What is a double minded man?
We find the term "double-minded" first in the book of Psalms:
Ps 119:113 "I hate double-minded men, but I love your law." NIV
David seems to contrast double-minded men with the law from God.
James is the one who will refer to "double-minded" twice in his book and he is
the one who will also define this term for us.
James 4:7-8 "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you
sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." NIV
It seems that James is inferring here that those who are not submitting to God
and are not resisting the devil are double-minded. Only by purifying their
hearts can they stop being double-minded.
Now the key text about double-mindedness:
James 1:5-8 "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously
to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he
must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea,
blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything
from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. NIV
A double-minded person is someone who doubts God and His promises. He may ask
God for help, but he is unsure if God will come through for him or not. He does
not realize that his own doubts about God hinder the fulfillment of his prayers.
"That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord!"
God is faithful! He always comes through for us because He loves us. He came
through for us when Jesus died for our sins on the cross. John 3:16 "For God so
loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life." NIV
His promises are true: Ps 32:10 "The LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who
trusts in him." NIV
When lately I underwent some heavy trials, I was at peace and trusted God to
guide me through them. Why?
Phil 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of
God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus." NIV
Because God was making this possible!
Those who doubt God are those who do not know Him personally. Once you
experience Him in your life, you can't but fall in love with Him and trust Him.
If you do not know Him personally, why don't you take the first step and invite
Him into your life. He will make a difference and you will wonder why you didn't
come to Him earlier on. Do this by answering His call at
http://www.answers2prayer.org/saviours_call.html
He loves you!
Rob Chaffart
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James 1:5-8 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to
all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him. But let him ask
in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea,
driven by the wind and tossed. For let that man not think that he will receive
anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
A double minded man is actually a man who prays to the Lord yet does not trust
that the Lord hears and answers his prayers. He prays yet doubts. He can't make
up his mind. He is unsettled in his opinions. A double minded man does not have
true faith and trust in our Father. You need to fully trust 100% in the Lord
that He will answer according to the plan that He has for you.
DeeDee
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Being doubled minded is having 2 different opinions about the same subject.
It is also being unstable in your ways as is stated in James 1:8 "being s
double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." And in James 4:8 "Draw near to God
and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your
hearts, you double-minded."
Sandy
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A "double-minded man", is one who would try to live the way he wants, and try
to please God at the same time. Matthew 6:24 says "you can't love God and mammon
(money, worldly pleasure)" at the same time.
"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the
other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve
God and mammon."
One cannot be right with God and love the world (i.e., do thngs the way the
world, {unsaved}) would do. 1 John 2:15-17.
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love
the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world,
the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not
of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust
thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."
Delmer G. Lawson
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Guess he's the type that says one thing and in reality does the opposite.
That's one critter to flee from.
Leon
