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Published: March 30, 2023, 7 a.m.

Welcome to Day 2128 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom James \u2013 Wisdom is Faith in Action 10 \u2013 The Perils of Playing God \u2013 Daily Wisdom Putnam Church message \u2013 11/14/2021 James: Wisdom is Faith In Action \u2013 The Perils of Playing God We are continuing our series today on the Proverbs of the New Testament, better known as the letter of James. \xa0Last week we focused on what causes quarrels and fights between people, specifically between Christians. It stems from insisting that we have our way. We also learned how to avoid conflicts, by being content and allowing God\u2019s Spirit to control our lives. \xa0James continues with this theme of self-desire and self-reliance in our passage for today.\xa0 If we insist on controlling our lives instead of allowing God to guide us, we fall into The Perils of Playing God. \xa0Playing God is split into two sections: Warnings against Judging Others and Warnings About Self-Confidence. So join me on page 1884 in the pew bibles as I read the Scripture for today. I would recommend keeping this passage open as we go throughout the message today: James 4:11-17 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another.\xa0Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister\xa0or judges them\xa0speaks against the law\xa0and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it,\xa0but sitting in judgment on it.\xa0 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge,\xa0the one who is able to save and destroy.\xa0But you\u2014who are you to judge your neighbor?

• Boasting About Tomorrow

Now listen,\xa0you who say, \u201cToday or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.\u201d\xa0 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.\xa0 Instead, you ought to say, \u201cIf it is the Lord\u2019s will,\xa0we will live and do this or that.\u201d\xa0 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.\xa0 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn\u2019t do it, it is sin for them. \xa0 Without question, Jesus Christ best demonstrates true humility. He voluntarily gave up His heavenly position and came into the world, became a blue-collar laborer, lived in perfect obedience to God and the Law, and willingly sacrificed His life on the cross for all sins (Philippians 2:6-8). This perfect humility of God the Son becomes a model for us to follow in our pursuit of humility. Paul said in Philippians 2:5, \u201cYou must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.\u201d If we back up two verses, Paul warned the Philippians against the same egocentric arrogance that James is focused on. Paul writes in Philippians 2:3-4 Don\u2019t be selfish; don\u2019t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.\xa0Don\u2019t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. \xa0 In the broader section of his letter (3:13-5:6), James develops the theme that real faith produces genuine humility. He illustrates this cardinal virtue of the Christian faith with powerful words and compelling images. We\u2019ve already seen how he contrasted those wise in their own eyes with those with humble wisdom from God (3:13-18)....