God is Enough. (James)

Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. James 1:9, 10

The phrase “of low degree” means one in humble circumstances; one of lowly rank or employment; one in a condition of dependence or poverty. It stands here particularly opposed to one who is rich; and the apostle doubtless had his eye, in the use of this word, on those who had been poor. (Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible)

Position doesn't matter. What does matter is one's relationship with Christ and knowing that no matter the situation, God is enough. 

God is enough. 

Is that a true? Is God enough in my life? 

 This post is the continuation of my Study of Colossians. 

(https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6264278216784052618#editor/target=post;postID=7064583272095757173;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=18;src=postname)

And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power]. Colossians 2:10 (AMP)

"In Christ they find the satisfaction of every spiritual want" (Peake). There is no other place for Christ. He is first in time and in rank. All rule and authority comes after Christ whether angels, aeons, kings, what not. Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

Satisfaction. Christ is all I need. But is He all I want? Am I satisfied with what Christ has to offer me? Think about that. Christ not only offered Himself as a sacrifice for my sins, He in His grace and mercy offers me His unconditional love, grace, and mercy. Is He enough? 

He should be. I should be content and overwhelmed with Christ Himself. Nothing more and nothing less. 

But that's just in the spiritual aspect, what about the physical? Christ is enough in that too. Or He should be. In light of eternity, what is important? I can't take things with me to Heaven. Anything I have here are earth, is from God. Those are blessings. 

And if SOMETHING, is more important than Christ, that THING has become an idol. Remember the 10 Commandments?

You shall have no other gods before or besides Me.

You shall not make yourself any graven image [to worship it] or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;

You shall not bow down yourself to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me. Exodus 20:3-5 (AMP)

No other gods before or besides Me. "Other gods"—anything or anyone on whom I place more importance than God and His Word. If THINGS, take precedent and are more important that the satisfaction I can find in Christ–then those THINGS are idols. And that's a dangerous precedent to set. 

Satisfaction. Christ alone. In order to be completely satisfied with Christ, I must be permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31; MSG)

One-Purpose Mind! (James)

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:8

Double-minded: wavering, uncertain, doubting; vacillating in opinion or purpose

Unstable: inconstant, restless

Ways: in all his purposes and actions

I don't know. I'm unsure. What should I do? Maybe. Perhaps. Yes, well wait, no. We've all had times when indecision seems to haunt us. Did we make the right choice? Is this really what I should do? 

Indecision and questioning past decisions can be used by Satan to keep us from fully trusting God. In our lives will face many opportunities to make decisions. Some are easy. Some take much thought. Some are life-changing. James 1:5—8 are about the art of using wisdom—the wisdom that God gives. When we make choices based on wisdom from God, then we know for certain, no matter what happens, we made the right choice! 

As I read the definition of the word, "double-minded"-vacillating in opinion or purpose-the idea of an oscillating fan came to mind. Forever turning, never focusing on any one area. Quickly moving back and forth. The oscillating indecisions will create a restlessness and that will affect my actions and my overall purpose. 

The key to having a one-purpose mind and stability in purpose and actions is using the art of wisdom—God's wisdom!

Why would I doubt? (James)

For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. James 1:7

For: indeed (a conjunc. used to express cause, explanation, or continuation); take note of what came before (James 1:6)

Not: where one is bidden to cease from something already begun, or repeated, or continued

Think: suppose, imagine

Receive: to gain, get, obtain, to get hold of

Anything: some or any object

From: the side or the vicinity of one, or from one's sphere of power, or from one's wealth or store

Lord: a person exercising absolute ownership rights; denotes an owner (master) exercising full rights 

Why would I ask something of God, knowing that He has FULL OWNERSHIP of everything, only to doubt that He could supply? (James 1:6- Seasick). Asking in faith, doesn't mean that God will automatically give me everything I ask for— rather it means that I will trust God to supply what's BEST for me. 

