Side Stepping Land Mines
James 3:13-18 NLT
If I were traveling across country in Viet Nam, Cambodia, or near the boarder of Thai-Burma area; one of my greatest fears would be encountering a landmine! Clear Landmines International says that one person dies every 30 minutes somewhere in the world from stepping on a landmine.
Landmines by the millions are just waiting for someone or something to trigger their explosive.
There are many landmines that we need to sidestep. This morning I’m going to mention three landmines, fear, jealousy and anger.
I. The Landmine of Fear
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (fear), but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Psalm 23:4 David prayed, “Even through I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
In these days many people face different fears.
Some fear losing their job.
Others have lost their job and fear losing their house.
Many fear what the future might hold.
Some fear the attack of terrorists.
Years ago I feared for my safety when living on a farm one summer when a tornado was coming our way. I still remember the intense fear I felt as a 12 year old.
Years ago Winston Churchill addressed a nation experiencing fear. With London’s bombed-out buildings in the back of his mind, he spoke to the nation: “Never give up, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”
England was on the brink of disaster. The people had endured months of daily air raids and bombings. Fear filled the hearts of the people and would have overcome them except for two things: their will and their faith.
In 1942, Churchill said, “Now, this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end.” The British people along with their allies went on to win the Second World War.
Job 28:28 Job declared, “The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom.
Psalm 111:10 The Psalmist sang out: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…”
The proper kind of fear of the Lord is having a reverence, respect and honor of the Lord. Because we reverence the name of the Lord we do not use the various names of God in vain.
The fear that lacks trust in the Lord is the kind of fear that takes away the blessings of the Lord. Fear that leaves God out of the picture can become debilitating. Fear can so paralyze us that we can only see the clouds of life and not the bright side of Life. Fear that forgets God has the view that God is only good part of the time and not good all the time.
God promises hope to all who put their trust in Him. Isaiah 40:29-31 “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak. Even youth grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; and they run and not grow weary, and they will walk and not be faint.”
Nehemiah was one who did not give up hope in the mist of fear and impending danger. Nehemiah felt called of God to travel to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls so the city would be protected against their enemies.
When the people started rebuilding the walls their enemies also went to work. All kinds of threats and accusations were made against Nehemiah and the Jews working on the walls. Nehemiah believed God had given him a mission and he refused to cave into fear. When the leaders in Jerusalem began to fear the threats of their enemies Nehemiah gave them reassurance:
“Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and yours houses.” Nehemiah 4:14
Nehemiah did not panic or become fearful in the face of enemies. He did not pack and go home. He trusted God for the present and the future.
You need to always remember that Jesus knows all about your challenges and circumstances. He has not forgotten about your situation.
Mark 4:35-38, Mark tells about Jesus getting in a boat and going to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. As they were sailing along a fierce gale of wind arose and whipped up the waves so they were filling the boat up with water. Jesus was in the back of the boat fast asleep.
These were seasoned fishermen. They were used to storms at sea, but this was no ordinary storm. They cried out to Jesus, “Do You not care that we are perishing?”
Jesus spoke to the sea and the storm stopped. Jesus knows all about the storms in your life. He wants you to trust Him and bring you peace during the storm.
When going through fearful times turn to God’s Word for strength. Psalm 46:1-3, “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear, even it earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!”
With the help of the Lord sidestep fear.
II. The Landmine of Jealousy
James 3:13-16 “If you are wise and understand God’s ways, live a life of steady goodness so that only good deeds will pour forth. And if you don’t brag about the good you do, then you will be truly wise! But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your hearts, don’t brag about being wise. That is the worst kind of lie. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual and motivated by the Devil. For whenever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every kind of evil.”
Satan will do all he can to fan the flame of jealousy. Satan goal is to shift your focus away from God and get you to focus on your own circumstance. Satan wants you to be envious and jealous.
The Bible warns us about falling into the trap of comparing ourselves with others. Paul says, “Don’t compare yourselves with others. That is foolishness.” 2 Corinthians 10:12
Saying to someone, “I wish I had your talent, your gift, your beauty” and complaining, “Why didn’t God give me what that person has.” Jealousy will keep you from enjoying God’s greatest blessings.
Don’t get caught in the competitive trap. You complain to other co-workers, “I’m better than that person. I’m the one that should have gotten the promotion.”
An insane spirit of competition was the downfall of King Saul. David did everything the King told him to do. Something happened to King Saul when he returned from battle with the Philistines. David had killed the giant Goliath and helped Israel win the battle over the Philistines.
I Samuel 18:6-9 –“But something happened when the victorious Israelites army was returning home after David hilled Goliath. Women came out from all the towns along the way to celebrate and to cheer for King Saul, and they sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals. This was their song:
“Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his ten thousands!”
“This made Saul very angry. ‘What’s this?’ he said, ‘they credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!’ So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.”
Jealousy leads to a critical spirit, bitterness, anger and resentment.
Jealousy is a matter of choice. With God’s help we can refuse to let jealousy feelings overcome us.
The key to overcoming jealousy is honest confession. When you find yourself becoming jealous of others for whatever reason, confess that jealousy to the Lord. Focus on thanking God for the blessings He has given you. Surrender all feelings of jealousy and envy to the Lord. Confession and surrender leads to victory.
