For whatever reason I’m a little wound up tonight and hope to still be of some use. So I read through James One essentially making a commentary on my initial thoughts and hope you enjoy.
Jas 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.
With good reason we can assume that this James is James the brother of Jesus. With great humility we can see the first lesson in this immensely practical letter. What would it take for you to exalt you own sibling as God, a resurrection perhaps? Further, if you sibling was indeed the risen son of God, would you not be inclined to use this position for personal gain? Unless of course you had actually been somehow transformed by your brother’s message. Would you not also be inclined to posture yourself above your peers? What then would cause James to take the posture of a servant, when if Jesus was a king, wouldn’t his brother’s claim be that of a prince? This would all be reasonable unless you brother was actually the eternal son of God. James, who in his life doubted Jesus, now a willing servant, humbling himself to make much of Christ. Humility is the fruit of repentance, and repentance the fruit of transformation into Christ.
If the Lord ever bestows upon me a nickname, I sure hope its after his own character. “James the Just”, how do you get a name like that and remain so humble? And what kind of character does a man have to have to be described as just. Just meaning pure innocent holy and righteous, the idea of justice being making the wrong things right. Clearly we know that righteousness is imparted to all believers through Christ, but what does James reveal about himself in this book that his primary identifying characteristic is his righteousness? I too, as a believer, have righteousness imparted to me, but I’m pretty sure I would be hard pressed to find a witness to say of me “You know, the remarkable thing about Sam is his righteousness, he is so just.”
It think the answer to this is in verse 27 of this first chapter. “Jas 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. ” As a Shepard, with a Shepard’s heart, James loving and compassionately seeks to set wrongs to rights in the life of his sheep, and by extension, us. Other pastoral letters seem to be dealing with much larger and pressing issues, whereas James, being so practical and easily applied, seems to be dealing with the finer points of how these big issues and themes work themselves out. It can almost be read like a Q and A session with a pastor.
What should we do in our trials? “Count it all joy….testing produces steadfastness…let it have its full effect” What if I lack wisdom? “If you lack wisdom ask….but ask in faith, with no doubting” My context is different than Judea, what does religion look like for me where I am at compared to them? “Religion that is pure is this….” Sure, you could do this to other letters, but none lend itself so easily as the book of James. “James the Just” a loving pastor who doesn’t just set wrongs right in a Sunday sermon, but lives with his sheep, making wrongs right in their everyday lives. A skill that he undoubtedly learned from his brother. I guess he deserves the nickname.
Jas 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
Another great characteristic of James, honesty, “Hey guys I love you so much that I’m going to tell you that things are gonna suck, but it’s okay, I’ll tell you why…”
Jas 1:3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
Jas 1:4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Like his love for his sheep, his since of justice and humility, James pulls another lesson from his brother and presents it to us in a way that we can with some ease, place on ourselves. Joy in suffering, suffering to perfection, and endurance in suffering. All displayed in the work of Christ on the cross. Hebrews tells us that Jesus “ for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. ” that “ Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.” Honestly easier said that done, but James is right, for the Christian this is Joy, for we are being formed into the image of Christ. Which by the way, cannot happen without suffering.
This great little adjective “steadfast” minus the “ness”, is constantly throughout scripture tagged onto love, specifically used to describe God’s love for his children. So think of it this way, by faith, through suffering you become a better reflection of God’s love. And what does 1st Corinthians tell us about love “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. ” to paraphrase “Love is Christ.” Again, there is no way we can be conformed to this character apart from suffering. In suffering we are Graced by God, to be like his son. I will say, from experience, that apart from God all suffering is in vain, in God, suffering is Joy. Salvation will not end your suffering, but it will transform it as you yourself are being transformed.
Jas 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
What is great about this above verse is that when we ask God for wisdom, it is either cause we feel dumb, or have done something dumb and we are trying to fix it. Which is why I am so thankful to James for assuring us that God will give generously and without reproach. Let’s Q&A again, James what should I ask from God in my suffering? Wisdom, because God has got plenty !
Jas 1:6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
Jas 1:7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
Jas 1:8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
A bit of a conundrum. Ask, knowing God is a God who gives generously, but don’t suppose you’ll receive anything.
