Let's Go Back to the Bible

Stop what you’re saying!

In his very practical epistle to Christians, James provides real-to-life instructions for children of God to learn and practice in their everyday lives. Some of the applications have to do with one’s own personal relationship with God, and some of them have to do with our relationships with each other. On two occasions, he tells us something that we are not to do toward brethren.

First, “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren!” (4:11). How easy is this to do? Someone does us wrong and our first inclination is to tell someone else about it. Look at the second one, “Do not grumble against one another, brethren!” (5:9). Other words for “grumble” include “complain” and “groan” and “murmur.” Again, how easily do we fall into this when we feel like we’ve been wronged or slighted somehow? Interestingly, both passages mention “the Judge.”

Brethren, there are two actions here–Do not speak evil of or complain against one another! Don’t do either one! There are also, of necessity, two persons involved here–the speaker and the listener! Don’t be either one!