Men of Character Bible 3

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DR. GENE GETZ

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

About the CSB Men of Character Bible 3

Features 4

How to Use this Bible 6

About Dr. Gene Getz 8

Available Covers 9

Book of James Sampler 10 ABOUT THE CSB MEN OF CHARACTER BIBLE

In a world where Christian role models seem increasingly rare, this Bible reminds us that some of the most worthy examples of godly character are the biblical ﬁgures who brought leadership, wisdom, and inspiration to God's people. Each of these men faced trials, frustrations, and even failure, yet they were empowered by God to persevere and achieve great things for his glory.

In the CSB Men of Character Bible, renowned Bible teacher Dr. Gene Getz guides men through Scripture by exploring the lives of men of character found throughout the Bible. Over 60 in-depth articles on men of character are strategically placed in the Bible alongside the accompanying text, with associated key life principles, application questions, and verses to remember.

FEATURES ◆ 60 in-depth articles on men of character ◆ Two-column text ◆ Application questions and key life principles ◆ Cross-references ◆ Verses to remember ◆ Footnotes ◆ Nearly 50 pro les of men of character ◆ Topical subheadings focused on speci c character principles ◆ Black-letter text ◆ Introductions and reading plans for each ◆ 9.75-point type book of the Bible ◆ Concordance ◆ Smyth-sewn binding ◆ Full-color maps ◆ Presentation page

The CSB Men of Character Bible features the highly readable, highly reliable text of the Christian Standard Bible® (CSB). The CSB stays as literal as possible to the Bible's original meaning without sacriﬁcing clarity, making it easier to engage with Scripture's life-trans- forming message and to share it with others.

3 FEATURES

4 FEATURES

5 HOW TO USE THIS BIBLE

MUTUALSTUDY The Men of Character Bible will help you mentor oth- If you’ve read the introduction to this Bible, you’ve al- er men (without showing favoritism) on a selected ba- ready noted God’s design for “growing into maturi- sis—whether it’s one or several. ty with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness” (Eph Paul also modeled this approach with Timothy—but 4:13). We need “one another” because we’re “mem- notice why! We can multiply our ministry through men- bers of one another” within the body of Christ (Rm toring: “What you have heard from me in the presence 12:5). Elaborating on this metaphor, Paul wrote to the of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be Corinthians: “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t able to teach others also” (2Tm 2:2; emphasis added). need you!’ Or again, the head can’t say to the feet, ‘I Plan 2 – Open Group Study (Advance don’t need you!’” (1 Co 12:21). Just so, as members of Preparation) the body of Christ, we cannot grow spiritually as we should in isolation from one another. We cannot say, • Before meeting together, have the participants “I don’t need you!” and, at the same time, be living in agree to read the material for each feature. God’s perfect will. • Prior to discussing life applications as a group, review the segments and scriptural texts. BUILDING UP ONE ANOTHER Plan 3 – Open Group Study allēlōn, (No Advanced Preparation) translated “one another,” to emphasize the importance of mutual interaction in order to mature in our Chris- • Spend time perso nally andsilently reading the tian lives. In fact, you’ll discover this is an exciting study features (which will take about ten minutes). in itself since the New Testament authors used allēlōn • Have members share what they have learned and how it applies personally. that are included in the New Testament, he used the • End in prayer, asking God for strength to apply term approximately forty times. what each has learned. To demonstrate how important mutual study is, Plan 4 – Teaching Session with Group consider the following specific examples: Participation • “My brothers and sisters, I myself am convinced • As a spiritual leader in your church, invite a group of about you that you also are full of goodness, filled men touse the featuresof this Bible formutual study. with all knowledge, and able toinstruct one anoth- • Makesureeach man hasaccesstoacopyoftheMen er” (Rm 15:14; emphasis added). of Character Bible. • “For you were called to be free, brothers and sis- • Review the content in each feature with a suc- ters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportu- cinct message. nity for the flesh, but serve one another through • Following the message, divide the large group love” (Gl 5:13; emphasis added). into smaller groups for discussion and applica- • “Brothers and sisters . . . . carry one another’s bur- tion. Note: Some of the segments already have dens” (Gl 6:1–2; emphasis added). questions for application. • “Therefore encourage one another and build each • Have the group leaders share the results of the other up as you are already doing” (1Th 5:11; em- discussion. phasis added). • Before closing in prayer, encour age everyone in • “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and the group to review the feature on their own. pray for one another” (Jms 5:16; emphasis added). Plan 5 – Husbands and Wives SPECIFIC PLANS As a husband, invite your wife to join you in various In view of these biblical directives, here are some sug- studies, sharing with her that you want her input into gestions for mutual study. Plan 1 – Mentoring Others your relationships. Jesus modeled this plan with the twelve apostles. His MY PERSONAL STORY invitation to these men to follow him was not an “open invitation.” And even with the twelve, he spent alone In the introduction to this men’s Bible, I mentioned a time with Peter, James, and John, but also focused par- book I wrote entitled The Measure of a Man (updated ticularly on Peter’s spiritual growth. ed.; Revell, 2016). This book includes twenty qualities

