James 4:11–17 – Who Are You to Judge?
James 4:11–17 (ESV) – “Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”
🗣️ When We Speak Evil of One Another
James confronts a familiar sin in Christian circles: speaking evil of one another. This includes slander, harsh criticism, and fault-finding. The issue isn’t disagreement—it’s a posture of condemnation.
He reminds us that to judge our brother is to put ourselves above the law. It assumes a role that belongs only to God. “There is only one lawgiver and judge…” James urges us to remember: we are not the jury or the judge—we are fellow citizens under the law of love.
Romans 14:4 (KJV) – “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth.”
Theology: God alone is holy, omniscient, and righteous enough to judge perfectly. We are called to love and speak truth—but not to usurp His throne.
Application: Before I speak about someone else, do I do so with love and humility—or with pride and assumption? Do I pray for them more than I talk about them?
⏳ Planning Without God
James now shifts from how we speak about others to how we speak about our future. He confronts the arrogance of self-reliant planning:
“Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit…”
What’s the problem? It’s not planning itself—it’s planning without God. It’s presuming that we are in control of time, opportunities, and success. But James rebukes this with sharp reality:
“You do not know what tomorrow will bring.”
Sound doctrine reminds us of God’s sovereignty. Our lives are not autonomous projects but stewardship under His will.
Proverbs 27:1 (KJV) – “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”
Application: How often do I make plans without seeking God’s will or acknowledging His authority? Are my goals prayerful or prideful?
🌫️ What Is Your Life?
James then asks one of the most profound questions in Scripture:
“What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”
The Greek word for “mist” (atmis) implies a vapor, breath, or puff of smoke—visible for a moment, then gone. This verse echoes the deep truth of human frailty found in Psalms:
Psalm 39:5 (ESV) – “Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths… Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!”
Theology: This emphasizes the doctrine of human mortality and dependency. Every breath is borrowed. Every hour is a gift. To live rightly is to live with eternity in mind.
Application: Do I live like life is short and eternity is long? Am I investing my “vapor” for what will last forever?
🙏 If the Lord Wills
James doesn’t discourage planning. He encourages godly planning—submitted to the Lord’s will.
“If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” This isn’t just a phrase to tack on to emails. It’s a mindset of humility that acknowledges divine sovereignty.
God is not our consultant—He is our King. We plan, but He determines.
Proverbs 16:9 (KJV) – “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.”
Application: Have I paused long enough to ask: “Lord, is this your will?” or “Lord, what do You want to do with my life?”
🧍♂️ The Sin of Knowing and Not Doing
James ends with a sobering truth:
“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”
This expands our understanding of sin. It’s not just wrong action—it’s right action withheld. This is called the sin of omission.
Doctrine: Omitting obedience is rebellion. Faith without works is dead—and intentions don’t equal obedience.
Luke 12:47 (KJV) – “And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself… shall be beaten with many stripes.”
Application: What have I been postponing in obedience? A call? A confession? A course correction?
🛠️ Faith That Works – Humbles Itself
- We do not have the right to judge our brothers with a condemning spirit.
- We do not have the right to plan our future without God.
- We do not have the right to delay obedience once we know the truth.
Faith that works doesn’t just believe in God’s sovereignty—it submits to it, speaks with it in mind, and lives every day as if it matters.
💬 Questions for Reflection
- Do I speak about others with humility or condemnation?
- Am I planning with prayer, or presuming in pride?
- What step of obedience have I been delaying?
🔗 Series Navigation:
- Intro: Who Wrote James—and Why?
- … [Previous posts linked] …
- James 4:1–10 – Drawing Near to God
- You are here: James 4:11–17 – Who Are You to Judge?
- Next: The Woes of Wealth (James 5:1–6)