And remember what James is discussing here, it's not our "wants" in general. Rather, the emphasis is on WISDOM! We are asking God for wisdom, "the art of USING wisdom", so that we can live a godly life that honors and brings glory to Him. 

God is the only source of true wisdom. And if we want wisdom, all we need to do is ask God believing that we will receive wisdom. But often we become "seasick" as we don't trust God to give us what we asked. 

👉👉👉 Perhaps we don't care for the answer wisdom offers. We'd rather go it on our own—since we know better — (we may think that, but NO, we don't). 

👉👉👉 Perhaps we don't really want wisdom, as we know that we would have to change our attitude, actions, and thoughts. 

👉👉👉 Perhaps we don't really want wisdom, for if we USE wisdom, we may have to make lifestyle changes. 

So, if I want to put into practice the art of using wisdom, I need to ask God believing that He will give it to me — knowing that He is fully capable of doing so, as God is the source of wisdom. 

Why would I doubt knowing that I'd receive nothing? Ask in full confidence knowing that God is the source and will give wisdom—and be ready to put that wisdom to good use!

Seasick

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. James 1:6

Let him ask: request for oneself

Faith: with the predominant idea of trust or confidence

Nothing: no, none, or absolutely nothing

Wavering: to be at variance with oneself, hesitate, doubt

For he: assuredly, verily the one

Like: to resemble

Wave: a surge, a violent agitation of the sea

Driven by the wind: to agitate or blown by the wind

Tossed:  to toss to and fro (it is used of a person whose mind wavers in uncertainty between hope and fear, between doing and not doing a thing)

Doubt. Hesitate. When I don't trust God for wisdom, then I allow doubt and mistrust to gain a foothold. And when that happens, I then will be "tossed to and fro" as I waver between hope and fear. 

Doubt and not fully trusting God, allows fear to take a hold. And fear will then create it's own reality and continue to cause me to be in a violent storm tossing about—talk about being "seasick". That is not what I want for my life! 

So, I have a choice to make. Ask God for wisdom, and TRUST him. OR. Allow doubt and fear to take hold and endure "seasickness". 

My choice—Ask in Faith! 

(To read an earlier blog post on "Fear Creates its Own Reality" here: http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2010/06/fear-creates-its-own-reality.html)

Request from the One giving! (James)

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5

(For the first part of the verse visit this link:

http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-art-of-using-wisdom-james.html)

Let him ask: request for oneself

Giveth: to grant, give to one asking, let have

All: means "all" in the sense of each (every) part that applies

Liberally: simply, openly, frankly, sincerely, led solely by his desire to bless

Upbraideth: finding fault, to disgrace (insult), reproach; mock (curse); insult, cast blame (create shame) 

Not: negates the underlying idea (concept) of a statement, ruling out its possibilities, 

And: moreover, even, indeed

Given: to grant, give to one asking, let have

Literal translation: Let him request from the One giving. 

The art of USING wisdom. What good is it to know something, and not put it to use? 

And if you are absent of wisdom, you are to go to the source — God Himself, the One who can supply wisdom! 

If you need the plumbing fixed at your home, you don't ask the grocery clerk to fix it. You call a plumber. When you need wisdom, looking for it in the wrong place will get you nowhere. 

Yet, in our lives, when we need wisdom, we turn to whomever is on TV, or the latest self-help book. While those things may have some good ideas, it is not true wisdom! 

The art of using wisdom is vital to life. And when wisdom is absent, then trouble begins. 

If I am not practicing the art of USING wisdom, then I need to go directly to the SOURCE and request wisdom. God is waiting to give it to me. He will not scold me for not asking sooner. He will not tell me that this is the UMPTEENTH time, I've asked for the same wisdom. He will not shame me or find fault that I don't know something. 

God is waiting to abundantly supply all that I need to know so that I can practice the art of using wisdom! 

I only need to REQUEST from the One giving!