V. Instruction on Humility. 4:1-5:6
A. Covetousness
1. Revealed the problem. James 4:1a
2. Recognized the cause. James 4:1-5
3. Recommended the solution. James 4:6-10

James again helps us to understand humility by warning of the dangers of –

B. Criticism of the brethren. 4:11,12

1. The exhortation – 4:11a

Leviticus 19:16-18 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

Illustrate – Miriam and Aaron speaking evil of Moses. They must have spoken to each other about Moses and invented a reason to challenge his leadership.

Numbers 12:1-2 And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.

The one, whether Miriam or Aaron, who brought up the issue should have been rebuked by the other and both been in submission to the leadership that God established!

2. The explanation – 4:11b,12

a. God instituted the Law and revealed it through His Word.

1). He revealed it through His Word.
2). He judges all things according to His Word.

John 12:47-48 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

b. God instructs man to submit to His Word.

1). We are to judge ourselves according to His Word.

1 Corinthians 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

2). We are to judge others according to His Word.
Speak to them, not about them!

a). The command to Pastors

(1). To judge themselves –

1 Peter 5:2-3 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

(2). To judge the church –

Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

1 Timothy 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Titus 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

b). The command to people –

(1). Caring for them –

Colossians 3:12-14 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

(2). Correcting them. Refer to how Aquila and Priscilla helped Apollos.

Acts 18:25-27 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:

(a). They did not cast him out, they called him in.
(b). They did not teach him as his masters, they explained to him as his mentors.
(c). They did not restrict him, they recommended him. They trusted the Holy Spirit would lead him and that he would follow that leadership!

3. The encouragement

a. Maintain the right relationship –

John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

When we have the right relationship with God and our brethren, we can –

b. Minister with God’s Word

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
We want to consider you in love today and provoke you for your good –

Are you saved? Have you trusted in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross for your salvation?