I’M SAVED, NOW WHAT? (part-26)

I’M SAVED, NOW WHAT?

STUMBLING / IMPERFECTION
Living as a Christian has its share of challenges and disappointments.
Our disappointments can increase dramatically whenever we succumb
to temptations. So what do we do to ease the pain of guilt when we sin?
The scriptures encourage us to confess our failures and ask for forgiveness.

Unfortunately some believers look for ways to justify their failures. Others
use selected portions of scriptures to support their disobedience or ease their
feelings of guilt. Some have an attitude of,
    “So what if I yield to temptations, we all fail anyway – we’re not perfect”.

Some find ways to use scriptures as an excuse for mistakes, complacency,
or even the commission of sins. One of the scriptures often referenced to
support their justifications for sinning is in James.
    We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never
    at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their
    whole body in check. (James 3:2)

Is it valid to use this scripture as justification for sinning? To answer that
question, let’s look at the entire scripture rather than parsing out what fits
our needs. James seems to be focusing on one particular area where Christians
fail (“in what they say”) but we’ll look at that more later.

When James says, “we all stumble in many ways”, apparently he wanted to
get the attention of any believers who might be thinking they are perfect and
can never fail in their obedience to the Lord.

Whenever you meditate on the second part of this scripture, it appears James
is implying that whenever we have self-control over what we say, we can gain
control over our entire being. He tells us that most people have more difficulty
controlling their tongues than they do with controlling themselves in other ways.
Just a few of the ways we misuse our tongues are:
    Gossiping.
    Influencing others to do the wrong things.
    Speaking without thinking about how it may impact the listener.
    Focusing on the negatives.
    Being rude by talking before another person has finished speaking.
    Lying.
    Profanity.

These are just a few examples of what could be a much longer list of misusing
our tongues, but here is one more. Have you ever experienced a situation where
you were having a conversation with someone, and as soon as another person
arrived, you were suddenly ignored and a conversation began between the other
two (sometimes while you were still speaking)?
How did it make you feel? Insignificant? Unimportant?

Isn’t it interesting that God provided us with only one tongue and two ears?
Was His purpose to remind us that we should listen twice as much as we talk?

The scriptures stress that believers should be humble, which is an identifying
characteristic of Jesus. However, some believers feel that being saved makes
them perfect. Of course we are perfect in the eyes of God because our failures
are covered by the blood of Jesus (shed for us in a most painful and humiliating
way), but that doesn’t mean that we are perfect in our daily lives,
especially as it relates to our interactions with others.

We should learn a lesson from Paul who admitted his imperfection,
but continued striving to become what the Lord wanted him to be.
    Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already
    arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for
    which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters,
    I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But
    one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining
    toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win
    the prize for which God has called me heavenward in
    Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14)

Paul even tells us to follow his example. He says we should observe those who
readily admit their faults, but are striving to live as the Lord would have them live.
    All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view
    of things. And if on some point you think differently, that
    too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what
    we have already attained. Join together in following my
    example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as
    a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.
    (Philippians 3:15-17)

Many of us develop habits that are difficult to break and one of those habits is
how we use words in casual or serious conversations with others. Too often
those who have a high opinion of themselves will fail to consider the words
they use and the impact those words have on others.
Quite often these are the folks who are known for justifying their actions.

James realizes the power of words and how they can be misused by believers.
He felt it was an issue that was important enough to share with other believers,
and especially any who felt they had no faults.