Post by Shepherd on Nov 20, 2008 17:46:06 GMT -6
71 DISCONTENT AND ENVY.
JAMES 5:9..GRUDGE NOT ONE AGAINST ANOTHER
I. EXPLAIN THE EXHORTATION.
The exhortation implies that we are apt to be secretly discontented with our condition and circumstances in the present life, that we are prone to become fretful when things do not correspond with our wishes.
It is implied that we prone to envy, or to look upon the prosperity of others, either real or imaginary with a spirit of secret discontent.
II ENFORCE THE EXHORTATION.
The disposition here forbidden is intrinsically evil, and is one of the corruptions of the human heart.
It is expressly contrary to Divine command, which requires us to esteem others better than ourselves, to rejoice in their prosperity to participate of their sorrows, and to make their interest our own.
An envious and rancorous disposition marked with folly, as well as strained with guilt. It argues an unacquaintedness with ourselves, who in every condition of life deserve to be in worse circumstances than we are; nor does such a disposition
contribute in the least to our comfort and happiness. It cures not the wound, but makes it more painful and dangerous; does not lighten the burden, but renders it still more intolerable.
It is both injurious to ourselves and others, as well as sinful and unwise. Envy makes us our own tormentors; it robs us of that peace and satisfaction which we might otherwise enjoy. Wrath kills the foolish man, and envy slays the silly one.
It embitters his enjoyments and gives a keeper edge to his affliction. It is a sin which often leads to cruelty and injustice, and is seldom found to exist alone.
It is a sin which, if not repented of will subject us to final condemnation.
GRUDGING.
JAMES 5:9...GRUDGE NOT......
Murmuring is not here generally taken for ever grudging, either against God or man, as whereof, in other place of scripture is spoken, but particularity for that murmuring which is against men, therefore saith he, GRUDGE NOT ONE AGAINST ANOTHER.
This grudging and murmuring is either when we grieve that wicked rich man should so highly be exalted, and the poor, yet righteous, should by poverty be pressed down in the world; or else is that murmuring whereby we take it in evil part that ourselves should be so tossed and turmoiled, and others should be dealt with more gently; thinking that we bear a greater burden and heavier cross for God than we have deserved, and that other men (as yet not touched) have deserved more.
It is that grudging which is in our afflictions, whereby we are discontented that we should sigh so long under our afflictions, and the wicked which afflict us should so long escape unpunished, and so in our hearts, through impatience, complain hereof to God.
This ought not to be in the saints of God, who ought to be renowned for their unspeakable patience; whose bounden duty it is to pray even for their enemies, to wish well to them which have done them injury, and to commit their cause to Him that judgeth righteously, which is God.
And if this moderation and equity of our minds is to be showed toward our enemies, how much less ought we then, to grudge against another Christian brother.
If every one give some offence unto another, shall we complain to God in the bitterness of our hearts, shall we desire revenge form God against them? And shall we not all then perish? For no man liveth without some offence-giving.
This grudging proceedeth form impatience, argueth discontentment of the mind, causeth mutual complaining unto God, and desireth revenge against such as have done us injury: which thing is far from the excellency or dignity of a Christian, whose patience should be such, as where others through impatience accuse one another, either to God or men, yet they should not so much as murmur in their minds, grudge to themselves, fret or grieve in their inward parts, much less complain indeed through discontentment and impatience, howbeit they had sustained injury.
Finally, it bringeth condemnation upon us, who have lost patience, according to the denouncing of the Scripture; WOE BE UNTO THEM THAT HAVE LOST PATIENCE.
The reason why we should not murmur one against another is drawn form the presence of the Lord, who is at hand, as a just judge, to avenge us of our enemies, and to crown us for our patience or punish our murmuring.
The Lord our God beholdeth our injuries with open eye, and seeth our oppressions by the wicked; he pressed and at hand to rescue and deliver us, as it shall seem best to His Divine Majesty; he marketh all our behavior under the cross; let us not, therefore, be impatient, neither murmur, but therein show all Christian moderation as becometh saints.
THE JUDGE BEFORE THE DOOR.
JAMES 5:9...THE JUDGE STANDETH BEFORE THE DOOR.
This explains why conscience is always gloomy after sin; it is because He who is the eternal righteousness casts His shadow across the threshold of the soul.
God fills the whole light way of the soul when He looks in at us, and unless He shines on us with the light of His countenance, His stern righteousness makes the soul all dark within.