6 outlined by Paul in 1 Timothy and Titus for evaluating our maturity in Christ. In order to evaluate my own progress in “growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s full ness,” (Eph 4:13) I invited my wife, Elaine, to study these twenty qualities with me. She agreed to be a part of this experience, sharing first of all what she felt were my strengths. I also asked her to share specific charac- teristics in which I could grow in my relationship with her and our children. To be honest, it was somewhat threatening, but it became a very significant experience in becoming more like Jesus Christ. However, this personal story continues to unfold. I shared my experience with other men and encouraged them to do the same. Again and again, these men report- ed back that this was one of the most significant experiences in their marital lives, opening up communication that had led to a much deeper and fulfilling life together. I share this personal experience since I firmly believe that you’ll get the same results with theMen of Charac- ter Bible. May God bless you as you continue to become more and more like Jesus Christ in all your relationships. My prayer for you and for myself is Paul’s prayer to the Ephesians—personally and corporately: For this reason I kneel before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph 3:14–21)

– Gene A. Getz

7 ABOUT DR. GENE GETZ

Dr. Gene Getz is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and Rocky Mountain College. He has earned advanced degrees from Wheaton Graduate School and New York University. He served as a professor at Moody and Dallas Theological Seminary and then became a church planting pastor, launching the Fellowship Bible Church movement. He is heard daily on the radio in a 2-minute feature entitled “Bible Principles.” Dr. Getz has also authored over 60 books.

8 AVAILABLE COVERS

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ISBN Binding Material Price A 978-1-0877-3023-3 Grey Cloth over Board $39.99 B 978-1-0877-3024-0 Black LeatherTouch® $59.99

B 978-1-0877-3025-7 Black LeatherTouch® (Indexed) $69.99 C 978-1-0877-3026-4 Brown/Black LeatherTouch® $59.99

C 978-1-0877-3027-1 Brown/Black LeatherTouch® (Indexed) $69.99 D 978-1-0877-3021-9 Brown Genuine Leather $89.99 D 978-1-0877-3022-6 Brown Genuine Leather (Indexed) $99.99 E 978-1-5359-4023-8 ePub $19.99

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9 J AMES

CIRCUMSTANCES OF W RITING However, Semitic word order, quotations from the James is named as the author in 1:1. A number of New Septuagint, and the overall dependence of the leer Testament personalities were named James, but only on the Jewish wisdom tradition suggest a specifically three are candidates for the authorship of this book. Jewish Christian audience. James the son of Zebedee died in AD 44, too early to have been the author. No tradition names James the CONTRIBUTION TO THE BIBLE son of Alphaeus (Mk 3:18) as the author. This leaves James continually called for obedience to the law of James the brother of Jesus, also called James the Just God. He never referred to the ceremonial law, but to (Mk 6:3; Ac 1:14; 12:17; 15:13; 21:18; 1Co 15:7; Gl 2:9,12), the moral law. Although some people think James as the most likely candidate. is at odds with Paul about the Christian’s relation- This James is identified as the brother of Jesus in ship to the law, both authors combine to give us a Mahew 13:55; Mark 6:3; and Galatians 1:19. Though solid understanding of the Old Testament law. Paul he was not a follower of Christ during his earthly minis- showed believers that Christ met the demands of the try (Jn 7:3–5), a postresurrection appearance convinced law and, thus, brings us to salvation. James showed James that Jesus is indeed the Christ (Ac 1:14; 1Co 15:7). believers that their obedience to God’s moral stan- James later led the Jerusalem church (Gl 2:9,12), exer- dards is an indication of a living faith, which is a life cising great influence there (Ac 1:14; 12:17; 15:13; 21:18; lived in step with the one who met the demands of 1Co 15:7; Gl 2:9,12). the law. Some choose to oversimplify the distinc- James was probably wrien between AD 48 and tions between the Old Testament and the New Tes- 52, though nothing in the epistle suggests a more tament and say the Old Testament is grounded in precise date. James’s death in AD 62 or 66 means the works and the New Testament is grounded in faith, epistle was wrien before this time. Similarities to but James brings both testaments together to show Gospel traditions and Pauline themes are suggestive. that faith and works are integrally related in both the If Mark was wrien around AD 65 and time is allowed old and new covenants. for the events of Acts 15 and 21 to have occurred between Paul’s first and second missionary journeys, a STRUCTURE date between AD 48 and 52 seems most likely. The book of James is a leer (an epistle), though only James led the Jerusalem church. The reference to the greeting conforms to the ancient Greek form ex- “the twelve tribes dispersed abroad” (1:1) suggests emplified in Paul’s leers, especially Galatians. The the leer was wrien to Jewish Christians living out- greeting identifies the author as James, includes a ti- side of Israel. The reference to a synagogue (Gk; 2:2) tle demonstrating the source of his authority (“a ser- also suggests that his audience was Jewish Chris- vant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”), names the tians. References to their circumstances (e.g., op- recipients (“the twelve tribes dispersed abroad”), and pression by wealthy landowners; 5:1–6) could refer conveys “greetings” (1:1). Epistles were o¡en used to congregations anywhere in the Roman Empire. as a means of spurring the recipients to a change in

