Christian Conduct Series

Christian Conduct

James 4:11-17 C:\MyData\JAM-OLD But Good\JAMES4-3.WPD

{11} Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother, or judges his brother, speaks against the law, and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge of it.

{12} There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?

{13} Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit."

{14} Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

{15} Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that."

{16} But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.

{17} Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.

INTRODUCTION Harbour p 94

Christian conduct is prompted by the spirit of God and obedience to the word of God. Many times we know what we would like to do but at that moment do not know how to respond.

I heard about a handsome young man years ago who wanted to go to the County Fair. He put a chicken under his left arm and a little pig under his right arm and a basket on his head. He took off toward town but seemed to get lost. Then he noticed a cross road and saw a beautiful young lady walking toward the road he was on.

He asked the beautiful young lady, "Can you tell me how to get to the County Fair?" The beautiful young lady could tell he was a handsome young man even with the basket on his head and a chicken under one arm and a pig under the other.

The beautiful young lady replied " I can not only tell you I can show you. I’m on my way to the fair. We go down this road to the next cross road and turn right and at the next cross road we turn right again." The fair grounds is way over there on the other side of the woods.

The handsome young man said " If the Fair Grounds are on the other side of the woods why don’t we cut through the woods?" The beautiful young lady replied " because in the woods you might try to kiss me." The handsome young man said "how could I kiss you I have a chicken under my left arm and a little pig under my right arm and a basket on my head.

The young lady indignantly said "You could put the chicken down and place the basket over it." And then with a twinkle in her eye she said "I could hold the little pig."

Do you know how to conduct yourself as a Christian? Our text give guidance in three areas.

1.Christian Conduct Toward . . Brothers.

2.Christian Conduct Toward . . Business.

3.Christian Conduct Toward . . Boasting.

1. Christian Conduct Toward . . Brothers. v 11-12

EXPLANATION

A. Conduct Toward Brothers in matters of . . Speech. v 11 a

Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother, or judges

his brother, speaks against the law, and judges the law; . . . " v 11 a

1. We receive a command not to speak against a brother.

a. Boy hitched dog to lawn more dog would stop and bark. Rather bark than pull.

B. Conduct Toward Brothers in matters of. . Superiority. v 11 b - 12 a

" . . . but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge of it. There is

only one Lawgiver and Judge, . . . " v 11 b - 12 a

1. We receive a command not judge with a superior attitude.

a. We play God. Read poem "The Critic"

C. Conduct Toward Brothers in matters of. . Salvation. v 12 b

". . . There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy;

but who are you who judge your neighbor? " v 12 b

1. We receive a reminder about salvation.

ILLUSTRATION TOPIC: Faith SUBTOPIC: Obstacles that Test DATE: 1/1989.27 (Adapted )

1. Do you know the president of a Michigan bank advised Henry Ford’s lawyer not to invest

in the new motor company, assuring him,

"The horse is here to stay, but the automobile is only a novelty."