Jump Start # 4040
James 3:9-10 “With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.”
Charles Spurgeon, the famed preacher from long ago, had a sermon he called, “How Saints help the Devil.” What a conflicting idea that is. Saints are not to help the devil. Saints are to resist the devil. With the full armor of God we are to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the devil. We are to stand firm and hold our ground against Satan.
Yet, there are times when it seems that we are helping the enemy. It can appear that we are running the wrong direction and helping the devil score points. Sometimes we just need to ask ourselves which side we are on.
Just how can a Saint help the Devil?
First, by acting more devilish than saintly. And, there are a number of ways that can be done. In our verse today, James addresses the misuse of the tongue. The passage ends with the words, “these things ought not to be this way.” They ought not, but sometimes they are. How we talk to one another can be more discouraging than encouraging. Are we helping the devil?
In the judgment scene Jesus said, the hungry was not fed, the thirsty was not given drink, the naked not clothed, the sick and in prison were not visited. When that points to us, then we have helped the devil. Neglect, indifference and not being engaged and active can be all it takes for the devil to be helped.
Second, by remaining silent when we ought to say something. We see something wrong, but feel like it is none of our business. Then, whose business is it? God’s word is attacked and abused and silence fills the land. Error is taught and voices remain quiet. The devil has been helped. Hiding our light under a basket, by being a coward and ashamed of our Lord or what we believe only encourages wrong.
Third, by not being fully committed. Some would like to keep one foot in the world and the other foot in Heaven. That won’t work. Just enough faith to be miserable with those who are not Christians and not enough faith to enjoy the company of Christians. Lukewarm is the devil’s favorite temperature. Convinced that we are doing well, while actually doing nothing, the devil has us.
The devil doesn’t need our help. He is a roaring lion seeking to devour us. His destiny is set. His future is certain. There is no salvation nor hope for the devil. He is the accuser of the saints. He is a liar and has nothing in common with the disciples of Christ.
The devil doesn’t care about you. He doesn’t care that you have a lot of people counting on you. He doesn’t care that you are needed by others. He doesn’t care that you hurt. He doesn’t care that you have made great sacrifices to follow the Lord. He doesn’t care that others see you as an example. The devil simply doesn’t care. Wrecking your faith, your church, your family, doesn’t bother him at all. He is heartless and cruel to the core. Ruining your life, your reputation, your influence and your world, doesn’t bother him at all. The devil doesn’t care.
The solution to this is vey simple. Get on the Lord’s side of things. Get busy in the kingdom. Let the world and let the devil know whose side you are on.
Roger