A Checklist For Godliness

Years ago, there was a popular television commercial that began with the question, “How do you spell relief?” The people would answer, “R-O-L-A-I-D-S.”

Remember that? If that same announcer were to step up to you and place a microphone in your face and ask, “How do you spell godliness?” what would your response be? What images come into your mind when you think of godliness? Monks cloistered in a monastery? Hairshirts?

To stretch your thinking about this subject a little more, let me ask you several questions. Is it possible to be godly and:

• Enjoy an article in “Sports Illustrated” more than “Christianity Today” 
• Vote for a Democrat or a Republican
• Drink a glass of wine after dinner
• Attend a football game instead of going to Discipleship University on Sunday afternoon

I am not suggesting a right or wrong response to any of those questions; yet, don’t you ever wonder where we get our standards for godliness? As James continues to develop his theme that “genuine faith produces spiritual fruit,” he provides us with a checklist for godly living. 

1. The Definition of Wisdom (James 3:13)

What does wisdom have to do with godliness? The concept of wisdom (Hokmah in Hebrew)  in the Old Testament had nothing to do with knowledge, but with a skill. In Exodus 28:3 and 31:3, it says that those who were commanded to prepare the priestly garments for Aaron and were to build the Tabernacle were endowed with a spirit of wisdom, so that they could follow God’s plans precisely in this most important endeavor. Thus, to have a spirit of wisdom was to possess the skill to follow God’s precise plans for making these objects. 

Therefore, a good definition of wisdom is this: “Wisdom is the skill to live life according to God’s plan.” And this is the definition that James uses as he urges his readers to pursue a godly life.

2. The Enemies of Godliness (James 3:14-4:6)

• Envy (James 3:14-18)
• Lust (James 4:1-2)
• A Worldly Value System (James 4:3-6)

Fortunately, James does not leave us hanging. After this self-examination for godliness, he gives us the prescription for a godly life.

• Submit Yourself to God (James 4:7)

How does a person submit his life to God? Not some mystical experience, not some second blessing of the spirit. We submit by obedience. James tells us how to submit our lives to God by resisting Satan. James has already shown us the importance of resisting temptation. Let me share with you some very practical ways to resist those temptations that come into our lives daily. The steps to resisting Satan include:

1. Placing our lives on God’s spiritual altar daily. (Romans 12:1-2)
2. Fleeing tempting situations. (Genesis 39)
3. Visualizing the consequences of our sin. (Hebrews 11:24-25)
4. Meditating on God’s Word. (Psalm 119:11)

• Draw Near to God (James 4:8-9)

James tells us how to do this—by cleansing and purifying our hearts. It is impossible to live in this world and not be contaminated daily by the effects of a fallen world. How can we become clean? The Psalmist asked the same question, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your Word. Your word have I treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You” (Psalm 119:9,11).

The way we draw near to God is by purifying our hearts, and that is only possible through meditating on His Word.

• Humble Yourself Before God (James 4:10)

To humble yourself before God is to submit to God and say as Jesus said, “Not my will but Your will be done.” That realization is what Solomon said is the beginning of wisdom.

For centuries, archaeologists have been looking for King Tutankhamen’s tomb and treasure. One man, Howard Carter, dedicated six years of his life to the tireless pursuit of this elusive yet valuable archaeological discovery. Think of it…six long years of digging and clawing in the hot desert sun, with no success. 

Then, one day in 1922, his mouth fell open as his eyes gazed upon the treasure he and countless others had spent their lives pursuing. It would take Carter 10 years to remove and catalog the over 3,000 objects he had discovered. But his persistence resulted in the greatest archaeological find of all time.

Yet, another wealthy king of long ago invites us to search for an even greater discovery than the treasures of King Tut. It is the treasure of wisdom that comes from living a godly life. 

Do you want success in life? There’s only one way to get it, by having the wisdom to live life according to God’s plan.

Full Passage: James 3:13-4:10