James 1:8

Double minded. Gr. dipsuchos, literally, “two souled.” This word describes the waverer of v. 6. His mind is divided between the call of earthly pleasures and the call of unswerving loyalty to God. In Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan characterized this kind of person as Mr. Facing-both-ways. The “double minded” man possesses two “souls,” or two loyalties. Compare the Hebrew expression, “of double heart” (see 1 Chron. 12:33). No doubt James cherished in his mind the words of Christ in the Sermon on the Mount, “No man can serve two masters” (Matt. 6:24). The “double minded” man halts between belief and unbelief, whereas the man with singleness of purpose does not hesitate at all.

This verse is actually part of the previous verse, and the two verses could be translated thus: “Let not that man [the waverer] think that a double-minded man, being unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord.”

Unstable. Gr. akatastatos, “inconstant,” “fickle,” “unsteady.” The noun form of akatastatos is commonly used in the sense of “disorder,” “confusion,” “disturbance,” “unsettledness,” and is coupled with “wars” as opposed to “peace” (see Luke 21:9; 1 Cor. 14:33; 2 Cor. 6:5; 12:20).

In all his ways. While the instability mentioned in v. 6 refers specifically to the matter of prayer, the apostle takes this opportunity to stress the fact that such a man is unsettled in other phases of his life. All his “ways,” or habits, actions, and thoughts will reflect his dual purpose in life, and his religious experience will never prove satisfactory, either to himself or to God. Commotion within the mind and confusion in all the affairs of life are the natural consequence of a wavering trust in God. We need wisdom to discern the way to live from day to day, for to alternate between trusting oneself and trusting God is sheer folly for any man. Singleness of purpose is essential to the spiritual success of the Christian.