2 10 0 – 9 0 0 BC 9 0 0 BC– AD 33

• JOB –? • Rahab supports the • Elijah’s ministry • Jesus’s trials, death, and • ABRAHAM – conquest of Jericho. • The Book of Wisdom resurrection • The Mosaic law at • Much of Proverbs is or , Sinai wrien. • The deuterocanonical book • Following his resurrection, of Ecclesiasticus Jesus appears to James his brother.

CSB_MOC_book.indb 1348 04/12/2020 10.28 behavior or belief based on the authoritative word wisdom elements in James, such as comparing the and guidance of the sender. wisdom of the world with the wisdom that comes The book of James has been compared to Old from God, it also contains exhortations and prophet- Testament Wisdom literature. Although there are ic elements not common to Wisdom literature.

OUTLINE . : . : . : . : . : : . :

READING PLAN

☐ James 1:1–27 ☐ James 2:1–26 ☐ James 3:1–4:12 ☐ James 4:13–5:20

AD 33– 4 4 AD 4 4 – 330

• Pentecost • James becomes leader of the • The leer of James • Origen quotes James in • Saul’s conversion on the church at Jerusalem. • Martyrdom of James half his commentary on the Damascus Road , • Execution of James, son brother of Jesus Gospel of John. • Paul meets with Peter and James of Zebedee, by Herod • Destruction of Jerusalem • Eusebius refers to the leer on his ﬁrst visit to Jerusalem Agrippa of James as Scripture. following his conversion.

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a : Mt :; Mk :; GREETING VERSE TO REMEMBER Ac :; :; :; a b Gl :; :,; Jd James, a servant of God and of the Lord bAc :; Rm :; 1 Jesus Christ: Consider it a great joy, my brothers Eph :; Jms :; To the twelve tribesc dispersed abroad. ,d and sisters, whenever you experience Pt :; Rv : e cGn :; Ex :; Greetings. various trials, because you know that Ezk :; Mt :; Ac :; Rv : TRIALS AND MATURITY the testing of your faith produces dJn :; Pt : eTi : Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sis- endurance. : f : Mt :; Pt : ² g : Kg :; ters, whenever you experience various tri- Pr :–; Mt : als,f ³because you know that the testing of See The Final Exam on page 24 h : Jms :; Pt : i : Co :; Pt : your faith produces endurance. ⁴ And let en- j : Ps :,; Is : durance have its full e ect, so that you may VERSE TO REMEMBER k : Co :; Tm :; be mature and complete, lacking nothing. Pt :; Rv :; : lMt :; Jms : ⁵ Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he m : Pr :– should ask God — who gives to all gener- n : Jb :; Ps :; should ask God — whogives to all gener- Is :; Rm : ously and ungrudgingly — and it will be giv- o : Co :; Jms : g ously and ungrudgingly — and it will be p en to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith without : Nm :; Mal :; Jn :; Jn : doubting. For the doubter is like the surg- given to him. : q : Jn :; Eph : ing sea, driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That r : Pr :; See Dealing with the Consequences of Family :; Ec :– person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, ⁸ being double-mind- Dysfunction on page 48 ,h s : Eph :; ed and unstable in all his ways. :; Col : Let the brother of humble circumstanc- t :– Mt :–; ⁹ VERSE TO REMEMBER Rm :; Jms :– es boast in his exaltation, ¹⁰ but let the rich u : Jn :; Jms : v boast in his humiliation because he will pass : Ps :; :; i My dear brothers and sisters, un der- :; Jms :–; Pt : away like a flower of the field. ¹¹ For the sun w : Jb :; rises and, together with the scorching wind, stand this: Everyone should be quick Is :,; Mt : to listen, slow to speak, and slow to xRm :; Jn : dries up the grass; its flower falls o, and its beautiful appearance perishes. In the same anger, for human anger does not ac com- way, the rich person will wither away while plish God’s righteousness. : pursuing his activities.j ¹² Blessed is the one who endures trials, See A Wounded Ego on page 336 because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown k of life that God has promised to those who love him.l ²¹Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral ¹³ No one undergoing a trial should say, filth and the evil that is so prevalent, humbly “I am being tempted by God,” since God is receive the implanted word, which is able to not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t save your souls.s tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each person is tempt- ²² But t be doers of the word and not hear- ed when he is drawn away and enticed by ers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ Because his own evil desire.m ¹⁵ Then after desire has if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin doer, he is like someone looking at his own is fully grown, it gives birth to death.n face in a mirror. ²⁴ For he looks at himself, ¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers goes away, and immediately forgets what and sisters. o ¹⁷Every good and perfect gift kind of person he was. ²⁵ But the one who is from above, coming down from the Father looks intently into the perfect law of free- of lights, who does not change like shifting dom and perseveres in it, and is not a for- shadows. p ¹⁸ By his own choice, he gave us getful hearer but a doer who works — this birth by the word of truth so that we would person will be blessed in what he does.u be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.q ²⁶ If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, v his religion is HEARING AND DOING THE W ORD useless and he deceives himself. ²⁷ Pure and ¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters, understand undefiled religion before God the Father is this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow this: to look after orphans and widows w in to speak, and slow to anger, r ²⁰ for human an- their distress and to keep oneself unstained ger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. from the world.x

