James

James was Jesus’ half brother (son of Mary and Joseph). He was a leader in the early church. He writes this book to “Jewish believers scattered abroad” (or the “diaspora.” He talks first about enduring trials and the attitude we should have towards it: great joy. Trials mean your faith is being tested and your endurance is increasing. James next talks about asking God for wisdom and putting your faith fully in God.  

He notes that those who are poor have been honored by God and boast in that. Those that are rich should boast that God has humbled them (not in their riches).  

Going back to enduring trials, James says that God will bless them for patiently enduring testing and temptation noting that they will receive the crown of life. He cautions though that God is not the one testing them but our own (fallen) desires that cause temptation. These desires give birth to sinful actions which lead to death when they are allowed to grow. Instead, God is responsible for whatever is good and perfect and we are His prized possession. 

He then tells the reader to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce righteousness that God desires. James challenges us to get rid of bad things in our lives and receive the Word God has planted in our hearts. 

He notes, though, that you can’t just listen to God’s Word but you must also do it. If you listen and don’t do it, you fool yourself. God will bless you for doing what His Word says. 

James notes that if you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself and your religion is worthless. 

He notes that pure and genuine religion means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.  

Principles: Trials and temptations build endurance. God will reward you for patiently enduring them.  It’s ok to be angry but don’t sin.  Do what the Bible says. 

This chapter starts out by warning the reader not to favor some people over others.  The example given is favoring the rich over the poor.  James says, love your neighbor, yes, but not to the point of some over others.  James points out that God has chosen the poor of the world to be rich in faith.  He says that if you favor some people over other you are guilty of sin and if you have broken one part of the law through sin, you are guilty of breaking all of the law.  

Next James notes that faith without the evidence of good deeds is dead.  His focus is that faith in you will produce good works naturally.  It will be evidence of your faith.  He gives several examples of how faith produced good works and action.  

Principles:  Treat everyone with love and respect.  Faith alone is required for salvation but it will be evidenced by action through good deeds.

James continues writing about the tongue, expanding on chapter 1. He cautions about being a teacher of others (in whatever capacity…not just formal education of today) because of being judged by God more strictly. He notes the difficulty in controlling the tongue comparing it to the bit for a horse, the rudder for a ship, and a spark starting a fire. He notes the difficulty of taming the tongue and how it can be used to praise God or spew curses.  

James describes wisdom’s proof is living an honorable life doing good works with humility.  He notes that wisdom from God is pure, peace-loving, gentle,  willing to yield to others, and full of mercy.  He highlights again the aspect of favoritism being wrong.   

Principles: Controlling your tongue leads to wisdom.  

James highlights what causes so much of the trouble in our world: evil desires within us. We fight to get what others have that we want and don’t ask God for it instead. When we do ask God for it, we ask out of impure motives. James notes that friendship with the world makes us an enemy of God. James quotes Proverbs 3:34 saying that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. He then calls the reader to draw close to God by humbling themselves before God and purifying their hearts before Him.  

James also warns against judging of others.  When we criticize and judge each other, James notes, we are really criticizing and judging God’s law.  Instead, we should be obeying God’s law.  God alone is the judge of the law He has given.  

In the final section, James warns against putting your trust in your own plans without God’s direction.  We can make plans but submit them to God for His direction and confirmation.  Without that, we boast in our own plans. 

James ends the section noting that it is sin to know what to do and not to it. 

Principles:  Submit yourself to God, humbling your thoughts, actions, and plans to Him.  Let Him purify you.  Walk humbly before Him.  Do what He says.

James ends his letter with a note to those that are rich.  He tells them that rich should be wary of just living for pleasure at the expense of others and putting their trust in the wealth.  

Secondly, he talks about being patient for the Lord’s return, comparing it to farmers waiting for fall and spring rains.  

He warns against grumbling about each other and points to examples of prophets who endured suffering. 

He also warned about taking oaths and just being straightforward in your yes and no.

James tells the reader to always be in communication with God through prayer and praise and to involve others in your prayer.  He notes that we should confess our sins to each other so that we can be healed.  

Finally, he talks about bringing back those that have wandered from their faith in Jesus and bringing them back.  

Principles:  Pray, pray, pray.  Submit your riches to God.  Don’t take advantage of others to get your riches.