the one against whom we are hold ing the grudge, does not even know how we feel. Most criticism is like that. It is kept to ourselves or to our friends but seldom is the person against whom we are hold ing the grudge or the feelings of criticisms, even aware of how we feel. The saddest word, however, in this verse is the sixth. If James had just said, "Grudge not one against another. .. lest ye be condemned," that would be one thing. I could understand that. But, notice what happens, he puts in the word "brethren." You know, I think it is a fact that sometimes it is easier to show patience to people who be long to this world system, who have never been redeemed by the grace of God, than it is to show love to our fellow Christians. The big danger in our lives is that we have a tendency to blame all of our problems and all of our failures on someone else. It is nev er something that we have done. We do not like to admit our mis takes. We all know individuals who, when they are faced with some thing they did wrong—some error they made, are always ready to blame another person, or some circumstance, rather than accept ing the responsibility themselves? Oh yes, James is a first-rate psychol ogist! He knows the inner think ings and workings of our own lives. The well-known Christian writer and speaker, Ethel Barrett, recently penned a real jewel relative to this subject. It is a tremendous bit of philosophy that shows great wit and wisdom. I think you will get the point when she says, "Grudge is a nasty word. Even phonetically it is dissonant, harsh and out of Page 29
that the problem primarily is with us rather than with others. There are two things most of us cannot stand. The first is our own failure. The second is even worse. It is extremely hard for us to ac cept someone else's success. James 5:9 deals with the entire subject of criticism especially among believ ers. If we were honest with our selves we would have to admit that the older we get the more critical we seem to become, with a culti vated ability to cut down others, finding fault with nearly every thing. To consider any text we need to relate the material to the context. In this section, the Apostle has been striving, as we see in verse seven, for patience in our lives. What a needed commodity! The reason for patience is because, af ter all, the Lord is returning. When we think of the problems we face, generally caused by people, we either become bitter or better, re bellious or righteous. Be patient, Christ is coming! Patience means, as someone has phrased it, "The ability to keep your motor idling when you may feel like stripping your gears." That certainly catches the idea does it not? But, why should we be patient? Because those affairs of life which loom so high on the horizon are actually trifles in the light of that great and eternal day when Jesus Christ will call us to be with Himself. Now, looking at this first word of the ninth verse in James 5, we are impressed with the fact that it is far from being anything beauti ful. "Grudge" means to groan. Generally, in the original, it has in mind something that is actually in audible. That is, the other person,
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