: Gk diaspora; Jewish people scaered throughout Gentile lands : Or without divided loyalties : Or in all his conduct : Other mss read that the Lord : Or the abundance of evil : Or at his natural face : Other mss add among you

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f THE SIN OF F AVORITISM Don’t the rich oppress you and drag you a : Lv ¢£:¢¤; Dt ¢:¢¥; My brothers and sisters, do not show into court? ⁷ Don’t they blaspheme the good Ac ¢¦:§¨; Rm ©:¢¢; g Eph ª:£; Col §:©¤ 2 favoritism as you hold on to the faith name that was invoked over you? b : Jb §¨:¢£; ¢Co ¢:©¥ in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. a For if Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law pre- cLk ¢©:©¢; Rv ©:£ ² ⁸ dRm ¨:¢§–¢¨; «:¢¥; someone comes into your meeting wear- scribed in the Scripture, Love your neigh- Gl §:©£; ¨:¥; Ti §:¥; ,h Heb ¢:©; ¢¢:¥ ing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, bor as yourself, you are doing well. ⁹ If, e and a poor person dressed in filthy clothes however, you show favoritism,i you commit : ¢Co ¢¢:©© also comes in, ³ if you look with favor on the sin and are convicted by the law as trans- f : Ac «:§; ¢¥:ª; ¢«:¢© one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit gressors. ¹⁰ For whoever keeps the entire g : Is ª§:¢£; ª¤:¢; Am £:¢©; Ac ¢¤:¢¥ here in a good place,” and yet you say to the law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty h j : Lv ¢£:¢«; Mt ©©:§£ poor person, “Stand over there,” or “Sit here of breaking it all. ¹¹ For he who said, Do not i : Lv ¢£:¢¤; Dt ¢:¢¥; on the floor by my footstool,” ⁴ haven’t you commit adultery, also said, Do not mur- Ac ¢¦:§¨; Rm ©:¢¢; ,k Eph ª:£; Col §:©¤ made distinctions among yourselves and be- der. So if you do not commit adultery, but j : Mt ¤:¢¦; Gl §:¢¦ come judges with evil thoughts? you murder, you are a lawbreaker. k : Ex ©¦:¢§–¢¨; Dt ¤:¢¥–¢« ⁵ Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: ¹² Speak and act as those who are to be l : Mt ¥:¢©,©¨–©£; Didn’t God choose the poor in this world b judged by the law of freedom. l ¹³ For judg- ¢£:¢¥–©¢; ©©:§ª–¨¦; ©«:©¦ c d m : Jb ©©:ª; Pr ©¢:¢§; to be rich in faith and heirs of the king- ment is without mercy to the one who has Mt ¤:¥; ¢«:§©–§¤ dom that he has promised to those who love not shown mercy. m Mercy triumphs over him? ⁶ Yet you have dishonored the poor. e judgment.

