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Read Introduction to James

 

“…he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways”

 

he is a double-minded man,

“Double-minded” means “two–souled.” A two-souled man wavers and is uncertain about God. He partly believes and partly disbelieves God – he debates whether he can trust God. This person lacks certainty because he is a man of no fixed or decided purpose.

This double-minded man is the person of verses 5-7 who lacks wisdom but does not ask God for it in belief. His prayer life is like a raging sea driven and tossed by the wind.

unstable in all his ways

A two-souled person is inconstant, unstable, and unsettled. His belief is like a drunk – a belief that staggers down the road of life. People whose faith falters with the ebb and flow of life do not have God’s respect because they divide their loyalty between God and other things. It is usually pressure that causes them to crumble.

Doubt blunts the faith we need to receive from God. This creates a chaotic spiritual life, the opposite of a spiritual life that draws on God by implicit faith in God’s promises.

Principle:

Stable Christians look to God for their resources by faith.

Application:

A double-minded person always serves two belief systems. Jesus said that you could not do this and maintain your integrity of trust in God.

“They speak idly everyone with his neighbor;
With flattering lips and a double heart they speak” (Psalm 12:2).

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8).

God wants us to possess a single mind, not a double mind. Christians who hold deep-seated convictions are powerful people. Divided souls do not stand.

“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5).

“Teach me Your way, O LORD;
I will walk in Your truth;
Unite my heart to fear Your name” (Psalm 86:11).

It is time that we settle our convictions. The longer we wait, the more power we lose for the Christian life. Opposing desires rip us apart spiritually. We cannot please both God and our sinful pleasures at the same time. True faith does not always operate with open options because this injects instability into the spiritual life. Genuine faith, however, can wholeheartedly commit to God’s will and excellence in the Christian life.

“And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word” (1 Kings 18:21).

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

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