James Chapter Four, Presumption

James 4:13 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”; [14] 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.

 

Chapter four has showcased two examples of worldly or carnal behavior in Christians thus far. To summarize: verses 1-10 deal with the temptation and consequences of loving the sinful enticements the world offers. We are commanded that “you present your bodies a living sacrifice…and do not be conformed to this world,” Romans 12:1, 2. For the saint that conducts himself in obedience to the faith we acquire, “boldness in the day of judgment; because as He (Christ) is, so are we in this world,” 1 John 4:17; see also John 17:16.

The second example was passing judgment upon fellow Christians, in verses 11-12. James reminds us that there is a single Lawgiver with whom we have to do; therefore it is sinful to speak evilly toward those we are commanded to love. We don’t judge Christ’s law; we are judged by it. Our love for our fellow saints is the barometer by which the fervency of our love for God is measured, 1 John 4:7, 11, 20, 21. If we can’t follow the second greatest command: “Love your neighbor as yourself” to any degree of verifiable efficacy, then there is reason for the shadow of doubt to fall upon a genuine desire to obey the great commandment, “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength,” Mark 12:30, 31.

 

We come now to the third example: presumption. The word “presumption,” comes from the Latin “praesumere,” meaning, “to anticipate.” Two definitions for this word seem to fit the context. Oxford says, “to be bold enough to do something you should not do,” and, “take advantage of someone’s kindness or friendship.”

 

We are reminded of the brevity of our life in this passage. The idea of presumption arises from a neglect of properly discerning God’s desire for a believer’s life. In this instance, the unfounded confidence these believers have traveling abroad, settling in another city and plying their trade for a year is where James takes issue. Our Lord tells us not to worry for tomorrow, for worry can add nothing to us, and we gain nothing from it, Matthew 6:34. Contributing to wrong views of the future, James stresses his concern about our cavalier behavior in regards to it. There seems to be two extremes at work, neither better than the other: the ditch of worry on one side of life’s road, and the ditch of presumption on the other. While God does not want us to fret for the future (which I understand is easier said than done when put to the press) neither does He want us to rush in without due consideration. The future is uniquely God’s, since He alone knows it as an established fact, Acts 15:18.

 

James 4:15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” [16] But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

 

James commends humility. Here is presented the simplicity of a mindset that acknowledges our reliance upon God, “since He gives to all life, breath, and all things,” Acts 17:25. Jesus set us the ultimate example of living His life in accordance with the Father’s will. Even at the end, when the crucifixion loomed and He knew the Father would turn away from Him as He paid for the sin of mankind He finished His prayer, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours be done,” Luke 22:42. James isn’t trying to damper anyone’s enterprising spirit; rather, he wants to kindle it by aligning our effort with God’s purpose. God has a purpose for us, which none of us fills to capacity. Some are more humble and submitted than others. But we all falter in the path God wants to lead us. But rather than finding this truth discouraging, we should instead cling more tightly to Him, ensuring that when we walk, He is beside us. When we conduct ourselves on this earth, His word is our rule. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path,” Psalm 119:105.

 

Presumption can be indicative of an arrogant mindset. Suppose we have a wealthy friend that we know to be generous with his money. Suppose also that when we once needed bills paid for the month and didn’t have the means he stepped in and supplied our lack. A typical reaction might be gratitude, honoring the man and praising his kindness. However, our friendship may become tainted if we begin believing that our wealthy friend will always come to our rescue when we are strapped for money. Or worse, we begin spending as if that money is ours instead, anticipating his kindness. But perhaps that wealthy friend’s friendship would better serve us if we sat down with him and learned wisdom about finances, proper spending, and self-control. We would honor such a man again by seeking to learn from him and becoming more like him, rather than seeking to profit from him or taking advantage of the limits of our relationship.

 

Arrogance places too much emphasis on us. It is in essence an overestimation (without any valid warrant) of our ability and assets. It is as if we sundered the verse “I can do all things,” without adding, “through Christ who strengthens me,” Philippians 4:13. It is a worldly spirit that forsakes God’s providence when planning our lives, even our day-to-day one. This third temptation is sinful because it anticipates God’s intentions without actually seeking Him, or worse, ignoring Him entirely.

 

James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

 

This verse summarizes the examples cited. As Christians, especially in our day and age with the finished and complete word of God at our fingertips, we have the clarity of God’s wisdom at our command. We know through study and application what is good according to God. We are to be in the world, but not of it. As pilgrims here we have no claim to this land; it is not our true home. We are to love our fellow pilgrims especially since they are “accepted in the Beloved,” Ephesians 1:6. Our love for God is to be our motivation for loving our fellow saints. And while we can and should make plans for our future, not at the cost of our relationship with God. He governs us; we are His property. We have been bought at a price. We are slaves of Christ, 1 Corinthians 7:22, 23. Therefore we should walk with the Master, wherever He leads. James is applying the sin of omission; we are not denying God’s truth through heresy or Scripture twisting. Instead we deny it by simply refusing to obey. We become spiritually lazy and choose what is easy over what is right.