Read Introduction to James
“…he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways”
he is a double-minded man,
“Double-minded” means “two–souled.” A two-souled man wavers and is uncertain about God. He partly believes and partly disbelieves God – he debates whether he can trust God. This person lacks certainty because he is a man of no fixed or decided purpose.
This double-minded man is the person of verses 5-7 who lacks wisdom but does not ask God for it in belief. His prayer life is like a raging sea driven and tossed by the wind.
unstable in all his ways
A two-souled person is inconstant, unstable, and unsettled. His belief is like a drunk – a belief that staggers down the road of life. People whose faith falters with the ebb and flow of life do not have God’s respect because they divide their loyalty between God and other things. It is usually pressure that causes them to crumble.
Doubt blunts the faith we need to receive from God. This creates a chaotic spiritual life, the opposite of a spiritual life that draws on God by implicit faith in God’s promises.
Principle:
Stable Christians look to God for their resources by faith.
Application:
A double-minded person always serves two belief systems. Jesus said that you could not do this and maintain your integrity of trust in God.
“They speak idly everyone with his neighbor;
With flattering lips and a double heart they speak” (Psalm 12:2).
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8).
God wants us to possess a single mind, not a double mind. Christians who hold deep-seated convictions are powerful people. Divided souls do not stand.
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5).
“Teach me Your way, O LORD;
I will walk in Your truth;
Unite my heart to fear Your name” (Psalm 86:11).
It is time that we settle our convictions. The longer we wait, the more power we lose for the Christian life. Opposing desires rip us apart spiritually. We cannot please both God and our sinful pleasures at the same time. True faith does not always operate with open options because this injects instability into the spiritual life. Genuine faith, however, can wholeheartedly commit to God’s will and excellence in the Christian life.
“And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word” (1 Kings 18:21).
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
PASTOR jOEL hIATTon March 23, 2009 at 10:19 am
Enjoyed your comments on James 1;8. wE MUST KNOW WHAT WE BELIEVE AND BE READY TO ANSWER.To many double minds in the Church.
Linda Boyeron August 29, 2009 at 4:23 am
How do I overcome doublemindedness? I struggle with this and want to change.
Linda
Jonon May 27, 2012 at 3:08 pm
Hi Linda, How to overcome doublemindedness. . is throughGod's Word andprayer (on one's knees). The conversion of Saul (ApostlePaul)comes to mind in Acts9:3-6. He acceptedJesus Christto beSaviourand Lord of hislife. Paul said, 'Whatdo/wouldyouwant me to do?' Thisisthekey. Many saythey are"Christians", however maintain control oftheir own life/desires. People are afraidto pray or say thisbecause theyfear that they willlose something which they'rehanging onto. Where are these type of"Christians"destined to: Heavenor Hell (?). Very fewwill say(as Paul):"What do youwant me to do?" I believe thisseparatesthetrue believers from theun-believers(you arein or out). Eitheronechoosesto have Almighty Godtobe in control of their life—OR —a self-controlledlife. Anything in between willlead to doublemindedness +hypocrisy. Too manyindividuals are operatingwith onefoot inthechurch andone foot inthe world. If you sincerelychoose to have God directyourlife . ., He will thenliterallylead andguideyouthrough life.It is not an"easy life" to live becauseyou will be opposedby thosewho hatethat which is right and true.That is whyGod'sWord andprayer is needed daily, as God leadsyou(by the Holy Spirit)in accordance toHis' will foryour specific life (read John 14). I prayed for you Linda. . thatyou'd acceptGod andHis plan foryour life. Their are two pathspresented to us in life: ourpath/wayorGod's path. Havea good day, John
Granton June 2, 2012 at 8:00 am
Linda,I must have been out of town whenyou sentyour blog–sorry for the long delay ingetting back to you.
Double mindedness isovercomebyChristian maturity.I found it helpful to 1) identify my sin, 2) find a passage that relates to the sin, 3)memorize a verse that relates to the sin, 4)apply the verse to the particularsin. When this becomes a pattern withaddressing sins of various kinds maturitybegins to emerge.
It is not enoughto confess it and forget it immediately. Confession puts usback into fellowship but we need the next step of inculcating God's Word into ourlives.
Gary Morseon May 29, 2013 at 8:46 am
Thank you so much for such a great explanation and exposition of this verse. This is an area that I have struggled in greatly. I have only recently come to the conclussion that the simple choice is God's ways or my ways. My ways lead to failure and God's ways lead to abundant life.
lee mcdowellon April 4, 2016 at 12:37 pm
every Christian has two minds…one born with (physical birth) and one GIVEN at the new birth (Mind of Christ). therefore, the potential for double-mindedness. double-mindedness is not just thinking one way one moment, then another way the next. when we CHOOSE to use the Mind of Christ to think with, we choose God and His answer to our prayer for wisdom. We ask, we don’t for a minute doubt that God will answer…and when the answer comes, we trust.
Too many Christians ask, doubt, and never have peace.Sharonon December 15, 2017 at 5:01 am
I had a dtroke 2 years ago. My “doubble-mindedness” is that I want so much to be able to walk again and be able to use my hand and arm again. One day I try to believe God will heal me -the next, I’m depressed, fearful that I’ll never be healed.
Granton December 15, 2017 at 12:24 pm
Sharon, your statement presumes that God has made a commitment to heal you. He may chose to do that but He has not made a promise to do it. It is important that our prayers are biblical first and foremost.
prywatny detektyw szczecinon December 10, 2018 at 6:57 pm
Wow! Ciekawy wpis!
Sonjaon April 27, 2019 at 7:28 pm
Yes so true a double mined is a person that wavers all the time. But knows the truth. We as men and women of GOD do the same thing. It’s not our job to judge anyone outside the church. Or those that’s in the church. We have to ask the Heavenly Father. To show us what I’m doing wrong. Or yourself. If your reflection doesn’t reflect back to than you me we all have a problem. That’s when the HOLY SPIRIT WILL SHOW YOU WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN YOU. Draw nigh unto to GOD. and he will draw nigh unto you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double mined. James Chaper 4 verse 8
Cierraon May 29, 2019 at 3:21 am
I am to a double mind person I know gods word I am Faith fulin church but at home it’s so unpeaceful I act out of unforgiving acts Its Hard to try to forgive when there are person continues do the same things daily to upset you and draw you away from them so it seem Hard to believe that I can be righteous but I have all this Anger because of a daily aggervation I need help and prayers to stay focused and live the rightness path please help
Granton May 29, 2019 at 11:16 am
Cierra, you may want to study this passage and then continue with the follow up studies: https://versebyversecommentary.com/ephesians/ephesians-431/ Just click on the verse to the right to continue to the next study.
B. Lee McDowellon January 4, 2024 at 11:20 am
Let me further clarify my comment of 4/4/2016. I was speaking of two spiritual souls in a Saint (hence two spiritual minds). The unholy mind is a residue from the life of a sinner. The Holy Mind of God is part of the creation of the Life of God (Holy Spirit) at salvation/new birth.
“Do not be double-souled” is a word to not flip-flop between the two souls/two minds.
For more information and greater explanation, get these two books: The Images of God & Man…The Parable of the Two Souls.
Granton January 6, 2024 at 5:29 am
B. Lee, The biblical word δίψυχος is from two words through and soul and means “double-minded.” The ψυχικὸς, the soul, means the entire person, including the mind, by usage throughout the New Testament. Thus, two souls are two-minds.
