Lesson 395: "Insanity"
Albert Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Einstein professed to be a Jew but he believed that God was part of the creation and not THE Creator. This belief caused me to be hesitant in quoting him; however this saying comes very close to the Word of God and His inspired authors.
The Book of James has several comparisons on the subject, starting with the first verse. "To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations" (James 1:1). The Israelites are prime examples of doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. They expected to enter Canaan but for 40 years they disobeyed and grumbled against God, repented, beg forgiveness then started over again actually expecting different results. God killed them in the desert!
James says to ask without doubt or else we should not expect the same results as when we believe whole-heartedly. Be quick to listen and slow to speak and be known as righteous. What do we do? Talk so loud and fast in our self-righteousness that we hear nothing but still we fully expect to be upheld as righteous. Read the Word, James writes, and do what it says. He adds that faith and actions work together and anything less is insanity. Do we show favoritism, neglect the needy over and over again yet erase from our minds what Jesus said; "I tell you the truth. Whatever you DID NOT do for the least of these you DID NOT do for me" (Matt. 25:45).
Do we dare speak of the tongue? Can we allow curses to be on the same tongue as praises and expect to remain in God's likeness? Can we walk around like the Pharisees expecting to be lifted up as though we were humble? We slander, speak against our brothers, pass judgment, and boast about tomorrow when James says all such boasting is evil. "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins" (James 4:13-17). Do we have the right to expect the Lord to honor these actions? This is my personal favorite. "Let your yes be yes and your no be no" (James 5:12)! God know the heart and mind of man and it is insanity to believe He will eventually "give in" and bless deceit and double talk and hand you a different result from the promised judgment (Rev. 22:15).
Everyone, especially Christians, desire and expect blessings from God. For a Christian to go back into the world over and over again, expecting God to continue to bless them is insanity. "Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy to God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit He caused to live in us envies intensely? (James 4:4-5). Ecclesiastes 3:15; "whatever is has already been and what will be has been before and God will call the past to account"! "God does not change" (Mal. 3:6) and "what God plans He will do" (Isa. 46:11). "Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account" (Heb. 4:13). To continually think otherwise but expect to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Rev. 20:15) is insanity!