October 23, 2011
“HOW TO PLEASE GOD”
(Psalm 15:1-5, James 1:22-25)
People familiar with the Bible recognize that there are several different kinds of
literature in God’s Word. The Bible is composed of 66 books, each inspired by
God. These books display and express the very diverse personalities of the authors
while being written over the span of a thousand plus years. The kinds of literature
included are historical narrative, prophetic proclamation, priestly commentary, to
list a few, as well as “wisdom literature”. This last form of writing contrasts two
opposite ways of living: namely, the way of wisdom (which pleases God) vs. the
way of folly or foolishness (which grieves God). The wisdom portions found in the
Old Testament are mostly found among the books of Job, Psalms, Proverbs and
Ecclesiastes. In the New Testament, we find the Book of James as an example of
wisdom literature. For today’s sermon I will draw my observations from one of the
“Wisdom Psalms”, Psalm 15 and from James 1: 22-25. Follow along as Tyler and
I read these two “Wisdom” passages responsively, in order to set the stage for the
discoveries that lie ahead of us this morning.
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Psalm 15
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“Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
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He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
Who speaks the truth from his heart
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and has no slander on his tongue,
Who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
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Who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the Lord,
Who keeps his oath even when it hurts,
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who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken.”
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October 23, 2011
James 1:22-25
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“Do not merely listen to the word,
and so deceive yourselves,
do what it says.
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Anyone who listens to the word
but does not do what it says
is like a man who looks at his face
in a mirror
24
and, after looking at himself,
goes away and immediately
forgets what he looks like.
25
But the man who looks intently
into the perfect law that gives freedom,
and continues to do this,
not forgetting what he has heard,
but doing it—
he will be blessed in what he does.”
Wow! The contrast between the two opposite ways of living life is obvious, isn’t
it? In each of our passages we find a very practical conclusion. “Wisdom
literature” intends to persuade readers to make their decision to live life so that
God is pleased. In Psalm 15 such wise living is described in specific actions. The
person of wisdom is one “whose walk is blameless” and one “who does what is
righteous”. God’s kind of person is not deemed by others as doing something
which taints peoples’ thoughts with regard to his behavior. The wise person is one
“who speaks the truth from his heart” while having “no slander on his tongue”.
In other words, he speaks of others from having pure thoughts and wholesome
words. People do not get shredded or abused by such a person. One who lives
God’s way “does his neighbor no wrong” and also “casts no slur on his
fellowman”. You do realize this means not speaking negatively about anyone: all
the way from our president to our next door neighbors? But wait! King David is
not done yet with his practical wisdom.
The song writer continues his description by informing those of us reading this
song that the way of life which pleases God honors those who “fear God”
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October 23, 2011
(because “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” Psalm 111:10). When
was the last time you or I honored a Christian brother or sister who “feared the
Lord”? To give such recognition pleases God. I find way too many believers who
would be mortified by having such honor given to them! I am, why? David adds
that those who “dwell in God’s sanctuary” actively “keep their oath (word) even
when it hurts”. That is an indication of what kinds of things please God! If
someone makes a commitment to accept a ministry they need to realize their
commitment is in front of God and therefore they need to follow through (even
doing it on time) regardless of how much it hurts! Lastly, as an example of how
“living on God’s holy hill” is experienced daily, David speaks of the absence of
“usury” when Christian brothers and sisters loan things to members of God’s
family. Faithful ones don’t take advantage of their riches at the expense of poorer
believers, nor will they accept bribes from people who want to do harm to other
Christians. Such actions are not part of “the way of wisdom”. The answer to
David’s opening question, “Who may dwell in your sanctuary?” is those who live
out a practical faith, as in the words we’ve just highlighted.
Let’s see how James speaks of pleasing God. For this we turn to James 1:22-25.
These verses give a general description of a malady which plagued the church even
during the first generation of Christians following the ascension of Jesus. The
Book of James is just as specific as Psalm 15 in the mention of ways God’s people
either show the way of wisdom or show the way of folly in their lives. For
example, in the beginning of chapter 1, James speaks of the need of having joy
when believers undergo “trials of many kinds” (1:2-4), or the need to receive
wisdom from God “who gives generously to all without finding fault” (1:5). We
also find instruction in how to live life “under humble circumstances” (1:9-12),
and how to deal with life “when tempted” (1:13-15). Believers are to keep “a tight
rein on the tongue” (1:26) and to avoid “showing favoritism when relating to
people” (James 2:1-11). That is but a few of the ethical issues of life.
I want you to understand, within approximately ten years of when Christ left Earth
to represent His people in heaven, the church was already filled with people who
claimed themselves to be followers of wisdom, while, in actuality, they were
disciples of folly. The verses we are looking at, from the book of James, speak of
people “merely listening to the word” of God and “deceiving themselves”. That is
to follow the “way of folly”. It is a method of self-delusion. They listen to the
Word but don’t “Do what it says”. (1:22) James gives a very simple illustration of
how “foolish” such behavior is. He tells us in verses 23-24, “Anyone who listens
to the word (the Bible) but DOES NOT DO what it says is like a man who looks
at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and
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October 23, 2011
IMMEDIATELY forgets what he looks like.” That’s pretty straight-forward isn’t
it? Imagine starting this morning by looking at yourself in your mirror before
coming to church. Perhaps you ladies see a huge smear of mascara running down
your cheek; or you men see a huge spot of blood on your cheek after shaving. Do
you get the thrust of this illustration? Imagine ignoring either sight just leaving
your face in such a condition and heading off to church. Welcome to living
foolishly. Every single time a person knows of a commandment of God, found in
scripture, and yet does not obey, he or she lives life foolishly. There is no wisdom
in knowing what God’s Word says and choosing to do what is the exact opposite!
Our passage from James 1 doesn’t end there, but presses the point further by
adding verse 25, “But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives
freedom, AND CONTINUES TO DO THIS, not forgetting what he has heard,
but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.” Welcome to the comparison
between the way of wisdom (God’s method to life) and the way of folly (the
human way to approaching life). When we look at the specifics in either of our two
scriptures, God is pleased when we live “wisely” and King David refers to it as
dwelling in God’s sanctuary. (Psalm 15:1)
Last of all; did you notice how each section of scripture ends? James 1:25 finishes
by informing us a person who lives God’s way, “he will be blessed in what he
does.” Psalm 15:5 ends by telling us a person who lives God’s way, “He who does
these things will never be shaken.”
So; how are you doing at “pleasing God”? Are you and I in control of life or are
we submitting everything we are and have to Him? Are you and I actively
uncovering every single item in the Bible which tells us of God’s desires for our
lives or are we neglecting the discipline of learning what His will is for our lives?
Are you and I only doing what comes natural for human behavior or are we
humbly bowing in obedience before Him? How we answer these questions gives
insight into what pleases God. How we answer these questions points out how we
arrive at, being blameless and doing what is righteous. (Psalm 15:2) I do believe
we just zeroed in on the main activity of our agenda this upcoming week! May the
Lord take a liking to how you live life the next seven days!
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