Arrows in the Hands of a Mighty Man

Wade Webster

In the long ago, Solomon wrote, "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord:  and the fruit of the womb is his reward.  As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.  Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them:  they shall not be ashamed, but they will speak with the enemies in the gate" (Psa. 127:3-5).   Let's take Solomon's metaphor and apply it to parenting.  There are at least five similarities between being a great archer and a great parent.

Knowledge: The better you understand the workings of the bow and the arrow, the better you will be at hitting the target.  For example, the arrow has to be put on the string in a certain way.  In like manner, in parenting, knowledge is essential to hitting the target.  Although the knowledge of many things is important in parenting, no knowledge is as important as knowing God's word (2 Tim. 2:15; John 5:39). A few years ago, a devastating hurricane hit the coast of Florida.  The hurricane left in its wake broken hearts and battered homes.  A reporter who was covering the damage noticed that in one of the communities hardest hit, one house had survived the storm with very little damage.  In interviewing the resident of the house, the reporter asked how the man explained the fact that others had lost their homes but his had weathered the storm.  He explained that he built his house according to the hurricane code of Florida.  His house was still standing because it was built according to the code.  In like manner, parents must build their homes according to the code found in God's word (Mt. 7:24-27). 

Time: A few years ago, I taught archery at a Christian camp. It was obvious which of the campers had spent time at home practicing and which ones had not.  For one thing, those who had practiced didn't point their arrows at you while asking how you fire them.  For another thing, they usually hit the target.  In like manner, time is essential in parenting.  Sadly, many parents today aren't spending the time that they need to with their children.  You might say that they are trying to hit the target without practicing.    Fathers and mothers must redeem or buy up the time that they have been given (Eph. 5:16; Col. 4:5; Deut. 6:7).  Like John the Baptist, we must turn the hearts of fathers back to their children (Lk. 1:17; cf. Mal. 4:6).  If we do not turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, then "one day the United States will be known as the country of the founding fathers...with no fathers to be found" (Farrar 23).

Strength: Although pulling back a bow looks easy, it isn't.  Many bows require great strength to use.  Although compound bows are a relatively new invention, some of the bows of the past had an equal or greater pull weight.  It took "mighty men" to use them well (Psa. 127:4).  In like manner, it takes mighty men and mighty women today to guide children in the right direction.  As James Dobson often says, "Parenting isn't for cowards." Nor, for that matter, is it for weaklings.  We need strong fathers and mothers (Heb. 11:23; Josh. 24:15; Eph. 6:10). 

Vision: To be a good archer, you must have good vision.  You must learn to look down the arrow and see the target. In like manner, in order to be a great parent, fathers and mothers must have vision.  If they don't have the target in sight, then they are not very likely to hit the target.  Parents must have their eyes on heaven if they are going to get their children there (Mt. 6:33; Col. 3:2; Phil. 3:14).  If they do not have their eyes on heaven, then they will miss the mark.  Interestingly, the Greek word (harmatia) which is translated as sin means "to miss the mark." We need parents who have the vision of King Henry V's soldiers in the Battle of Agincourt.  The battle was fought on October 25, 1415 between the French and the English.  In spite of being greatly outnumbered by the French, and decimated by disease, the English soldiers won one of the greatest battles in military history.  In the Battle of Agincourt 10,000 Frenchmen lost their lives in comparison to only 113 Englishmen.  Why were the English so successful? The answer is found in their archers.  The French were used to fighting a hand to hand battle.  However, the English archers never let them get close enough to do so.  In fact, historians record that the archers had such great aim that if a knight lifted his visor on the field of battle at a distance of 350 yards or less, he never lived to put it down again.  The English archers had great vision.  I believe that you will agree that we need fathers and mothers who have as great of vision in guiding their children to heaven as these English archers did in guiding their arrows to French knights.  The problem is that many parents today are near-sighted.  They get so caught up in the here and now that they forget about the here and the hereafter.    Consider the great painter Michelangelo and the vision that he had for the Sistine Chapel as an example of the vision that parents must have for their children.   

Patience: A person cannot realistically expect to pick up a bow and begin to immediately hitting the target time after time.  No where is this patience seen more than in hunting.  The archer must wait patiently as the animal moves into range.    In like manner, parents must have patience.  It is in patience that they possess their own souls, as well as, the souls of their children (Lk. 21:19).  Children do not become mature adults overnight.  Daily shaping and molding of character must take place.   Although parents may not be able to see the results of their labor immediately, they will be seen after many years.  A very valuable strain of Malaysian bamboo illustrates the importance of patience.  Consider what it takes to produce this precious bamboo. In the first year, the seed is planted, watered, and fertilized.  However, nothing much happens. In the second year, the plant is carefully watered and fertilized.  Yet, nothing much happens.  In the third year, watering and fertilizing become even more important.  However, nothing much happens. In the fourth year, water and fertilizer are again applied in the right amounts and at the right time.  Guess what happens?  You guessed it, nothing. In the fifth year, the unseen plant is again watered and fertilized.  What happens?  Amazingly, the bamboo grows ninety feet in thirty days (Farrar 17-18).

