Board index ‹ Specific Bible verses, texts, and passages ‹ James

[Throw Away]

Hey all, I'm pretty new to Christianity and I have many questions. I was reading James 1:5-8 that mentions people with divided loyalty won't receive anything from God when they ask. To my understanding so far, we are all sinners and by nature have worldly desires. It's our job to try and get rid of those, but as far as I'm aware, no human alive today has managed to fully rid themselves of worldly desires. Wouldn't this mean that everyone's loyalty is split, thus no one is capable of receiving what they ask from God? I know this is probably a stupid question but it has confused me.

Right now, I can't deny that I'm a double-minded man. I really don't want to be, and I want to have full faith and be saved. But I also understand that to be saved is an act of God's grace, and that we can't do it alone. That only leads me to want to pray to God and ask him to help me find that faith and to be saved; however, if I'm a double-minded man, I can't suppose that I'll receive anything from God when I pray. It feels like I'm stuck and it's terrifying.

[jimwalton]

James DeGraaf writes,

"If doubt here is understood as uncertainty, these verses are truly discouraging to the doubter. How can he dispel his doubts unless he gains wisdom from God? But how can he gain wisdom if God refuses to grant him his request on account of his doubts? Furthermore, such a person is described in v. 8 as a “double-minded man.” Is this fair? Finally, if this verse really is concerned with doubt, what overall function does it play in the epistle, and why is the topic of doubt never mentioned again?

"There are, however, three other possibilities for the meaning of these words: (1) they could refer to having divided motives or allegiance. This is supported by the mention in verse 8 of the double-minded man. (2) They could anticipate James 2.4 and the idea of divisive behavior and attitudes. (3) They could indicate a combination of both of these kinds of activities. This third option has the advantage of being supported by all of the factors that support the first two, as well as by the fact that such an understanding of these terms greatly increases the internal coherence of the entire epistle. It does this by allowing James 1.2-8 to serve as a concise introduction to all of the epistle’s major themes, each of which is elaborated in the subsequent verses. Given this understanding of the Greek text, a possible translation of this part of v. 6 might be, 'Let him ask in faith, free from divided motives and divisive attitudes, for such a person is like an ocean wave…' "

Grant Osborne writes,

"He is talking about spiritual instability: the wavering mind that trusts God one minute, self and the world the next. It doesn’t mean uncertainty about as to whether God is going to grant the request or not (see Romans 8.26-28), but rather a lack of focus and faith."

[Throw Away]

Thank you for the help. In your view, what does it mean to have divided motives? I ask because I question my motives for trying to follow God's path and whether they're correct.

[jimwalton]

"Divided motives" are certainly not doubt, questioning, or wondering. Everyone has those, and they motivate us to read, pray, study, ask, and learn. What it means instead is that you love the world as you love God, and you are perpetually torn between the two, compromising yourself time after time. In other words, your allegiance to God has never been cemented and "signed on the line," so to speak. You never really seized on the "new creation" (2 Cor. 5.17). You're like the 2nd and 3rd types of seed in Jesus's parable of the Sower (Mt. 13.1-23 and its parallels in Mark and Luke). When values and lifestyle decisions arise, you are just as likely to choose against God and godliness as you are to choose for Him. You want to play both sides of the fence, and you do great damage to your Christian walk and your testimony in the world as a result. As Barry Cooper wrote, you worship the god of open options, and your heart isn't totally in God's domain. Instead, be wise, but then rest in God’s total sovereignty and goodness, and choose. Commit. Make a decision. Be wholehearted and single-mindedly for God. Die to the things of the world.

Ethel Barrett gives four strategies to unspilt your mind:

1. Talk to God about your problem. Ask Him to help you get the right perspective on it.
2. Get rid of any self-pity and resentment, and certainly get rid of any determination to do things your way.
3. Read God’s Word and meditate on it. Jn. 7.17.
4. Do all this with the determination that you are going to obey what God leads you to think and do.