Grace: The Source

For the last several weeks I have been attending Rexdale Alliance Church in Etobicoke, Ontario and during these worship services they have been going through the book of James. Today's message was on James 4:1-10, and what a wonderful passage this is.

Going through the book of James we see that he discusses many issues that appears to be problems with the addressees of this letter. In Chapter 1:1-18, the theme that is apparent is that James desires these Christians to practically live out what they proclaim to believe, and most notably, if anyone remembers something from this books they will remember, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously without reproach, and it will be given him." (v.5) He then goes on to discuss the sort of duplicity that is going on, where these believers are double minded (v.8).

Again, several issues are named: being quick to anger (v.19), not being doers of the word (v.22), showing partiality (2:1-13), no control of the tongue (3:1-12), jealousy and selfish ambition (3:14-16), and quarrels and fights (4:1-2). This is a hefty list of issues, which even I myself have to admit being guilty of.

And then James goes into a harsh rebuke, "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." (4:4) They desire their passions and the wrong things, they desire things of this world, and the language used in their rebuke is that of adultery. God being a faithful husband to an unfaithful bride then burns with jealousy (4:5).

How can one not help but feel disappointed with themselves, and disgusted, suffering from wrong desires and passions, those not of or for God. What a pitiful person I am, who claims to be called but still suffering from friendship with the world, but there is hope. With this dismal view of ourselves, which is an inescapable truth that we are all sinners, there is a brilliant light:

"But He gives more grace." (4:6a)

But - in spite of suffering from this enmity that is between us and God because of our sinful passions and desires
He - the Only, Perfect, Holy, Infinite, Loving, Creator of all things above and below the earth, Omnibenevolent God
gives - God is the source of grace, therefore He alone can bestow grace, for grace belongs to God
more - He gives more, to help us with more
grace - the unmerited and undeserving gift given to those who believe and humble (v.6b) themselves towards God

What a wonderful thing it is to know that God is the source of grace, and to him alone does it belong. For because of his goodness and love he bestows grace just when we need and abundantly so. We humans that struggle with our iniquity, and not only that which is revealed within ourselves, the sin that manifests itself in our everyday life, God gives more grace. I cannot help but praise and rejoice God for not only his beauty, but all the more that in our bleak and dark lives, he provides that light and the grace to endure. This grace begins with the Cross of Christ. Small wonder that James can begin by saying, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds". (1:2)