Where will your arrows land? Will they hit the target or will they fall short of it?  The answers to these questions depend largely on you.  Do you possess the knowledge, time, vision, strength and patience need to be a great archer?

The Brevity of Life (James 4:13-17)

Wade Webster

“Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.  For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (Jam. 4:13-15, KJV).  What a wealth of information is found in these verses.  For sure, we will be challenged to tell the half of it.  In these verses, we see a call, a comparison, and a correction.

A CALL  - “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain” (Jam. 4:13).  The expression “Go to now” is found only two times in the New Testament (Jam. 4:13; 5:1). The expression is used as an interjection and is designed to engage attention much as “Come now” was used by the prophet Isaiah to call Israel to reason with him (Isa. 1:18).  As was the case in Isaiah’s time, there were those in James’ day who were not thinking correctly. They were thinking that life was going to go on indefinitely. They were making plans for the future without any consideration of the brevity of life or the sovereignty of God.   Notice that those that James was referring to in the text chose the when (today or tomorrow), the where (such and such a city), the what (buy & sell), and the why (get gain) without any thought of life’s brevity or God’s sovereignty.  They said, "I will..." instead of "If the Lord will" (Jam. 4:15). How haughty! How presumptuous! They did not know what would be on the morrow much less a year down the road. Also, they didn’t know what was going to happen in their own city much less in another city.  They were going to THEN, but James told them to "go to NOW!" They were living in the future. In like manner, the writer of Proverbs advised his son, "Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth" (Prov. 27:1). As you know from experience, a day can bring forth wealth or poverty, health or sickness, happiness or sorrow. Perhaps, you recall as well, the rich farmer that Jesus told about (Lk. 12:16-21). He went to bed one night with his field full of grain and his head full of dreams. He was going to tear down his barns and build bigger barns. He was going to take ease, eat, drink, and be merry for many years. Our Lord called him a fool. He was banking on a future that he didn’t have. That very night his soul was going to be required of him. He had gained the world but had lost that which was worth more than the world in the process - his soul (Mt. 16:26).

A COMPARISON - “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (Jam. 4:14).  Notice that James compared life to a vapor that appears for a moment and then disappears.  No doubt, we have all seen the steam that rises from a kettle on a stove or the smoke that comes from our mouths on a cold winter morning.  As you know, these things are no sooner seen than they are gone.  That is life, James says.  I am afraid that as human beings we are prone to see the brevity of life as a chance rather than as a certainty. Likely, we all know some young person who died in a car wreck or in some other type of accident. For them, life was certainly brief. However, what we miss is that earthly life for all of us is brief. While it is true that some lives are shorter or briefer than others, all lives on earth are short. In fact, the longest life that was ever lived, the life of Methuselah, which lasted 969 years, wasn’t even a blip on the screen of eternity. Just think of that. Methuselah lived over 9 ½ centuries. Today, we are amazed when a man lives over one century. Routinely, the pictures of those over one hundred appear on morning shows for the whole country to see. We talk about what a good long life they have had and discuss the changes that they have seen within their lifetimes. However, it really doesn’t matter if we are talking about one century or about nine, man’s time on earth is short when it is considered in the light of eternity. James wanted them to realize that life on earth is but "a vapor that appeareth for a little while, and then vanisheth away" (Jam. 4:14).   It is important to realize that James was talking earthly life in general when he compared it to a vapor. He was not talking about just a few, unfortunate people who have their lives snuffed out at a young age. He was saying that all earthly life is like a vapor which appears for a little while and then vanishes away (Psa. 103:15-16; 1 Pet. 1:24-25; Job 14:1-2; 9:25-26; 16:22; Psa. 90:10).

A CORRECTION - “For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (Jam. 4:15).  As we have already noted, James spoke of some who were presumptuously saying, “I will go into such and such a city….” (Jam. 4:13).  James now corrects such thinking.  Instead of saying “I will,” they should have said “If the Lord will.”  In like manner, God should be in our plans from beginning to end.  After all, it is in God that “we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28).  Rather than boasting about what we are going to do, as those that James corrected, we ought to commit our way to the Lord (Psa 37:5).  The apostle Paul is a great example of someone who did this very thing.  In the epistles that he penned, we often find him making his plans in accordances with God’s will (Acts 18:18-21; 1 Cor. 4:19; 16:5-7; Heb. 6:3). Hopefully, those of whom James was speaking humbled themselves and revised their plans in accordance with James’ instructions.  If they did not, death likely caught them unprepared.   

For sure, James’ words are as applicable today as ever.  Every day men strike out on business with no thought about the brevity of life or the sovereignty of God.  Let’s make sure that we do not make the same mistake.

The Law of Love and the Tongue

Wade Webster

If James’ brethren struggled with any sin more than another, it seems to have been the tongue. It repeatedly comes up in his discussions with them. In our text, he is dealing with the evil things that they are saying about each other and the harsh judgments that they are making towards one another. James wrote, “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of 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 one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?” (Jam. 4:11-12). As we look into these inspired instructions, we will see three things- the law, the lawgiver, and the lawbreakers.