SLOW TO ANGER THE MEASURE OF A MAN

ANGER IS A God-created emotion. That’s why VENGEANCE Paul wrote (quoting Ps 4:4), “Be angry and do not When someone has hurt us, our natural tendency is sin” (Eph 4:26). In fact, Jesus Christ, the perfect Son to want to get even. But that, God says, is not our of God, demonstrated that it’s possible to express right or our responsibility. According to Paul, we righteous anger when he drove the money chang- must “not repay anyone evil for evil” (Rm 12:17). He ers out of the temple (Jn 2:13–17). continues, “Do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave Paul’s statement and Jesus’s example pose a very room for God’s wrath, because it is wrien, ‘Ven- practical question: When does anger become sin- geance belongs to me; I will repay,’ says the Lord” ful? (12:19). Instead, through the help of the Holy Spirit, we must not be “conquered by evil, but conquer evil Q UICK - TEMPERED BEHAVIOR with good” (12:21). In Titus 1:7, Paul warned against church leaders being “hot-tempered” or “quick-tempered.” When VIOLENT BEHAVIOR this happens, we usually say and do things that Unchecked angry feelings can quickly lead to vio- hurt and oﬀend others. Though these feelings per lence and abuse. This kind of behavior can be both se are not sinful, when we express these feelings in verbal and physical. Whether we strike out at people hurtful ways, we’re violating the will of God. This with our words or with our body parts, again we are is why James wrote, “Everyone should be quick to violating God’s perfect will. And to do so can only be listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for human described as sinful. anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness” (Jms 1:19–20). CONTROLLING ANGER How can we keep anger from becoming sinful? This BITTERNESS is not an easy question to answer but there are three Paul stated, “Be angry and do not sin.” He followed proverbs that give us great insight. In essence, they this exhortation with another: “Don’t let the sun go state that when we truly understand the causes of down on your anger, and don’t give the devil an op- anger, it helps us to control this intense emotion: portunity” (Eph 4:26–27). • “A patient person shows great understanding” When we allow angry feelings to linger and fester, (Pr 14:29). they can lead to bierness and hatred. This kind of • “The one who has knowledge restrains his emotional reaction is destructive to our own physi- words, and one who keeps a cool head is a per- cal bodies—and certainly leads to both passive and son of understanding” (17:27). aggressive behavior that hurts others. This too is out • “A person’s insight gives him patience, and his of the will of God. virtue is to overlook an oﬀense” (19:11).

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a F AITH AND W ORK S n :– Mt :–; poison. ⁹ With the tongue we bless our Lord Lk :; Jn :– b ¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if and Father, and with it we curse people who : Rm :; Heb o :; Jms : someone claims to have faith but does not are made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰Blessing and c : Dt :; have works? Can such faith save him? cursing come out of the same mouth. My Mt :; Lk : d : – Gn :; ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is without clothes brothers and sisters, these things should not Th :; Heb : and lacks daily food and one of you says to be this way. Does a spring pour out sweet e : Gn :; ¹⁶ ¹¹ Rm :; Gl : them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well and bitter water from the same opening? fCh :; Is : fed,” but you don’t give them what the body ¹² Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers g : Jos :,,; a Heb : needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way and sisters, or a grapevine produce figs? Nei- h: Mt :; faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself. ther can a saltwater spring yield fresh water. Rm :–; Tm : i: Kg :; ¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and Pr :; Jms : I have works.” Show me your faith without THE W ISDOM F ROM ABOVE jMt :; Jms :; works, and I will show you faith by my works.b Who among you is wise and understand- Pt : ¹³ k: Ps :; : ¹⁹ You believe that God is one. Good! Even the ing? By his good conduct he should show l: Ps :–; :– c m demons believe — and they shudder. that his works are done in the gentleness : Ps :–; p Pr :; Mt :, ²⁰Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you that faith without works is useless? ²¹ Wasn’t have bitter envy and selfi sh ambition in n: Ps :; Abraham our father justified by works in of- your heart, don’t boast and deny the truth.q Ec :; Rm : o: Gn :; Co : fering Isaac his son on the altar? ²² You see that ¹⁵ Such wisdom does not come down from r p: Jms :; : faith was active together with his works, and above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. q: Rm :; by works, faith was made complete,d and For where there is envy and selfi sh ambi- :; Co : ²³ ¹⁶ r: Th :; Tm :; the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham tion, there is disorder and every evil prac- Jms :; Rv : s believed God, and it was credited to him tice. ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first : Lk :; Rm :; ,e Co :; Heb :; as righteousness, and he was called God’s pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, Jms : f t friend. ²⁴ You see that a person is justified by full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, : Pr :; Is :; s Hs :; Am :; works and not by faith alone. ²⁵ In the same without pretense. ¹⁸ And the fruit of righ- Gl :; Php : way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justi- teousnesst is sown in peace by those who u: Rm :; Ti : v: Ps :; fied by works in receiving the messengers and cultivate peace. Jn :; : sending them out by a di erent route?g ²⁶ For w: Jn :; PROUD OR HUMBLE Jms :; Jn : just as the body without the spirit is dead, so x: Co :; Co : also faith without works is dead. What is the source of wars and fights y: Ps :; among you? Don’t they come from your Pr :; Mt : 4 CONTROLLING THE TONGUE u z: Eph :; passions that wage war within you? ² You :; Pt :– Not many should become teachers, my desire and do not have. You murder and cov- 3 brothers, because you know that we et and cannot obtain. You fight and wage will receive a stricter judgment.h ² For we all war. You do not have because you do not stumble in many ways. i If anyone does not ask. ³ You ask and don’t receive because you stumble in what he says, he is mature, able ask with wrong motives, so that you may also to control the whole body.j ³ Now if we spend it on your pleasures.v put bits into the mouths of horses so that ⁴ You adulterous people! Don’t you know they obey us, k we direct their whole bodies. that friendship with the world is hostility ⁴ And consider ships: Though very large and toward God? So whoever wants to be the driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a friend of the world becomes the enemy of very small rudder wherever the will of the God.w ⁵ Or do you think it’s without reason pilot directs. ⁵ So too, though the tongue is a that the Scripture says: The spirit he made small part of the body, it boasts great things.l to dwell in us envies intensely? ,x Consider how a small fire sets ablaze a large ⁶ But he gives greater grace. Therefore he forest. ⁶ And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a says: world of unrighteousness, is placed among God resists the proud our members. It stains the whole body,m sets but gives grace to the humble. ,y the course of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. ⁷Every kind of animal, bird, rep- ⁷ Therefore, submit to God. Resist the tile, and fish is tamed and has been tamed devil, and he will flee from you. z ⁸ Draw by humankind, ⁸ but no one can tame the near to God, and he will draw near to you. tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your

