I read about a woman who saw a few bees flying into the attic of her house through a small hole. She knew she should block the hole and stop them, but she did nothing. Months passed with no sign of harm until one day the ceiling of her house caved in under the weight of a huge honeycomb and thousands of angry bees.

James 4:17 says, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

Transition

As we examine this verse, I want to show you how doing nothing can be a sin against God.

The sin of doing nothing…

Begins with Knowledge

  1. You know what God wants.
    1. The word “know” is a word that means to perceive. It means to see something clearly. It is examining something that needs to be done. It is to have knowledge of a duty.
    2. The Holy Spirit of God uses the preaching of the Word to open our eyes to things we need to do or change. He brings conviction to our hearts.
    3. The grammar also tells us that this knowledge began at some point in the past. It may have been a few moments ago or a month ago or longer. It also tells us that the conviction continues into the present. We still know what God wants us to do. He is still convicting us.
    4. You know what it is like when the Holy Spirit stabs your heart with conviction. It is that still small voice deep within that talks to your conscience about a spiritual duty. You may raise your hand during an invitation saying “Pastor pray for me, God has showed me something I must do.”
  2. You know to do good.
    1. Not only does the Holy Spirit tell us that we have a need, He also makes it clear that we must do good. (James 1:22) “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” If you hear from God but do not obey, you are deceiving yourself into thinking it is okay.
    2. The word “good” here does not just refer to being nice or kind. It is the type of good that includes all that is right as opposed to all that is wrong. It is all that is excellent in its nature and characteristics. It describes all that is approved by God. Good is that which is honourable, right, fair, and noble.
    3. Examples of good might include reading your Bible every day, sincerely praying, tithing, fleeing lust, putting away all anger, confronting those who are doing wrong, obeying your parents, overcoming selfishness, not rebelling, fulfilling your marital roles, being honest, choosing godly friends, guarding your mouth, keeping a good attitude, watching and listening to only things God has approved, and guarding your thoughts.
    4. If you know that God wants you to do these good things, then you know to do good.
      The sin of doing nothing…

Results from Neglect

  1. There is more to being good than knowledge
    1. The word “and” reminds us that knowledge of good is not enough.
    2. It would be great if knowing to do good automatically caused us to do good. That is not the case. Our sin nature naturally neglects good. We see this in the lives of many Bible characters.
      1. Adam and Eve knew good but ate.
      2. Achan knew good but stole.
      3. Samson knew good but befriended Delilah.
      4. David knew good but committed adultery.
      5. Solomon knew good but married many wives.
      6. Jonah knew good but ran from God.
      7. Peter knew good but denied Christ.
    3. Satan tempts us to neglect the good we know. He does not want us to obey the conviction of the Holy Spirit and do what God wants us to do.
  2. Many things may lead to neglecting good.
    1. Forgetting may lead to neglecting good. You may have good intentions and a sincere heart, but if you do not act on the good that God wants you to do right away, you may forget. Do right without delay!
    2. Laziness may lead to neglecting good. Some people want to do good, but they want it to happen without any effort. They are lazy. Lazy people often neglect doing the good that God shows them.
    3. Insincerity may lead to neglecting good. After thinking more about the good God wants, we change our mind. It was not a true conviction in the heart.
    4. Lack of discipline may lead to neglecting good. Change is not easy. It requires discipline and character. It takes work. It takes time. Experts claim that it takes 3-4 weeks to change a habit. If you do not depend on the Lord’s help and discipline yourself to change, you will fail.
    5. Fear may lead to neglecting good. It may be fear of how others will respond. It may be fear of failure. It may be fear of consequences. The devil is a master liar.
    6. Pride may lead to neglecting good. In your heart, you know what God wants you to do, but you are too proud to humble yourself and do it.
    7. Peer pressure may lead to neglecting good. You may want to do the good God has made known to you, but since your friends do not do it, you lack the courage to stand up and do it without them.
    8. Rebellion may lead to neglecting good. You can know what God wants you to do, but in your heart you do not want to do it. You rebel against God and say “No!”
      The sin of doing nothing…

Is a Sin Against God

  1. Not doing the good we know to do is sin.
    1. Sin is missing the mark of right. [Illus: shooting an arrow at a target].
    2. Sin is a fault. It is a failure. It is an offence to God.
    3. Sin makes us guilty before God.
    4. To sin against our holy God is no small matter. All sin is wicked. It is your sin and mine that nailed Jesus to the cross.
    5. If you are saved, you should want to please the Lord not grieve Him. Sin and confession is not a little game that Christians play with God. Sin is a serious fault.
  2. Sin makes us guilty before God.
    1. Sin breaks our fellowship with God. (1John 1:6) “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:”
    2. Sin blocks our prayers to God. (Ps 66:18) “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:”
    3. Sin brings God’s chastening in our lives. (Heb 12:7-8) “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”
    4. Sin will rob us of rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ. (2Cor 5:10) “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

Conclusion

According to James 4:17, it is a sin against God when we know God has some good He wants us to do but we do nothing about it.

What good thing has God challenged you to do that you have neglected to do? Review the times God has spoken to you through a sermon. You asked for prayer, but never changed your ways. Perhaps the Spirit challenged you to do good and get rid of sinful thoughts, anger, selfishness, lack of leadership, an unsubmissive spirit, rebellion, disobedience, lack of Bible reading or some other evil and you have done nothing about it. If so, you have committed the sin of doing nothing.

God’s solution is simply stated in (Proverbs 28:13) “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Notice the two key words, “confess” and “forsake”. Confess your guilt to God and change your ways. Do the good that you know God wants you to do. Stop making excuses!

Song: His Way with Thee – 367
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The Sin of Doing Nothing
8 May 2016 PM – James 4:17 – Fortifying the Family – Scott Childs