Santiago 4:13-17

C. Self-reliance 4:13-17

As in the previous chapters, James began with the exposition of a practical problem and moved on to its larger contextual problem, that is, its context in life. He already identified the source of interpersonal and inner personal conflicts as self-centeredness and explained that criticism places the critic in a seat that only God should occupy. Now he pictured a self-centered person living his or her life. He did this to enable his readers to see the root of this problem clearly.

"James gave an example of a boastful statement [James 4:13], struck a condemnatory sentence on such boasting [James 4:14], and offered a practical solution for boasting [James 4:15-17]." [Note: Blue, p. 831.]