Are you double-minded?

Dr. J. Hernes M. Abante

James 1:6, 8: “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

[8] A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

The Book of James is filled with practical truths that all believers are urged to heed. It was authored by James, the half-brother of Jesus Christ, who, prior to the resurrection and along with his brothers and sisters, had rejected the Lord’s authority and His claim as the Messiah (Matthew 13:53-56).

Praise God that after the resurrection, James recognized his sin of unbelief. He experienced a heartfelt change and repented of his sins. God transformed him completely, enabling him to become a faithful and steadfast disciple of Jesus. James ultimately served as the Pastor of the Church in Jerusalem.

In this epistle, James introduces himself as "the servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ." Though he could have boasted of his kinship with the Savior, he chose humility. He addressed his epistle to the twelve tribes of Israel, knowing they could identify with him. Like James, they had rejected Jesus. This may have been an attempt to redeem himself and to clarify his perspective regarding the Messiah. It was his way of publicly affirming his unwavering faith.

In this passage, James discusses the concept of being double-minded. This, I am certain, he believed he was seriously guilty of. As half-siblings, they grew up together, and he had observed how distinct and righteous Jesus was. He and his siblings likely regarded Him as a self-righteous, overzealous fanatic who was tolerated by their mother, Mary. Remember Joseph of the Old Testament whom his brothers also despised? He was a type of Jesus Christ.

However, within James’s heart, there was uncertainty and ambivalence. He found himself at a crossroads, uncertain which path to pursue. He was torn between his desire to believe in Jesus, his brother, and his inclination to abandon his Jewish faith or reject the Messiah. We are aware that he made the wrong decision, which profoundly impacted his life in a miserable manner—just as he described, he was "unstable in all his ways" and "wavering, as a wave being tossed to and fro" (James 1:6).

I surmise this epistle reflects James's personal testimony—his life before and after dedicating himself to the Savior. His experiences mirror what we all encounter in life and continue to face today.

Being double-minded hampers our spiritual journey. Daily, we are confronted with this dilemma, and too often, we succumb to convenience. We feel torn about reading the Bible. What about an inconsistent prayer life? Attending church? Giving tithes and offerings? We frequently find ourselves at a crossroads when serving the Lord.

How often do we cause ourselves grief and failure when opportunities to share the gospel arise, yet we choose not to?

There is no justification for God’s people to be double-minded if our faith is firm and rooted in Christ. We have witnessed God’s power to save and transform our lives. We have seen our prayers answered. We have observed the impossible become possible. How encouraging it is to see the precise fulfillment of prophecies recorded in His Word. Based on these experiences, we all know whom and what to believe. The challenge is that we sometimes opt for the easier, broader path.

To be double-minded is to completely disregard and dishonor God. It means we neglect His promises, His power, His will, and His desires.

God could have created us as mere robots, compelled to obey without question. However, He desires to see our faith in action. He yearns for us to choose Him, not out of obligation, but because of love and gratitude. It is a matter of deliberate choice—choosing to follow God and His will. And the Bible assures us that, as children of God, we can accomplish this through faith in Jesus Christ. Praise be to God!