The Law

Four times in the context, James speaks of “the law.” As you recall, the Old Testament law required that individuals love their neighbors as they loved themselves. We read, “You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor. You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD. You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD” (Lev. 19:15-18). I believe that you will agree that this was a very high standard. Yet, Jesus raised the bar even higher when He commanded individuals to love one another as He loved them (John 13:34; 15:12). This is the highest standard of all. James’ brethren were not only breaking this law of love by speaking evil of one another, they were showing contempt for the law and for the One who gave it.

The Lawgiver

A law implies a lawgiver. The lawgiver in this case is Jesus. He is the one Lawgiver. He has all authority (Mt. 28:18). He has the power to save and destroy (Mt. 10:28). James wanted His brethren to understand the seriousness of what they were doing. By speaking evil of their brethren and judging one another, they were speaking evil of the law and judging the law. This was showing contempt not only for the law, but for the giver of the law. This was a very serious error. On one occasion, Jesus declared, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).

The Lawbreakers

James’ brethren were breaking the royal law of love given by the King of Kings. They were speaking evil of their brethren, of the law, and of the Lawgiver. They were acting like they were the judge. However, the real judge was going to hold them in contempt. The Judge was standing at the door. In the fifth chapter, James wrote, “Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!” (Jam. 5:9). It was impossible for them to have the right relationship with God because of the way that they were treating their brethren. Later, John would write, “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also” (1 John 4:20-21).

James’ instructions are as needed today as they were when he first penned them. Speaking evil of brethren is as common today as it was then, and it is no more acceptable now than it was then.

The Four Requirements of Answered Prayers

(James 4:1-6)

Wade Webster

James moved from a discussion of peace (Jam. 3:18) to a discussion of wars and fighting (Jam. 4:1-2). Rather than a new discussion, it is really a continuation of the former discussion of wisdom. Fighting and wars come from earthly wisdom (Jam. 3:14-16) and peace comes from heavenly wisdom (Phil. 4:6); which, in turn, comes from prayer (Jam. 1:5). Now, the connection to the context is clear. In the context, James gives four requirements of answered prayers.

First, to have our prayers answered, we must ask. We read, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask” (Jam. 4:1-2). Some did not have because they did not ask. Someone noted that there are unanswered and unasked prayers. Their prayers were unasked. Because they didn’t ask, they couldn’t receive (Mt. 7:7-8). Instead of asking God for what they needed, they were trying to obtain it their own way.

Second, to have our prayers answered, we must unselfishly. We read, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses!” (Jam. 4:3). Some of James’ brethren didn’t have because they didn’t ask. Others didn’t have because they asked amiss or from evil motives. They were selfish and asked that they might spend it on fleshly pleasures. Clearly, they were guided by worldly wisdom (Jam. 3:14-16).

Third, to have our prayers answered, we must ask purely. We read, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?” (Jam. 4:4-5). A third group didn’t have their prayers answered because they were trying to love God and the world at the same time (Mt. 6:24; 1 John 2:15-17). Be being a friend of the world, they were making God their enemy and closing His ears to their prayers (Isa. 59:1-2; Jam. 5:16).

Fourth, to have our prayers answered, we must ask humbly. We read, “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (Jam. 4:6). A final group didn’t have their prayers answered because they were proud. God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble (Heb. 4:16; Lk. 18:9-14).

To have our prayers answered, we must ask. Furthermore, we must ask unselfishly, purely, and humbly. This is the wisdom that is from above (Jam. 3:17).

Heavenly Wisdom Versus Earthly Wisdom

(James 3:13-18)

Wade Webster

The third chapter began with James addressing teachers and talking about their words (Jam. 3:1–12). The chapter ends with James still addressing teachers and talking about their wisdom (Jam. 3:13-18). James argues that it will be evident by their conduct whether teachers get their wisdom from above or below, from heaven or from earth, from spiritual things or fleshly things, or from God or Satan. He wrote, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (Jam. 3:13-18).

Earthly wisdom is characterized by bitterness, jealousy, selfishness, boasting, hypocrisy (lying against the truth), and fleshly pursuits (sensual). Teachers who are guided by this wisdom are bitter and envious of other teachers (Rom. 13:13; 2 Pet. 2:10). They are selfish (Rom. 2:8). They look only on their own things and not on the things of others. They seek their own things and not the things of Christ (Phil. 2:3-4, 21; 1 Cor. 10:24; 13:5). They brag about their accomplishments and pretend to be something that they are not (Rom. 1:30; 2 Tim. 3:1-9). Their focus is on earthly things and not on things above (Phil. 3:19; Col. 3:1-2). They leave division and disorder in their wake. That is the fruit that they produce.

Heavenly wisdom is characterized by purity, peacefulness, gentleness, submissiveness, mercy, goodness, impartiality, and sincerity. Teachers who are guided by this wisdom have pure motives. They are sincere and impartial. Rather than being self-seeking, they are meek, gentle, merciful, and willing to yield. Instead of producing confusion and evil works, they produce peace, order, righteousness, and good works (1 Cor. 14:33).

Whether teachers were guided by heavenly or earthly wisdom could easily be determined by examining their fruits (Mt. 7:15-20). If they were wise and understanding, then it would be evident from their conduct.