Doers of the Word: Resist Playing God

“Who died and left you in charge?” This question/accusation is often directed toward people we deem to be control freaks. We encounter them in the neighborhood busybody, the obnoxious co-worker, the bossy family member, even the manipulative Christian. We might think that this is a relatively new phenomenon given our self-centered culture. But it is not! This God-complex is as old as Eden. The original temptation was “to be like God knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5).
 
The early church had the same problem. Pastor James wrote about being a doer of the Word by resisting worldliness (4:1-10). We live in the spirit of this age no more completely than when we try to play God. In verses 11-17, James points out two primary ways people try to play God.
 
• We play God when we arbitrarily judge our brother, vv. 11-12.
• We play God when we independently plan our lives, vv. 13-17.
 
Do we act as though God died and left us in charge by the way we judge others and plan our lives?