James’ Guide to Life: Laying low

James’ Guide to Life is a series on James’ advice for surviving life as a Christian: getting on with one another and avoiding being eaten by wild beasts in the jungle of life.

Do not make unnecessary movements. No useless noises. No talking too much. Just keep quiet, keep listening and keep going.

If ever one could pick a favourite out of all James’ advice it is this one. Laying low will protect you from wild beasts, communal clashes and being harmed by your own stupidity in the jungle. It is the vehicle for which all other advice can be put into practice.

Humility is the bedrock of survival

Laying low – being humble – is the bedrock of survival in the jungle. When you look into the mirror of God’s word, you must humbly accept your ugliness and submit to the beauty treatment the mirror offers. You must also humbly accept that not everything needs to be said, not every thought needs to be permitted and everyone does not need to hear your voice.

When you walk around with the high shoulders of pride, brushing everything around you, appraising others and not minding your business, you are only attracting the wild beasts of jealousy, envy and quarrels. These are the things that devour life.

Get content delivered to you! Click to follow the blog

Yet, when you allow those shoulders to be knocked down, choosing to crawl on the ground rather than walking over everything else, and remembering what the mirror has told you, then you stand a chance of survival.

Simply fix your eyes on that tiny path through the jungle. As you walk, you must choose not to be territorial, not wanting to claim a space and name for yourself. Rather, let go of all claim to everything for the sake of the narrow road and the joys that await you at its end.

How low can you go?

As always, your survival is up to you. Whether or not you stray from the path marked out before you depends on how low you can go.

Firmly resist the urge to be proud and always wanting to have your way. Do this and watch as the devil of jealousy, envy and quarrels flees from you.

As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:6-7