: The quotation may end here or aer v. b or v. . : Gn : : Or brothers and sisters : Or places itself, or appoints itself : Or war in your members : Or You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you ﬁght and wage war. : Lit Adulteresses : Or Scripture says: He jealously yearns for the spirit he made to live in us?, or Scripture says: The Spirit he made to dwell in us longs jealously? : Pr :

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a hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Be miserable VERSE TO REMEMBER a : Ch :; Is :; Jms : and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be b b : Mt :; Lk : turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Is anyone among you sick? He should call c : Mt :; Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he Jms :; Pt : ¹⁰ for the elders of the church, and they are d : Mt :; Rm : will exalt you. to pray over him, anointing him with oil e : Pr :; Lk :– Don’t criticize one another, brothers and f : Jb : ; Ps : ¹¹ in the name of the Lord. The prayer of g :– Ac :; sisters. Anyone who defames or judges a fel- Co : low believer defames and judges the law. If faith will save the sick person, and the h : Lk : –; Jn :; Pt : you judge the law, you are not a doer of the Lord will raise him up; if he has commit- i: Pr :; Lk : c law but a judge. ¹² There is one lawgiver and ted sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, j: Jb :; Is :; Mt :– judge who is able to save and to destroy. But k: Rm :; Jms : d confess your sins to one another and who are you to judge your neighbor? l: Lv :; Jb : –; pray for one another, so that you may be Jr :; Mal : mDt :; Rm : OUR W ILL AND GOD’ S W ILL healed. The prayer of a righteous person n: Jb :; Am : Come now, you who say, “Today or tomor- oJr :; : ¹³ is very powerful in its effect. : p: Heb :; Jms : row we will travel to such and such a city q: Dt :; Jr :; Hs : and spend a year there and do business and See From Elation to Depression on page 168 r e : Rm :; make a profi t.” ¹⁴ Yet you do not know what Php :; Pt : tomorrow will bring — what your life will s: Mt :; Co :; Jms :; Pt : be! For you are like vapor that appears for of su ering and patience. ¹¹ See, we count as f a little while, then vanishes. blessed those who have endured. You have t t : Jb :–; Instead, you should say, “If the Lord heard of Job’s endurance and have seen the : ; : – ¹⁵ u wills, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ But outcome that the Lord brought about — the Ex :; Nm :; u Mt : as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such Lord is compassionate and merciful. v: Mt :– ; g :–; Mk :– boasting is evil. ¹⁷ So it is sin to know the w h TRUTHF UL SPEECH : Ps :; Col : good and yet not do it. x: Mk :; : ¹² Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not y: Is :; Mt :; W ARNING TO THE RICH Mk :; Lk : swear, either by heaven or by earth or with z: Nm :; Mt :; Come now, you rich i people, weep and any other oath. v But let your “yes” mean Jn :; Pt : aa: Kg :; :; 5 wail over the miseries that are coming “yes,” and your “no” mean “no,” so that you Lk :; Ac : on you. ² Your wealth has rotted and your won’t fall under judgment. ab: Kg :–; clothes are moth-eaten.j Your gold and sil- Jms : – ³ ac: Mt :; ver are corroded, and their corrosion will be EF F ECTIVE PRAYER Gl :; Jms : a witness against you and will eat your flesh Is anyone among you suffer ing? He adPs :; Dn :; ¹³ Mal :; Lk : like fire. You have stored up treasure in the should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He ae: Pr :; last days.k ⁴ Look! The pay that you withheld should sing praises. w ¹⁴ Is anyone among Rm :; Pt : from the workersl who mowed your fields you sick? He should call for the elders of cries out, and the outcry of the harvesters the church, and they are to pray over him, has reached the ears of the Lord of Armies.m anointing him with oil in the name of the ⁵ You have lived luxuriously on the earth and Lord. x ¹⁵ The prayer of faith will save the have indulged yourselves. You have fattened sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; your hearts n in a day of slaughter. o ⁶ You if he has committed sins, he will be forgiv- have condemned, you have murdered the en. y ¹⁶ Therefore, confess your sins to one righteous, who does not resist you.p another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righ- W AITING F OR THE LORD teous person is very powerful in its e ect. z ⁷Therefore, brothers and sisters, be patient ¹⁷ Elijah was a human being as we are, and until the Lord’s coming. See how the farm- he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, er waits for the precious fruit of the earth and for three years and six months it did and is patient with it until it receives the ear- not rain on the land. aa ¹⁸ Then he prayed ly and the late rains.q ⁸ You also must be pa- again, and the sky gave rain and the land tient. Strengthen your hearts, because the produced its fruit. ab Lord’s coming is near.r ¹⁹ My brothers and sisters, if any among ⁹ Brothers and sisters, do not complain you strays from the truth, ac and someone about one another, so that you will not be turns him back, ad ²⁰ let that person know judged. Look, the judge stands at the door!s that whoever turns a sinner from the error ¹⁰Brothers and sisters, take the prophets of his way will save his soul from death and who spoke in the Lord’s name as an example cover a multitude of sins.ae

