Enthroned?

I love the book of James. As a very pragmatic person I enjoy thinking through a theological truth convinced that it must somehow express itself in lifestyle and practice. The book of James is intensely practical and incredibly blunt in places, I might not find it easy reading but I find it accessible and readily applicable.

Chapter 4 deals with one key issue and 'submission' - What in our lives do we submit ourselves or yield to? For each of us there must be something, or someone, who is enthroned and who will act as the catalyst/initiator of what we do, the decisions we make, and who will shape our thinking.  

It might be that we enthrone self, its 'me' who makes all the decisions about what I say and do. It may be another person, perhaps a parent or significant other. It may be some conversation we had as a child, a word spoken to us or over us that we still allow to shape our lives. Perhaps we choose a direction so that we do not have to confront a fear or perhaps a prejudice shapes our decision-making. James challenges us that it should be the Lord that we enthrone, and that all my decisions should be taken with Him enthroned - "What is his mind/will?" "What does He want me to do in this particular season?" 

In chapter 4 there are some examples of the practical out workings of anything other than the Lord being in control of our lives.

1. We must recognise that ultimately trying to work things out for ourselves is fruitless "You don't get what you want, no matter how hard you try!" Not only that self-effort hinders us from seeking the very one who is the supplier of what we need.
2. When we have something other than the Lord as number one then we have the temptation to compare. By this I mean if we all enthroned the Lord as number 1 then we would all have the same person shaping our lives. When he is replaced by something/someone else we are faced with a temptation to compare whose number one is better! - Does my choice based on a selfish desire trump your choice based on a fear or prejudice? When the Lord is number one then there is unity.
3. We must be humble enough to recognise our very life-breath is in his hands. This is not simply a question of making plans and asking God's blessing upon them - it is acknowledging that God is the very essence of life, and accepting that God is in what we do and should be in what we do. I, therefore, have the freedom to ask Him what He wants me to do with the time He gives me.
4. Submission to and enthroning the Lord brings provision. "God opposes the proud..." how useless is it to pit ourselves against God! How much better to recognise that He is sufficient, He provides everything - grace, power, love, provision - whatever it takes to accomplish His will, He provides.
5. We must recognise this for what it is. If we enthrone anything above Him, or are submitted to anything other than Him then what we are doing is dethroning the Lord from his rightful place ... this is sin. If we allow the Spirit to bring us to that place of recognising where we have things in our lives above Him and His will, the His love, His compassion releases us to confess this to Him that we might know the grace of forgiveness.

Verse 10 sums it up beautifully "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up!" How wonderful to be lifted up in the hands of the living God, by our Father in heaven. In this comes the exhortation to humble ourselves before Him, thereby enthroning Him and living Christ-centric lives.

Who's on the throne in your life?

Press on!