Living Like We Are God

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In chapter 4 James has been building a case for humility versus pride. Our tendency as sinful people is always to think too highly of ourselves. The admonition of James is to kill our pride and submit ourselves to God in humility.

While most of us are quick to say that we are living in submission to God, in this chapter James helps us to see how subtly our pride and arrogance can take over. If we are not careful we find ourselves living as if we are God, as if we are the ones in sovereign control of our own world.

In verses 11-17 James gives two real-life examples of how when we fail to live in humility we exalt ourselves too highly and try to take the place of God.