Chapter 1
The half-brother of Jesus, James, begins his letter to the Jewish Christians ministering outside of Israel with a statement of joy. He tells them to rejoice with patience, understanding that when trials and temptations arise, they may recognize them as an opportunity to strengthen their faith in Christ. These temptations do not come from God, but from our own sinful ways. Those who remain patient with God will receive His promises. We are to remember that our waiting is never in vain. During our waiting, James advises Christians to grow in their faith, to not be tangled in the passions of a temporary world. The seed of temptation, when watered by the flesh, springs forth sin and soon a great vine which will surely wrap the wicked in death. James then reminds his brothers and sisters of the faith to seek God with a whole heart. As children, we can ask our Heavenly Father for anything. Let nothing go unsaid, for nothing is left unheard. A mixture of faith and constant doubt causes one to be unstable in all activity. Being indecisive about God will only stunt our commitment to Him. God is our supplier; no other earthly material can aid us in our spiritual growth. Earthly materials pass away and will burn up like grass in the scorching heat, but every gift from heaven is perfect, abiding forever. As chosen vessels for His Spirit, we must listen to God’s truth with a full intent to utilize it for life and ministry. Replace anger and sinful habits with a desire to know and hear our God more! Do not just attend church, go out and be the church. Make God’s word your guide and practice, any other way/religion will create a deceptive heart and untamed tongue. God’s purifying will for His people is this, to help the afflicted and give with a pure heart.
KEY VERSES: James 1:2-3 ~ “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” James 1:19 ~ “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;” James 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.”
Chapter 2
James continues by illustrating the common issue of partiality shown in the church. A wealthy man, due to his status, will use that toward an advancement of praise and comfort. The poor man will not have access to these same “comforts.” As Christians, we are to show no favoritism toward one person or another. God shows no bias toward worldly respect. So, when both peoples arrive to church, treat them both as part of one body. The body cannot function properly without all parts working together (see 1st Corinthians 12:12). This partiality also relates to sinful acts. We are to not treat an act of sin as more wicked than another. If one commits adultery, that’s sin. If one murders, that’s sin. If you commit theft, you are sinning all the same. Fulfill the law of Christ by growing in His grace and knowledge and doing as He instructed (love your neighbor as yourself). Let His Holy Spirit lead you in discernment and triumph over sinful habits. Let us walk in great faith, doing our part to grow in good works. James gives the example of having the faith to pray for a hungry, cold, and afflicted brother or sister, but failing to provide any food, clothing, or shelter for them (things we all have an opportunity to give). This kind of faith cannot survive without works produce by fruits the Holy Spirit gives us for ministry. Abraham demonstrated faith when he willfully gave Issac up on the alter to God for sacrifice before God step in, acknowledging the genuine faith Abraham produced. Rahab, the prostitute, demonstrated her fear of the Lord by delivering the two Israelite messengers out of trouble. One cannot pray to God for an opportunity for work, success, or new beginnings without getting up from their bed and intentionally searching for and working hard toward their goals. We are made in the Lord’s image, co-laborers with one another. Our faith must labor toward the goodness God calls us to stand firm in. If our faith does not operate with our fruits, we would be useless toward the plans God intends for us. The salvation we receive from Christ has nothing to do with our works. Our human efforts could never justify this grace. Our faith in Christ however should be conducted by representing Him well in our speech and action toward one another. An outward expression of faith (a work) should cause our justification (a gift), already rooted in Christ, to be made visible to others. Good works Christ performs within us follow the saving faith we place in Him. Be active in church and continually grow in the wisdom God freely grants us.
KEY VERSES: James 2:1 ~ “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” James 2:8 ~ If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well.” James 2:10 ~ “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” James 2:18 ~ “But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
Chapter 3
Though all are called to ministry one way or another (see Acts 1:8), James advises not every Christian to obtain a living teaching God’s word. Many genuine Christians may possess an open heart for God’s glory initially. Soon, however, the dreadful poison of pride may seep in, causing every speech to be contaminated with selfish ambition. We are told that teachers will receive a stronger judgement in the end. A wise Christian will look toward the counsel of God as well as trusted co-heirs of the faith to consistently produce good fruit in teaching God’s word. James warns Christians about the tongue’s overwhelming power. Just as a bridle in a horse’s mouth can cause its whole body to be controlled or how a small rudder can steer a huge boat, so to can the tongue cause immense joy or sorrow in an instant. This includes the influence one teacher may possess over an entire congregation of faith. No man is without a stumbling tongue. Our speech remains tainted by sin until the day of Christ. Praise be to God however that all who are under grace can receive correction from His Holy Spirit. In a world filled with unrighteousness, the tongue can act as a small fire set in a dried-up forest. Rather than accepting the jaded nature of our words, lets pray for God’s guiding word and learn to better our speech so we are become more prone toward refreshing love and not bitter insults. Let us humbly approach our Heavenly Father, ask Him daily for the wisdom He is already so willing to grant you and me. Our flesh tells us to seek power with our own tongue, creating rifts in relationships and brokenness where fellowship should thrive. James deems this as vile and demonic behavior. Wisdom from above transforms our speech into gentle and merciful words which spring forth life and purpose.
