What is a double-minded man?

We find the term “double-minded” first in the book of Psalms:

Ps 119:113 “I hate double-minded men, but I love your law.” NIV

David seems to contrast double-minded men with the law from God.

James is the one who will refer to “double-minded” twice in his book and he is the one who will also define this term for us.

James 4:7-8 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” NIV

It seems that James is inferring here that those who are not submitting to God and are not resisting the devil are double-minded. Only by purifying their hearts can they stop being double-minded.

Now the key text about double-mindedness:

James 1:5-8 “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. NIV

A double-minded person is someone who doubts God and His promises. He may ask God for help, but he is unsure if God will come through for him or not. He does not realize that his own doubts about God hinder the fulfillment of his prayers. “That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord!”

God is faithful! He always comes through for us because He loves us. He came through for us when Jesus died for our sins on the cross. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” NIV

His promises are true: Ps 32:10 “The LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.” NIV

When lately I underwent some heavy trials, I was at peace and trusted God to guide me through them. Why?

Phil 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” NIV

Because God was making this possible!

Those who doubt God are those who do not know Him personally. Once you experience Him in your life, you can’t but fall in love with Him and trust Him.

If you do not know Him personally, why don’t you take the first step and invite Him into your life. He will make a difference and you will wonder why you didn’t come to Him earlier on. Do this by answering the Saviour’s Call!

He loves you!

Rob Chaffart

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James 1:5-8 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed. For let that man not think that he will receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

A double minded man is actually a man who prays to the Lord yet does not trust that the Lord hears and answers his prayers. He prays yet doubts. He can’t make up his mind. He is unsettled in his opinions. A double minded man does not have true faith and trust in our Father. You need to fully trust 100% in the Lord that He will answer according to the plan that He has for you.

DeeDee

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Being doubled minded is having 2 different opinions about the same subject. It is also being unstable in your ways as is stated in James 1:8 “being s double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” And in James 4:8 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Sandy

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A “double-minded man”, is one who would try to live the way he wants, and try to please God at the same time. Matthew 6:24 says “you can’t love God and mammon (money, worldly pleasure)” at the same time.

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

One cannot be right with God and love the world (i.e., do thngs the way the world, {unsaved}) would do. 1 John 2:15-17.

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

Delmer G. Lawson

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Guess he’s the type that says one thing and in reality does the opposite. That’s one critter to flee from.

Leon