: Or his brother or sister : Other mss omit and judge : Or persevered : Other mss read fall into hypocrisy

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MEN OF CHARACTER bring such tragedy upon this woman (17:19–20). Then gan to pray earnestly, wondering why the Lord would be and bed own his on him laid staying, been had boy in his arms, climbed to the upper room where he reputation was at stake. In his own grief, he took the explanation for what had happened, and he felt God’s human no had He distraught. and confusedwastoo At this point, we also see Elijah’s doubts and fears. SHUMANNESS He AH’ ELIJ fears,confusion.questions, and her. From this vantage point, we can understand her 16),toonly turn around takeand awayson her from (17:8–starvationfrom son her and her saveboth to this widow knew that it did not seem logical for Elijah ishing her for some sin. To add to her bewilderment, do when tragedy strikes—to wonder if God was pun God. of havetrueman a been must He sins. own her awareof became she more life—the in mission his and lived, he how lieved, be- he him—what know tomore came the she And know Elijah well. He was definitely no ordinary man. to come had inward.She turned widow’sthoughts (17:18).todeath?” put is son you come to call aention to my iniquity so that my Havehere?you are why God, of “Man distress: and anxiety of feelings deep her out poured widow the rated until he stopped breathing (17:17). Predictably, boy’sThe ill. became son her deterio-slowly health widow,the with live to came Elijah aer Sometime SGREATEST TEST AH’ ELIJ ephath. It happened in his encounter with the widow of Zar- nity for him to grow in his prayer life and in his faith. opportu- orchestratedanother God challenge, this 18:20–40).To(1Kgfor Carmel prepareElijah Mount prayer still lay ahead: facing the prophets of Baal on in God trust to opportunitygreatestHowever, his and six months it did not rain on the land” (Jms 5:17). threeyearsfor and rain, not would it that earnestly “prayedElijah us, remindsprayer. James of As man AHHADALREADY ELIJ ( PRAYER OF ER LEARNING THEPOW ness regarding his own doubts and disillusionment. prayer, but also honored his honesty and forthright- true”youris (17:24).mouth know you are a man of God and the L¤¥¦§¨ word from fromflowed that spokemouth her volumes: I “Now Lordtothe cried and torestore boy’sthe life(17:21). Elijah “stretched himself out over the boy three times” When the widow saw what happened, the words the happened, what saw widow the When J AMES 5 AMES J Looking for an explanation for this tragedy,thethis for explanation an for Looking o nt ny ooe Eia’ pritne in persistence Elijah’s honored only not God Elijah’sansweredLordmercy,prayer. the his In This woman wasmanyus woman temptedwhat of This todo : 17 ) proven that he was a was he proventhat - - The LordThe gave moreboylife.But that, the new than this test, God was continuing to prepare Elijah for prepareElijah to continuing was God test, this mel—to take a stand for the one true God. Through sence, this was why Elijah was headed for Mount Car- since his own people had turned to false gods. In es- Elijah to important especially was This Jacob. and Isaac, Abraham, of God the in believed widow the he appealed to God based on his concern for the for concern his on based God to appealed he widow’sson, the with crisis the faced Elijah When reputation.his especiallyon concernsfocuspeople’sand other on needs—but ownprayersour beyond get areweto whenable responsiveparticularly is our God to Principle4: prayer.in feelingstohim and should never be fearful of expressing these thoughts feelings. Consequently, we might as well tell him. We think and feel before we express those thoughts and we what alreadyknows he for speak, beforewe act they really feel. Not so! If this were true, God would how share they when them on pounce to ready is Some people view God as an angry father