“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” ~ James 4:17
How to know you are doing the right thing can be a confusing journey. What’s considered a sin anyway? Is there a strict rulebook of do/don’ts?
Understanding what exactly sin is can be complex, and if we’re honest—pretty confusing.
Today, we take a look at a really interesting way that James, a New Testament author answers, “What’s considered a sin?”
Can you “sin” by buying a t-shirt? Yep! ‘Cause I did. I’ve spent so much time learning about modern slavery. And wow, is it a problem. A quick google search reveals that roughly 40+ million people are enslaved around the world. This includes women trafficked into the sex-trade, people who pick rice or make bricks in certain parts of the world, and the many women and children stuck in factories for long hours making the majority of the clothes we wear.
I know this. I’ve studied it. But recently, when I was at a gift-shop, I saw a t-shirt that I really wanted, and I bought it without knowing for sure that it was ethically sourced. For me, I knew the right thing to do: I shouldn’t buy the shirt. I felt it deep in my gut. I knew that buying that shirt was going against what I believe were God-given convictions. But I did it anyway. So for me, I think buying that shirt was a sin.
In the context of James 4:17, the author of James defines sin as knowing the right thing to do and not doing it. The words before v. 17 talk about putting off until tomorrow the good that we can do today. And the words after v. 17 talk about people in places of influence and power that take advantage of others by what they do and don’t do. It’s a section worth thinking about.
What does it mean to be a “broken” person? Someone defined it this way: A growing awareness that no matter how hard we try, our ability to make life work gets worse instead of better. It’s a recognition of our need for God and His intervention in our lives.
A Prayer of Lament
Because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we are forgiven of our many sins—even the intentional or willful moments when we know the right thing to do but fail to do it. But within this forgiveness is also an invitation to lean on the Holy Spirit to do what’s right.
A simple prayer like this can be all we need to get started connecting with God in our Lent journeys. To follow more of our journey through Lent and check out our other Lent devotions click here!
Original content by Reclaim Today. Reshared with permission.
