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The Choice of Dependence or Independence
The primary element of the Fall and introduction to sin occurred with this same choice of dependence and independence. God told Adam and Eve that they could eat from any tree in the Garden except one, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Gen. 2:16-17). Adam and Eve had to choose to remain dependent on God in His wisdom and provision, depending on God for the knowledge of good and evil and not seeking to know it for themselves. Adam and Eve chose independence from God, seeking to decide right and wrong for themselves and pursue their own wisdom (Gen. 3:5-7). James is echoing this first choice, highlighting the absoluteness of our allegiance to either God in His provision of wisdom and provision or allegiance to ourselves. There is no middle ground.
Jews receiving this letter from James would be reminded of the Shema, considered by many Jews as the most important prayer in Judaism and intended to be repeated during the morning and evening prayers. The Shema is found in Deuteronomy 6:4 with Shema the pronunciation of the first two words in Hebrew, “Hear, O Israel.” The fuller prayer states, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart” (Deut. 6:4-6).
Jesus affirmed this comprehensive dependence when He was asked which of the commandments in the Law was greatest. Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:37-39). Dependence on God and love for Him is absolute, requiring a heart and mind and soul that is unified in its devotion and direction. As Jesus explained in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” A double-minded man cannot love God because loving God requires complete dependence and devotion to Him in heart, mind, and soul.
What Causes Double-Mindedness?
In our fallen, sinful state, no one is righteous, no one understands, no one seeks after God, no one does good (Rom. 3:10-12). Double-mindedness, then, occurs as the Holy Spirit begins to convict us of our sin and provide a capacity to respond to God’s love, but we seek to receive from God for our own benefit and to fulfill our own passions and desires (James 4:1-6). Often our nature of sin continues to direct our hearts and desires instead of dying to this sinful nature to live a new life in the Spirit that loves and serves God (Col. 3:9). We want to love ourselves first and love God second, but loving God is comprehensive and all-inclusive (Matt. 22:37).
As Martin Luther said, “Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your god.” The focus of our gaze and our desires defines the direction of our steps. Loving and trusting God does not occur by default as our default setting is sin and selfishness. Our hearts are formed through our regular habits and behaviors with a heart directed toward God requiring practice and regular realignment
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