“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8).
What enters the mind (seat of our intellect), affects the heart (seat of our emotions), and flows from the tongue. It is necessary, therefore, to guard our minds and hearts, because sooner or later, how we think and feel will find its way to our tongue.
The Bible gives ample warning about these three extremely important areas: Don’t be double-minded (“two-souled,” Greek). This kind of person is completely unstable in his mind (text) and his heart (James 4:8). He has difficulty believing God will answer prayer. “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord” (James 1:6,7). God means what He says and we should believe it with unwavering faith! Don’t be double-hearted. David wrote concerning double-hearted people. “Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. They speak vanity every one with his neighbor: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak” (Psalm 12:1,2). In I Chronicles 12:33 the opposite is seen. “Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war . . . which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.” Can we be relied upon in the day of battle? Don’t be double-tongued. This is a qualification of deacons in I Timothy 3:8. “Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double tongued.” “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another” (Ephesians 4:25). Wouldn’t it be better to receive double honor (I Timothy 5:17)? NPS
