Humility in Action James 4:11-17

Humility in ActionJames 4:11-17

God gives grace to the humble, not the proud

“proud”to have an exaggerated

opinion of yourself

Review 4:6-10

“As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you .” C.S. Lewis


“proud”to have an

exaggerated opinion of yourself“humble”

to see yourself accurately as a dependent creature living before a Holy God

“grace”undeserved favor from God

Review 4:6-10


Review 4:6-10

Ephesians 2:8–9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

SPEAK humbly of others4:11-12

Don’t “speak against” one another• slander• gossip• ridicule• insubordination

Speak humbly of others

Don’t “judge” one another• to set apart, distinguish


Don’t “judge” one another• to publically point out

someone’s faults or sins in order to condemn him


Matthew 18:15–17

“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”

Don’t “speak against” one anotherDon’t “judge” one anotherBecause it...

① makes us law-breakers② usurps God’s authority


Practical suggestions:① Go to the person, not to others② Be careful getting advice③ If you have nothing good to

say, say nothing at all!


PLAN humbly for the future4:13-16

NOT condemning...• planning

Plan humbly for the future

Proverbs 21:5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.

NOT condemning...• planning• profit


Condemns presumptuous planning • planning as if we control our

future• planning that leaves God out• planning motivated by pride


Condemns presumptuous planningbecause...

① we don’t know what the future holds


Proverbs 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Condemns presumptuous planningbecause...

① we don’t know what the future holds

② our lives are fleeting


Luke 12:16–21

And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods...

... And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Luke 12:16–21

The right way to plan for the future (v15)• entrust your future to God• hold your plans loosely


“Hold everything in your hands lightly, otherwise it hurts when God pries your fingers open.”

Corrie Ten Boom

How have I spoken of others lately?

slander, gossip, ridicule, fault-finding

How have I planned for the future?trust God and hold plans

loosely?or trust my intellect, skill, & strength and get angry when things go contrary to plan?

Are you proud or humble?

Humility in ActionJames 4:11-17

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Humility in Action James 4:11-17