KEY VERSES: James 3:2 ~ “For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.” James 3:8 ~ “but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” James 3:17-18 ~ “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincerer. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
Chapter 4
When sin erupts out of temptation, it wages war with our souls. Our emotions become entangled with selfish ambition against God and one another. Our flesh will tell us we lack something; therefore, we must take. We want something; therefore, we must have it. The lusts of our flesh will ALWAYS lead to conflict. James is informing his brothers and sisters of faith to resist the temptations of the flesh and pursue the great and royal command of Christ (“love your neighbor as yourself”). To follow Christ and meet His commands, we must humble ourselves and flee from fleshly passions and desires (2 Timothy 2:22). Seek daily purification and do not doubt in yours minds that Christ is with you. His Spirit draws near when we put away pride and lust. Humbling oneself means accepting His forgiveness with open arms. Those who choose to be content with their sin and befriend the world will certainly be opposed by God. War is declared. Choose Christ and be on the winning side. James then reminds Christians to speak good of each other in love, not faulty judgement from a deceptive tongue. Do not deceive yourself, believing your words will provide any saving grace for your loved one. “There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy.” (4:12). We are not the supreme overseer of our own life, others’ lives, nor what will happen tomorrow. James gives the example of a merchant declaring he will go and sell his goods at a certain location and make great profit. The merchant’s big aspirations lack the involvement and intension of glorifying God in what he plans. What right do we have to flesh out our own plans for our own gain with no aspect of God’s glory in mind? Our lives are but a blip in time. Who are we to declare how each day will go? James is reminding Christians to look toward the One who is outside of time to steer our day. Look towards the One who has predestined us for good works since the very beginning. “Lord willing, I will do this.” “I will go there because I believe I can serve Him best there.” Do not boast in your own plans, because God’s will surpasses ours on every occasion. One of the most noble commitments to Christ is to set a plan that first honors Him and then give Him the complete editorial rights.
KEY VERSES: James 4:7-8 ~ “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” James 4:10 ~ “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” James 4:14-15 ~ “yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’”
Chapter 5
Those who lavish in their earthly riches will soon be separated from their beloved harvest. James warns the rich that their idolatry will soon burn up along with them if they do not seek genuine repentance. All the food that their gold and silver could buy will only satisfy their lusts temporarily. Soon both their food and riches will rot away with the world. The Lord hears the cries of the mistreated, those who labor for the self-indulgent and are not given what is due. Their greed will be accounted for. They who cause the righteous to stumble will face God’s wrath. James advises the righteous to remain patient in their afflictions. As a farmer waits during both dry and rainy seasons for his fruit to grow and prosper, so to the righteous person should wait for the Lord’s promise. We must not grow weary and begin to accuse one another of fault, for the Lord, the true judge remains nearby. James uses the Old Testament prophets as an example of genuine faith and steadfastness toward God’s promises. How they waited and endured through much suffering for the promise of Jesus, though Christ was born after their lifetime. All the same, the prophets rejoice up above. James then tells his brothers and sisters to remember Job. Though Job endured much, receiving little answer for his suffering, he remained faithful to God. May the Holy Spirit grant you and me this amount of patience. We are encouraged to ask our Lord for anything, by humble and earnest prayer. Elders of the church should assist in prayer, asking for Christ’s healing work to be done in the lives of the congregation, both physical and spiritual. All who rejoice in much and suffer in trial should keep their hearts firmly cemented in the Lord’s concrete goodness. James closes by telling all Christians who have committed sin, been double-minded, who have judged, who have no fruit to show for their words, to repent and receive forgiveness from a loving God. Everyone has fallen short to the glory of God. Through Christ, we can receive healing from the dreadfulness of sin that has stolen much from our physical and spiritual living. Through Christ’s righteousness can we be declared worthy of our prayers being heard. As the prophet Elijah prayed for the rain to cease and then three and a half years later for rain to pour and both were answered, we may ask our Father in heaven for anything. According to God’s good purpose shall our prayers be answered. No matter what we see in this life, let us boldly declare the righteousness of Christ within our spirits and know the immense beauty which awaits believers. If any of our brothers and sisters wander away from the truth, let us bring them back in love and save their souls from being consumed by the world.
KEY VERSES: James 5:8 ~ “You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” James 5:11 ~ “Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” James 5:16 ~ “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”