The Origin of Chaos

I initially planned to write about the message I got from day 7 of "James: Faith/Works," a 13-day reading plan by Matt Chandler on YouVersion, but I decided to let the Spirit speak to you through the original version.

False Wisdom / True Wisdom

The wisdom of the world is rooted in selfishness. While our culture disciples us to believe that our determination, our truth, and our happiness are the most important priorities in life, these ideas run contrary to God’s Word. All people were meant to find their ultimate purpose and delight in God. True wisdom means we embrace God’s vision of how the world works. 

Two false beliefs drive all of your destructive behavior: 

1. My life is about me. My happiness matters most. I am utmost in my affections.

2. No absolute, objective standard exists by which I must live. All people have the right to their own preferences and opinions about what will make them happy. 

These statements pretty much summarize the prevailing philosophy in today’s culture, right? 

Let the implications of those beliefs sink in for a moment. Approximately seven billion people live on the planet. Seven billion people can’t all be right. Seven billion people can’t all do whatever they want. Seven billion people can’t all determine their own paths to personal happiness. Seven billion people can’t be at the center of the universe. This is a chaotic impossibility. And we know it’s impossible, but we love the lie.

What then is true wisdom? True wisdom is inseparable from good conduct. Faith works. Wisdom acts. Your actions reveal what you truly believe, just as words are the fruit born from whatever is rooted deep in your heart. This is a dominant theme of James’s epistle. You’ve already encountered this foundational truth in James 1:22; 2:14-26. 

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." - James 1:22

"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." - James 2:14-26

It’s easy to deceive yourself into thinking you’ve checked off all the right theological boxes, believing the right things about Jesus but continuing to live according to a worldview that’s just like everybody else around you.  

Credits:

Matt Chandler

Day 7, James: Faith/Works

YouVersion

I honestly recommend this bible plan to everyone, very practical and applicable wisdom.

Peace and love of Christ be with you all!