Misunderstood, this passage can make God look like a jerk, and some think he is. Truthfully we all have most likely ran into this wall in our prayer lives at one point or another. God I have something I want, and I am going to ask for it, but I feel arrogant asking God for something. I would say this tension is good, but needs to be checked by other scriptures. Surely through the cross, we have the right to approach the throne of God as sons…Heb 4:16 “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. “This is great news, but undoubtedly, we from time to time feel and should feel unworthy.
Understanding your lowly state is not a bad thing, but by all means don’t let it hinder your prayer life or in your prayer, keep you from asking and making request to God. Scripture tells us that we “have not because we ask not.” It’s a simple confusion we often run into again and again, this weird need to dress up our prayers. Jesus offers great comfort saying “Mat 6:8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ” Again I say the tension is good, and this is why. A sincere life of prayer will produce sincere humility. Humility is always going to produce tension in us because the default mode of our sin stricken heart is pride.
I say in these moments quickly and clearly address it. “God I feel like my motives are wrong, I don’t believe they are, but correct them is so and hear my request.” Then Trust Jesus and his words, knowing that the Father already knows. He’s a dad, you his kid, don’t forget it. This Happens with my four year old Joylynn all the time, I have to hear this long exposition an what she did that day, plus a story about her sister and an explanation to what she is about to ask for a Popsicle.
Scripture says the whole trinity is at work when you pray, the Holy Spirit interprets then intent of you messy prayer, Jesus intercedes for you and God the Father answers, and you know what. That right there should humble us. You know how I know that sincere prayer produce humility. James the Just, the author of this book, who is proven himself to be extremely humble, had another nickname… “Old Camel Knees” knees calloused by time spent in prayer.
Jas 1:9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,
Jas 1:10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.
Jas 1:11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
James is contrasting the futility of finite pursuits that may rid suffering, but cannot give what righteous suffering can produce.
Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Jas 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
I love Jame’s honesty. Admit it, we’ve all been there, that “Why God!” moment. And James is kind enough to address it. Don’t blame God and here’s why….
Jas 1:14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
Jas 1:15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
Do you understand your sin this way, as the precursor to death? Do you understand your desire this way, as the precursor to sin? We dabble too much, and rely on God too little. I think James is addressing here objections to his exhortations thus far. “Well James I tried to suffer well, but God…”, “I asked for wisdom, but God…” There is no “buts” with God, he deals in absolutes because he is absolute.
There is however, a great flow of Jame’s love and compassion in his instruction in verse 13-15. In your suffering you will hear the most un-biblical nonsense disguised as sound possibly biblical advice, and if not careful you will be deceived. One os the most common I have ran across in recent suffering is a bastardisation of sovereignty, normally phrased like this “Everything happens for a reason.” Complete Crap! And a mockery of God and his benevolent sovereignty. Another hated favorite which has led so many astray is “Follow your Heart”, dumb idea to follow a sinful heart. Just sayin’
Jas 1:16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
I just love that last line, it’s make a great tattoo, or coffee mug depending on your preferred legalisms.
Jas 1:18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Practical Christ-Likeness, the hope of this Pastor for his sheep. It’s kind of like “Yeah we’re the early church, but we don’t have to wait to be useful.” And we as churches fall into a similar trap, and as individual people as well. We set these milestones in our lives, and once we reach that milestone we will then be useful. It’s “Yeah you need training, your doctrine and theology is a mess, will work on that, but you haven’t even sprouted up from the ground yet.” It reminds me of a friend I had, kind of a rough background and history, meets some new friends goes to church “get saved” and immediately, at least in my former context, you have all these well meaning telling him he’s called to preach! Now, he’s not even in church, not saying it can’t turn, but let’s learn to walk first. James, being so loving and practical would say here’s a good place to start….
Jas 1:19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
Jas 1:20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Jas 1:21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Jas 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Jas 1:23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.
Jas 1:24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
Jas 1:25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
Jas 1:26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
Jas 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Do this and then will talk about you preaching….supper practical. If the word of God is indeed like a mirror, this last bit in chapter one is so well polished that we can not hide our sin from it, in fact that pretty much what James here implies. I love James, I could exhort here and extrapolate, but it’s getting late and I’m tired, and it’s pretty straight forward.
Here is a link to a great church currently going through a sermon series on James... The Village Church
Here is a link to a great church currently going through a sermon series on James... The Village Church
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