figure who disillusionments. anddisappointments, understandsfears,God anxieties, Principle3: our trials. difficult during ferventlymorepray we that It’snatural well. going important spiritual exercise when things seem to be this neglect may you problem—eventhough rious best. is what waysrespondsGod choose, might we what be with al not mayoutcome the ear.Though deaf a turns never He tendencies. human our understands God prayerseriously.Fortunately,of privilege the take sition where our backs are against the wall before we respects, it’s unfortunate that we have to be in a po- This was certainly true in Elijah’s experience. In some controlour reallybeyond we pray.that to learn arethat situations midstof the in is It Principle2: seem even smaller when we’re adequately prepared. wants to increase our faith so that bigger challenges He fail. to us want doesn’t he and work his with us entrustingis God that is news good the But lenges! Frankly,myin don’thumanness,I wantchal- bigger and painful crises I’ve considered to be tests of faith. difficult very some at back look can I me. for is it least thought—at scary a is this respects, some In challengesvictoriously.smaller lifein providingfaceby toopportunities with us the preparesGod Principle1: forchallengesus big the PRINCIPLES TOLIV greatesthis challenge. Never hesitate to pray when you’re facing a se you’rea when facingpray to hesitate Never E BY 04/12/2020 10.28 - - 04/12/2020 10.28 MEN OF CHARACTER - ELOPING YOUR CHARACTER ELOPING YOUR Can you aest to a time when God enabled you to to you enabled God when time a to aest you Can faithfully faithfully face a challenge and caused your faith a as result? to grow taught have experiences specific What fervently? the you most about prayer? disillusion and disappointments, fears, your with ments? pray for your own interests versus for the needs reputation? of others and God’s for ERSE TO REMEMBER ERSE TO “This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask ask we If him: before have we confidence the is “This 5:14). (1Jn us” hears he will, his to according anything DEV 1. infirmities—even infirmities—even though we pray in faith. He has to promised, however, provide grace and strength 12:8–9). (2Co situation every for V 2.most pray you do circumstances of kinds what In 3. honestly God to coming comfortable feel you Do 4. stock of Take your life. prayer How o¦en do you bring more honor to his name in the midst of human of midst the in name his to honor more bring physical all heal to promised never has God tragedy. - - - 1355

When you pray for God’s help, are you more con- more you are help, God’s for pray When you Remember, too, that God can bring honor to him- to honor bring can God that too, Remember, Don’t misunderstand. God wants to meet our per our meet to wants God misunderstand. Don’t NOTES experience new power in your prayer life. new experience power prayer in your Eli- In outcome. the maer situations—no all in self the restored and prayer his answered God case, jah’s times are there when God boy to life. can However, God God we serve, is it possible we’ll experience more I think so! to prayer? answers must reputation God’s so, Even 4:6). (Php needs sonal come first—not ours. Put God and others first and cerned cerned about yourself than others? Are you most If reputation? we about concerned focus the Lord’s more on the needs of others and the name of the tion the very message Elijah was proclaiming. The widow verified concern when Elijah’s she declared, “Now I know you are a man of God and the L mouth is (17:24). your true” from word an, of course. But note that he was a “man of God” who (17:18)—one the represented of Lord the uni to unable were he if view, of point Elijah’s From verse. bring this would back boy ques- to unbelievers life, Lord’s reputation. He Lord’s was concerned for the wom CSB_MOC_book.indb 1355 CSBMENOFCHARACTERBIBLE.COM