Thoughts on the Present Day

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 11
“James  .  .  .  to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” (James 1:11James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. (James 1:1)).
“All seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s” (Phil. 2:2121For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. (Philippians 2:21)).
We could hardly find a more appropriate expression to describe the glorious results of the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ than exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think, nor one to describe the present state of Christendom under the governing hand of God than scattered abroad, nor one more descriptive of the path of Christendom’s decline than all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.
Although the spiritual state of those to whom James writes would not admit the unfolding of the truths of our common salvation as Paul does, he addresses them as a kind of firstfruits of His [God’s] creatures—the first and most excellent witnesses of that power of good which will shine forth hereafter in the new creation.
God began this church day [dispensation] by uniting some from among those scattered ones in singleness of heart—of one heart and of one soul (Acts 2,4). None spoke of their own things (Acts 4), for they were as “those that possessed not” (1 Cor. 7:3030And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; (1 Corinthians 7:30)). There was an Object before their affections which surpassed all, and He laid claim to all, even to their words and opinions (1 Cor. 1:1010Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1 Corinthians 1:10)). They had seen the Lord Jesus, the Man in the glory.
How sad when the apostles must later speak of those who sought their own things: The assembly was theirs (1 Peter 5:3 JnD), the world was theirs (1 Cor. 7:3131And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. (1 Corinthians 7:31)), their spiritual gift was theirs (1 Cor. 9:1818What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. (1 Corinthians 9:18)), and their life was theirs (Phil. 2:2121For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. (Philippians 2:21)). We indeed have all things, but it is with Him—that One who in love would have nothing that was not for the benefit of others (Rom. 8:3232He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32)). Nothing so scatters as treating the things of Christ as my own things.
W. Warr