Primary Scriptures: James 1:22-25; 2:8; 3:17-18; 5:12
Story Summary: Verses with content about obedience
Location: Kingdom of Judea (Israel)
Time: Circa 50 AD
Suggested Memory Scriptures: James 1:22-23; 2:8; 3:17-18, 5:12
True or not, the generations since World War II are often considered to be much more self-centered than previous generations. The 1950s beatniks and 1960s hippies led the charge of “doing my thing.” Since then, the notion of leading lives of obedience to people in authority seems to be receding further and further in the distance.
From start to finish, the Bible has the consistent theme that people are to be obedient to God and his chosen authoritative figures. People very often have chosen not to do this. In Genesis, Adam and Eve had only one prohibition…and they chose to break it. Revelation concludes with commands not to add or take away from the prophecy. Based on humans’ tendency to disobey, God adds some horrible warnings for those who disobey those simple commands.
James personally observed three obedient people: Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. The New Testament portrays them as being perfectly obedient. Joseph and Mary obeyed completely and immediately every time they got a message from God, while Jesus’ childhood was described as one where he was obedient to Joseph and Mary. As an adult, Jesus obeyed God so completely that he summarized his life in a prayer to God this way: “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” (John 17:4)
As the leader of the church in Jerusalem, James was intimately familiar with issues of obedience to God and to his chosen leaders. He recognized that problems often started with people choosing not follow God’s word.1 Problems could also start when people chose to follow the letter of the law while simultaneously trying to avoid God’s desires. He recommends this solution: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”2
James recognizes that people try to disguise their actions through their words. His solution is to use simple, clear language. Both James and countless mothers through the ages recommend the same thing: let your “yes” be “yes,” and your “no” be “no.”
Eyewitness Bible Series
Add comment