(remember, these are unedited/draft show notes, not a transcript — listening is always better…and if you listen AND follow along below, you’ll see how)
Focus Question:
What's the consequence of envy and selfish ambition?
Intro:
Yesterday we heard James call out his audience for favoring the nicely-dressed person walking into church over the poorly dressed person, but the broader principle is that favoritism or partiality of any kind is a sin because it fails to honor all people who are God’s image bearers. Favoritism can go any direction.
Today is related…and our focus question is, “What is the consequence of envy?
We also heard yesterday in Jeremiah how those given responsibility over others are held to higher account. And as you’ll hear, it’s funny how the whole Bible hangs together as a unified story.
New Testament segment:
Passage: James 3
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 18
Words: ~410
So…the consequence of envy and selfish ambition? Disorder and every evil practice. Now does that sound like anything in the news these days? And while we’re at it, how about tongues ablaze and burning other people to the ground? But the wisdom from above is peace-loving. We are so busted.
Today in Jeremiah we finish up a section that, broadly speaking, is Jeremiah complaining to God about the opposition he’s experiencing. Listen to what God says back.
OLD Testament segment:
Passage: Jeremiah 14:19-15:21
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 25
Words: ~741
One quick comment here before we have an extended wisdom segment today…sometimes OT passages like this are used by those saying that we are supposed to repent of the sins of our ancestors. But I think that’s a misapplication of the Bible. I do agree that often we find principles in the OT that are applicable today…you hear me make that argument here sometimes. But there’s a critical difference here…this is the period of the old covenant — God’s covenant with a nation rather than with individuals. So the covenantal people are guilty and are called out. Under Jesus and inauguration of the new covenant, that covenant is with you as an individual. Indeed, even in multiple places in the OT (such as Ezekiel) you hear that the sins of the father are not the sins of the son and vice versa. In other words, using passages like this one or Daniel to say that you as an individual or we as a country should repent corporately is misapplied. Hear me correctly, I’m not saying that in the process of seeking human flourishing that we shouldn’t address social ills…but using passages like this to justify such effort are misguided.
Wisdom segment:
Passage: Psalm 77
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 20
Words: ~328
Passage: Proverbs 15:28-16:16
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 22
Words: ~349
The bottom line:
<you’ll just have to listen for the closing remarks>
Love you!
Roger
ForTheHope is a daily audio Bible + apologetics podcast and blog. We’ve got a passion for just keepin’ it real, having conversations like normal people, and living out the love of Jesus better every single day.
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in digitally-extended communication and connection, an award-winning speaker, award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.
Sources and resources:
(1) Paul W. Barnett, “2 Corinthians,” in CSB Apologetics Study Bible, ed. Ted Cabal (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1460.