing to act is a sin, too.
Yes, and that last sentence introduces an advanced concept. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
Wait. What does James mean by, “him who knows to do good.” Can something be a sin for one person but not for another?
Yes. In this case, the rule, “Ignorance is no excuse,” doesn’t apply. If we’re careful to define what James means, there are situations where ignorance is an excuse.
Ignorance of the law is never an excuse in court. We’re expected to know what the speed limit is, or the catch limit on a fishing license, or which species are protected, or whatever.
Right, but with sin, knowledge matters. This is because sin is fundamentally rebellion against God. It’s all about what’s in the heart. The actions reveal what’s in the heart to us, but God sees what’s in the heart directly. He sees the sin, not just the symptoms of the sin.
So, if you do something that’s wrong, or don’t do something you should, not knowing the rule means it’s not as bad. Still, like knowing the law in court, we’re expected to know basic right and wrong, but there are situations where details can be hidden from us. Then the lack of knowledge matters. The classic example is about food that’s been sacrificed to idols. Paul details this in 1 Corinthians 10:27–28.
If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” (NKJV)
So, in that case, if you don’t know, it’s not sin, right?
Exactly, but if you know the food has been sacrificed to idols, then the meal has become a test.
It’s kind of curious that someone would suddenly blurt out, “This was offered to idols,” when you didn’t already know. It’s just hypothetical, but it feels like a test.
Right. So, James’s point here is that knowingly defying the Lord’s will is straight-up sin.
He’ll amplify this tomorrow. See you then.
