J.C. Ryle: The True Church Is Jealous About Christ

"If we love a person, we are jealous about his name and honor.  We do not like to hear him spoken against, without speaking up for him and defending him.  We feel bound to maintain his interests and his reputation.  We regard the person who treats him ill with almost as much disfavor as if he had ill-treated us.  Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ!  The true Christian regards with a godly jealousy all efforts to disparage his Master's word, or name, or church, or day.  He will confess Him before princes, if need be, and be sensitive of the least dishonor put upon Him.  He will not hold his peace, and suffer his Master's cause to be put to shame, without testifying against it.  And why is all this?  Simply because he loves Him" (Holiness, J.C. Ryle).

True Wisdom Brings Peace

“Two shopkeepers were bitter rivals.  Their stores were directly across the street from each other, and they would spend each day keeping track of each other’s business.  If one got a customer, he would smile in triumph at his rival.  One night an angel appeared to one of the shopkeepers in a dream and said, ‘I will give you anything you ask, but whatever you receive, your competitor will receive twice as much.  Would you be rich?  You can be very rich, but he will be twice as wealthy.  Do you wish to live a long and healthy life?  You can, but his life will be longer and healthier.  What is your desire?’  The man frowned, thought for a moment, and then said, ‘Here is my request: Strike me blind in one eye!’”  (Thomas Lindberg)

Jealousy is nothing new to the human race.  Selfish ambition has plagued mankind for generations since that fateful day in the Garden of Eden.  James, the brother of Jesus, takes special care in James 3:13-4:3 to address the problems that were evident in the churches of his time and still afflict the church today.

The opposite of jealousy and selfish ambition is wisdom, but not just any type of wisdom.  What is this wisdom?  How can the true Christian and disciple of Christ live out this wisdom?  What is the root cause of jealousy and selfish ambition?  Where does God’s intervention come into play?

Join us this Sunday as we dig into James’ words of encouragement and conviction.  Prayerfully be prepared for the Holy Spirit’s movement in your own life and in the life of the church as a whole as we look into the Truth of God’s Word.