"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."
James 4:17
Part 2
Yesterday:
Are we living lives dependent upon God or independent of Him? This decision has significant consequences on our lives and futures.
Today:
“Therefore, to him that knoweth to do good.”
Believers, we cannot claim that we do not know the difference between good and evil.
“To him that knoweth,” is from the Greek phrase meaning “to one knowing how.” There is no ignorance of how to do it here. This person knows what is right and how to do right. Believers, this is where we live. We know the difference between what is right and what is evil. We have God’s Word and His guidance. His Spirit lives within, and He prompts us in “doing good,” and He pricks our conscience when we think about doing evil. Yes, we “know to do good.”
“After this warning, none of you can plead ignorance; if, therefore, any of you shall be found to act their ungodly part, not acknowledging the Divine providence, the uncertainty of life, and the necessity of standing every moment prepared to meet God – as you will have the greater sin, you will infallibly get the greater punishment”[1] (Clarke).
Within this context (James 4:13-17), the right thing to do is to include God in our lives and plans. This is always correct for God’s child. If we ignore Him or “forget” to invite Him into our daily lives, careers, activities, and ventures, it is a sin.
When Paul preached his message on Mar’s Hill, he let the pagans know that,
“For in him [God] we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring” (Acts 17:28).
We are here on the Creator’s earth by His will. Therefore, we need to involve our great God in every part of our lives. This is to “do good.”
“And doeth it not.”
When he or she knows to “do good,” and “does not do it.” This person is neglecting or omitting what he/she should be doing. In Christian practice, we call these kinds of sins, sins of “omission.”[2] This is when we do not do what clearly should be done. The Bible shows us that omission sins are just as vile and disobedient as those sins we commit on purpose. An example of a sin of omission; is our lack of obedience to the command to share the Gospel. When we have an opportunity to witness, and yet we do not speak up, in this, we have omitted our duty for Christ. “To him, that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not…”
Believers, we know that no sin is “fine” with God. When we wrong Him by our “omissions” we need to go to Him and confess our sin (1 John 1:9). How can we make personal application of these principles in James to our own lives? Tomorrow we will look more at this. See you then.
Quote:
“No, it’s not the things you do,
It’s the thing you leave undone.
Which gives you the bit of heartache
At the setting of the sun.”[3]
[1] Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] The opposite of sins of “omission” are sins of “commission.” These are the sins we do when we step across God’s boundary line and do what He has told us not to do. Both types of sin are wrong and are aimed at God.
[3] The last stanza of “Misdeeds and Missed Deeds,” Margaret Sangster’s poem Downloaded: Wednesday, October 14, 2020. From https://bible.org/illustration/misdeeds-and-missed-deeds.