Double-Minded Destruction

What does it mean to be double-minded?

Simply put, it means that you are torn between two decisions. Your mind wants to go in two different directions, which often leads to bad decisions.

The Greek word for “double minded” in James 1:8 is defined as “wavering, uncertain, doubting.” The picture is of a wave that is constantly rising and falling. A wave is anything but consistent; it is at the mercy of the wind. We can be just like. We can allow ourselves to be blown around by our circumstances, which can lead to double-mindedness. You can start to doubt God and the Bible.

Why is double-mindedness so destructive?

If you’re double-minded, you WILL make bad decisions. Your life will be unstable. Circumstances will beat you up. Worries will be a regular companion. In other words, double-mindedness will ruin your life.

Don’t believe me? Let’s look at some examples from the Bible.

Examples of Double-mindedness

REUBEN

Reuben was the oldest of all of Jacob’s sons. He was the firstborn, and as such, he should have been the leader of the twelve.

Genesis 35:22, “And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard it…”

This was the first sign that Reuben was unstable. No man who commits sexual immorality is ever a good leader. Reuben was weak.

Genesis 37:29, “And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.”

Reuben had persuaded his brothers to not kill Joseph by suggesting that they throw him into the pit. But then he seems to disappear. The brothers sell Joseph and Reuben comes back later to find the pit empty. Where did he go, and why did he leave? Later Reuben suggests that his two sons be killed if they failed to get Benjamin back. Sounds unstable!

Genesis 49:3-4, “Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defilest thou it: he went up to my couch.”

It’s interesting that Jacob compares Reuben to water, just as James compares the unstable Christian to a wave of the sea. It was Reuben’s one act of sexual immorality that proved he was unstable—he was double-minded. He was a terrible leader. Instead, Judah was the man who proved to be a strong leader. Reuben was simply a wishy-washy man.

SAMSON

Samson, possibly the most famous of all the judges, was a Nazarite. He was under the Nazarite vow, which forbid him from drinking wine, touching a dead carcass, and cutting his hair. He broke every one of these rules. He especially had a weakness for women. But on the other hand, Samson seemed to have a passion for God, and God used him to kill thousands of Philistines.

Despite his physical strength, Samson was weak spiritually. He seemed to enjoy flirting with danger. Even when surrounded by Philistines, Samson showed no fear, but quickly dispatched them like some kind of superhero. Actually, Samson WAS a superhero. His supernatural strength came from God. His kryponite, then, was his lust. He eventually fell head over heels for Delilah.

You know the story. She was paid off by the Philistines to get Samson to tell her his secret, and he eventually did! Samson’s common sense was clouded by his lust. His eyes were put out and he became the Philistines’ slave. Eventually Samson’s hair grew long again, and he decided to accomplish one last feat of strength in order to kill the Philistines.

Judges 16:28, “And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.”

On one hand, Samson prayed (good), but on the other, he wanted vengeance for his eyes! Here we see his double-mindedness. Instead of doing it for God, he did it for himself. Samson’s life could have had a happy ending, but his instability ruined everything.

THE RICH YOUNG RULER (Luke 18:18-23)

This young man seemed to have wonderful aspirations. He wanted to know how to have eternal life. But Jesus knew he was double-minded. He wanted eternal life, but he wasn’t willing to give up his temporal possessions. He was wealthy and greedy. He was not willing to give up his stuff for the Savior. He was unstable, which caused him to make the biggest mistake of his life. In this one brief moment, he wavered. It’s sad to think of all the people who want Jesus but they are not willing to give up their sin.