Boasting and Backbiting

James’ audience is dealing with division over issues rooted in envy and jealousy. While being judgmental is innate to the human condition, as believers, we can humble ourselves, love one another, and continually entrust ourselves and our future to God’s will.

Application

1. Think of a time when you created a narrative without having all the information and later realized your judgment was wrong. What did this reveal about your heart?

2. Is there someone in your life you need to talk “to” instead of “about”? Pray about how you can honor God in that situation.

Key Points

• James is clear that when we criticize or slander one another, we are stepping into a realm where we don’t belong.

• Ultimately, we are responsible for ourselves and how we obey God’s law, not what other people do.

• However, there are times when we have to confront other believers when they are entrenched in sin. This is how God calls us to love one another.

• Uniformity is not the same as unity. We can disagree on non-fundamental issues and still be unified around the gospel.

• We should not be presumptive about the future or our ability to accomplish what we want. Acknowledging our fragility shows humility.

Other Scripture References

Leviticus 19:16

1 Corinthians 5:12

Matthew 18

James 4:4

Romans 14:10