Get your eyes off what other people are dong and refocus on what God wants you to do. God has a unique plan for your life and only you can fill it. When you focus on God’s plan competition and comparing your life with others becomes irrelevant.
James 3:13-16, James teaches that jealousy and selfish ambitions are not compatible with people who are honoring God in their lives.
James 3:17-18, James gives the answer to jealousy: “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness.”
When you are committed to bringing the best out I others and being a peacemaker you don’t have time to become jealous or envious. You realize that life is too long to live with the constant internal battle of dealing with jealousy.
With God’s help you can sidestep the landmines of fear and jealousy.
III. The Landmine of Anger.
James 1:19-20, “Dear friends, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Your anger can never make things right in God’s sight.”
When you read the book of James you find that James gives very practical advice on how to live the Christian life. James 1:19 is great advice – “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry.”
Anger can be deadly. Anger is something we need to learn how to handle or anger will handle us.
The Los Angeles Times once printed a story entitled: “for People Who Blow Their Tops and Lose their Tempers.” A man of about 55 and his wife quarreled with another driver…over parking space…people who were eyewitnesses told the police that the other driver did not strike a blow, but that the 55 year old man punched the other driver twice. Then he slugged his wife twice when she urged him to calm down…Then he walked ten steps and dropped dead.”
There are some people who become like the incredible Hulk when they become angry. They often do things that they regret for the rest of their lives. In the TV show “The Incredible Hulk” on TV years ago, Dr. David Banner would transform into a huge green monster when he became angry. He would often tell people: “Don’t make me angry, you wouldn’t like me when I am angry.”
Proverbs 14:17-18 says, “A quick tempered man does foolish things. A hot tempered man stirs up dissension.”
When I was a student at Greenville a couple of boys on my floor got into an argument. One could not control his anger and slugged the other student and broke his jaw. He was expelled from the school.
Some people get angry and take their rage out by yelling and screaming, swearing, or bash your fist into a door or wall. Some take out their anger on the door and slam it with such force it shakes the room.
Some people seem to lose half their IQ when they get angry. Proverbs 11:29 says, “The fool who provokes his family to anger and resentment will finally have nothing worthwhile left.”
Anger out of control has a high price to pay. The person may lose his reputation, respect, his job, a sale or the love of his family.
Why do we get angry? There are many answers to why people get angry.
We get angry when someone violates what we believe are our rights or when we don’t get our way.
Some people get angry and have a pity party. Mary Martyr says: “Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I’m going to go eat worms.” Poor me, pity me people manipulate people by their moods and pouts.
We get angry when we blame someone or something for the mistakes we make. I’ve watched professional tennis players act anything but professional when they make a bad volley and then smash their tennis racquet on the playing court. Or the golf pro that bends his club in half after making a bad shot into the woods or water.
There are a number of ways to deal with anger.
Anger can be controlled. James 1:19 - “Dear friends, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” Proverbs 29:11, “A stupid man gives free reign to his anger; a wise man waits and lets it grow cool.”
When you sense anger coming on, take a break. Take a time out and the longer you wait to speak or act the better control you can get on your emotion of anger.
Some people deal with their anger by denying they get angry. “I’m a Christian and I don’t get angry.” You may even suppress your anger, but in time it will build and explode like a volcano.
There is a cartoon showing a husband and wife at the breakfast table. Wife: “I said, Good Morning! How’s the headache?” Husband: Umm. Yeah, I’ll have a little more coffee.
Next picture: Wife grabs the paper and spilling the coffee all over the table and yelling---“I SAID GOOD MORNING!!!”
Husband reacts with greater anger….
High emotions rarely have a positive impact – the results are usually negative.
Another way to handle anger is to withdraw and refuse to deal with the problem.
Or we can meet anger head on and ask the Lord to forgive us and fill us with His love. Let love replace anger. When you life is full of love it’s hard for anger to take control. Romans 5:5 “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”
I’ve been a Christian many years. Does that mean I never had times of fear, jealousy, and anger? No! My goal is to be more like the Master, so when I slip and hit a landmine, I confess it to the Lord and others as needed. My goal day by day is to be more like Jesus.
I want my life to be a stepping-stone for people to get closer to God and not a stumbling block that causes people to step on landmines.
Do you know that the scriptures also teach that we are to get angry? Ephesians 4:26 “Be angry, but do not sin.” – (RSV) Personal anger can be the sign of love. If someone hurts your family you get angry because you love your family.
To not get angry about unrighteousness means we are heartless and apathetic. Healthy relationships take place when we learn to manage our anger.
Anger can be managed. You are having a heated argument with someone; speaking louder and louder, getting red in the face. The phone calls and you answer in a pleasant mild voice, “Hello” and carry on a civilized conversation. You’ve just controlled your anger.
Ephesians 4:31 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
This week let’s put this verse into practice. Let’s say this verse together and apply this verse to our lives in the days a head.
With God’s love overflowing our hearts we’ll sidestep the landmines of fear, jealousy and anger.
Resource: Title for this sermon taken from the book, Landmines in the Path of the Believer.
