Philip Dampier's Blog

Chapter 3, Verse 14 “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.”

I’ve heard it said that if you tell yourself a lie long enough you will believe it. Could one then walk around with bitter jealousy and find a way to make it right? I think James is saying that you can. Accepting bitter jealousy or selfish ambition as appropriate behavior is to twist and thus be false to truth.

You can say that salt water is fresh but you cannot change its truth. Once you know the truth no amount of boasting or denial will change it to suit your life view. Bitter jealousies, selfish ambitions and other impure springs’ behaviors will be brought to the light for all to see. Judgment is a reality and seems to be a part of James’ discussion here.

Task for Today: This verse calls for an honest look at our life choices. No human knows our inner thoughts as we do. Man’s difficulty has always been the willingness to admit that we are in violation of the code. Think of David and his life of selfish gratification that cost others so much. Her eventually got to the right place as we see in Psalm 50. Psalm 50 should very much become each of our personal songs.