JAMES 5:9..GRUDGE NOT ONE AGAINST ANOTHER
I. EXPLAIN THE EXHORTATION.
The exhortation implies that we are apt to be secretly discontented with our condition and circumstances in the present life, that we are prone to become fretful when things do not correspond with our wishes.
It is implied that we prone to envy, or to look upon the prosperity of others, either real or imaginary with a spirit of secret discontent.
II ENFORCE THE EXHORTATION.
The disposition here forbidden is intrinsically evil, and is one of the corruptions of the human heart.
It is expressly contrary to Divine command, which requires us to esteem others better than ourselves, to rejoice in their prosperity to participate of their sorrows, and to make their interest our own.
An envious and rancorous disposition marked with folly, as well as strained with guilt. It argues an unacquaintedness with ourselves, who in every condition of life deserve to be in worse circumstances than we are; nor does such a disposition
contribute in the least to our comfort and happiness. It cures not the wound, but makes it more painful and dangerous; does not lighten the burden, but renders it still more intolerable.
It is both injurious to ourselves and others, as well as sinful and unwise. Envy makes us our own tormentors; it robs us of that peace and satisfaction which we might otherwise enjoy. Wrath kills the foolish man, and envy slays the silly one.
It embitters his enjoyments and gives a keeper edge to his affliction. It is a sin which often leads to cruelty and injustice, and is seldom found to exist alone.
It is a sin which, if not repented of will subject us to final condemnation.
GRUDGING.
JAMES 5:9...GRUDGE NOT......
Murmuring is not here generally taken for ever grudging, either against God or man, as whereof, in other place of scripture is spoken, but particularity for that murmuring which is against men, therefore saith he, GRUDGE NOT ONE AGAINST ANOTHER.
This grudging and murmuring is either when we grieve that wicked rich man should so highly be exalted, and the poor, yet righteous, should by poverty be pressed down in the world; or else is that murmuring whereby we take it in evil part that ourselves should be so tossed and turmoiled, and others should be dealt with more gently; thinking that we bear a greater burden and heavier cross for God than we have deserved, and that other men (as yet not touched) have deserved more.
It is that grudging which is in our afflictions, whereby we are discontented that we should sigh so long under our afflictions, and the wicked which afflict us should so long escape unpunished, and so in our hearts, through impatience, complain hereof to God.
This ought not to be in the saints of God, who ought to be renowned for their unspeakable patience; whose bounden duty it is to pray even for their enemies, to wish well to them which have done them injury, and to commit their cause to Him that judgeth righteously, which is God.
And if this moderation and equity of our minds is to be showed toward our enemies, how much less ought we then, to grudge against another Christian brother.
If every one give some offence unto another, shall we complain to God in the bitterness of our hearts, shall we desire revenge form God against them? And shall we not all then perish? For no man liveth without some offence-giving.
This grudging proceedeth form impatience, argueth discontentment of the mind, causeth mutual complaining unto God, and desireth revenge against such as have done us injury: which thing is far from the excellency or dignity of a Christian, whose patience should be such, as where others through impatience accuse one another, either to God or men, yet they should not so much as murmur in their minds, grudge to themselves, fret or grieve in their inward parts, much less complain indeed through discontentment and impatience, howbeit they had sustained injury.
Finally, it bringeth condemnation upon us, who have lost patience, according to the denouncing of the Scripture; WOE BE UNTO THEM THAT HAVE LOST PATIENCE.
The reason why we should not murmur one against another is drawn form the presence of the Lord, who is at hand, as a just judge, to avenge us of our enemies, and to crown us for our patience or punish our murmuring.
The Lord our God beholdeth our injuries with open eye, and seeth our oppressions by the wicked; he pressed and at hand to rescue and deliver us, as it shall seem best to His Divine Majesty; he marketh all our behavior under the cross; let us not, therefore, be impatient, neither murmur, but therein show all Christian moderation as becometh saints.
THE JUDGE BEFORE THE DOOR.
JAMES 5:9...THE JUDGE STANDETH BEFORE THE DOOR.
This explains why conscience is always gloomy after sin; it is because He who is the eternal righteousness casts His shadow across the threshold of the soul.
God fills the whole light way of the soul when He looks in at us, and unless He shines on us with the light of His countenance, His stern righteousness makes the soul all dark within.
