My Friend James: Do Beautiful.
James’ parting shot in chapter 4 of his book is pointed and direct. James 4:17 [NKJV] Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do [it], to him it is sin. In modern times, we might say it just how the New Living Version does: Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. So, there it is, you have been warned. Do good, or else!
However, the Greek language here is a little more flowery – or at least can be viewed that way.
The Greek word translated “good” in James 4:17 [as used in the King James and New King James translations] appears 102 times in the New Testament. It is mostly translated “good” and used just as we would understand and expect it to be.
However, it was interesting to me to learn that the root of this word is “beautiful”. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon tells us that it was “applied by the Greeks to everything so distinguished in form, excellence, goodness, usefulness, as to be pleasing; hence (according to the context) equivalent to “beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable.”
Many of these words would still make sense to us in the English language if they were used to replace the word good in James 4:17 and add “things”. For example, we might easily say, “to him that knows to do excellent things” or “choice things” or “useful things” and doesn’t, it is sin. The word good may best convey what James is after. In other words, if you know what good is and you don’t do it, that is a problem.
But what is James actually meant “beautiful” when he used this word? How does that change our thoughts about and responses to this admonition?
Romans 10:14-15 [NKJV], quoting Isaiah 52:7, says, 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"
Preaching the gospel is beautiful to God, not merely good.
Psalm 96:9 [NKJV] Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth.
Holiness is like beautiful covering for us. Holy worship creates this cloak of beauty.
Isaiah 61:3 [NKJV] To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."
And in Isaiah 53:2, when God promises “beauty for ashes”, we know He wasn’t promising to make everyone really pretty. I believe He means to replace sorrow, sadness and the pain of sin to the beauty of holiness, worship, obedience and preaching the gospel. He gives us beauty of “doing”, not of “being”.
James admonishes us that knowing to do good and not doing it is a sin, we need to take notice. However, if we think of the word “good” in light of it’s root word, “beauty”, I think we get a more, well, beautiful picture of what God requires of us.
It is our God-given responsibility to “do beautiful” in this world filled with so much ugliness.
So, sweet sisters, I leave you with my own version of the admonition of our friend James: If we have the opportunity to make the world a more beautiful place and don’t, well that would just be a sin. So, go out and replace ugliness with the beauty of the gospel, of praise and of good works at every opportunity.
Next week, we start on the final chapter of the book of James. I hope you will continue to meet with me here and will share your own thoughts on this book by the brother of Jesus.
Where shall we go next? Is there a book of the Bible you’d like to explore together?
You can write me any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org