James is an outstanding book found in the latter half of the New Testament. This book was written around 50 AD by the brother of Christ, James (Matthew 13:55). Another brother also wrote a book in scripture. That was Jude.
Both James and Jude didn’t believe in Jesus originally. In fact, they thought he was insane (John 7:5). But after the resurrection, Jesus appeared to James (1 Corinthians 15:4-8). From that point on James became one of Christ’s most ardent followers. He became the leader of the Church of Jerusalem and was known as Camel Knees, because of his devotion to prayer. Eventually he was martyred by the Jewish leaders. He was thrown off the church of Jerusalem but the fall didn’t kill him. The Jewish authorities and Roman guards then stabbed and threw rocks at him until he died.
This is all important to know because this book is first of all aimed at Jews who have converted to Christianity. His book is filled with what is known as practical faith. James writes in a very down-to-earth way, doesn’t pull any punches, and shows us how our faith must be active in order for it to be sure and authentic.
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
It is important to note that James considers himself a servant of Jesus. In KJV it is translated as bondservant (Doulous) which means slave, or permanent servitude.
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
This is one of the most complex and necessary passages in scripture. So we need to understand what James is trying to say. If we dismiss the “pure joy” part first, and start at brothers and sisters, it may make it clearer.
Brothers and sisters This tells us who James is talking to. He is talking to Christians. This is important because salvation isn’t the issue here. Salvation is already guaranteed through an authentic relationship with Christ. So this is a behavior he is talking of.
Whenever you face trials of many kinds He doesn’t say if we go through trials, but when. We have to understand that life isn’t about getting through without adversity. Life itself is adversity. We don’t learn any other way. But why would God have us live life like this?
because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance The trials in our life are there for a reason. It isn’t to torture us, but to teach us. Temptations also come into our life. God wants to teach us how to be stronger. A trial teaches us temperance. It teaches us patience. Every trial is teachings something, perhaps many things, and when we may go through a similar trial or know someone going through the trial we have been through, it equips us for strength for ourselves and others. Perseverance roughly means patience. Endurance. We have to weather through the trial to learn what God wants to teach us.
Our faith is tested through trials. To make something stronger means it has to go through stress. Faith is revealed through trials, not produced. A trial shows us what faith we have. So, if trials don’t produce faith, what does? (Romans 10:17). Our diligence in seeking God is what produces our faith.
Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Why does God want to produce perseverance in us? To make us mature in our faith. To make us fully the person we are supposed to be.
How are we supposed to view this process? With pure joy! The mature response is to understand that God cares to build us during our trials. It is a loving God who takes such an active role in our lives. He wants us to be strong, tempered through fire to become steel, so we can stand mightily for him. God doesn’t allow trials to break us down, but to build us up.
With trials, however, there is an inherent problem. A trial can produce in us a return to sin, a chance to soothe and shut off our responses to God. This is the physical response to dealing with hurt. James reminds us to turn toward God to remember the source during a trial, and it will help us to focus on why we are going through it.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
Trials bring a cry for wisdom. James tells us that if we ask for wisdom, God will give it to us generously, without despising our request. Our first inclination should be to check in with God But we often seek wisdom elsewhere.
Verse 9 tells us how to ask for wisdom. First, we must not doubt that we’ll hear from God. If you doubt, don’t expect to receive. He compares this with an unstable, or weak, character. He calls it double-mindedness. We can’t take the middle ground on this. If we are to pray, James is telling us to pray with faith.
9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
The lowly (poor), should take pride in their position, as they know they need to rely on God. But the rich should take pride in humiliation, which is designed to bring them to the same place as the poor. God doesn’t want anyone to perish, so when he allows a mighty person to fall, it is a display of love. It equalizes the mighty with the weak, under the umbrella of grace.
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
Blessed is the one who endures. This is very important, it’s the reason why we go through trials. Because God wants us to endure. He wants us to work our way, all the way, through trials in our life, because if we endure a trial, then we are approved by God. Testing proves genuine and strong faith.
He also says that when we endure, we will receive the crown of life. The wording he uses implies an athlete receiving a wreath on his head for winning a competition. In James’ viewpoint, the crown is given to those who love him. Those who keep his commands. And those commands are to love God fully and love others. The love for God is the motive for resisting temptation.
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
These verses are the most eloquent place in scripture that tells us how sin operates.
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; James lays out that temptation has nothing to do with God. He allows it, but is not the source of it. In God, there is no darkness (1 John 1:5).
but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Each person succumbs to their desires. It starts in the head. In a thought that you allow. We cultivate it first in our minds. It is us who begins the decision to sin.
Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; When we given room inside us, we ultimately run toward action. Sin starts in the mind but is birthed into action.
Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. When we birth sin and practice it, it grows inside, until it is part of us. It becomes lifestyle. And that leads to spiritual death.
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
All good gifts come from God. It doesn’t come from sin or anything else that belongs to the world. God’s goodness is constant and He doesn’t change. The gift of salvation is from God. When we understand this, we must understand that God’s plan is to produce us as God’s best.
Listening and Doing 19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
How do we avoid angry reaction? James says to be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry. Essentially he is saying to listen first and process what you are hearing. When we react, we don’t produce the righteousness that God wants to build in us. It also promotes our own desires.
21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
How do we stand against earthly lusts? Get rid of the impurity of life. If there is a habit or a sin that gets in the way, work to get rid of it. Maybe you like it. It doesn’t matter. The stakes are too high. If you truly want the relationship, then you will have to come to a conclusion about what stands in the way.
Our defense against lust of the world is to receive what God has built in us. We must turn to the word (truth) and understand that the purity of God’s word can save us in an impure world.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
We can’t just hear the word and not practice it (Matthew 7:24-27). When a man looks in a mirror and doesn’t remember what the reflection looks like, it’s just like hearing the word and not practicing it. The information does not penetrate. Many people do this through their entire lives. They go to church, tithe, help at the church, go through the motions of a faith but never really understand what faith is. If we aren’t really “doing,” or living in Christ, then what is what we’re doing worth? If we study the word of God with passion and follow it (live by it), we will be blessed.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Real religion is not just hearing it, but doing it. One way to live God’s truth is to think before you speak. Hypocrisy rides along with the tongue. If you want to understand real religion, you must have a heart for others. He also tells us not to be polluted by the world. Even though we must have interaction with the world, we must remain in deep connection with the truth. Both of these tenants are in complete unity with Jesus’ Royal Law: Love God with all your Mind, Heart and Spirit and love others as yourself.
CHAPTER 2
2 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.
An authentic relationship with Christ should not contain favoritism (Partiality). Favoritism, and defined by Webster’s Dictionary is as follows: “The practice of giving unfair preferential treatment to one person or group at the expense of another.” It seems like a strange place forJames to start the chapter. But James is building to a bigger point.
First, let’s got to Ephesians 2:14-16.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
In this passage we see one of the reasons why Jesus came to mankind: it was to break down the barriers between people, and put them all into the same category. Under an umbrella of grace. These barriers needed to be broken because in Jesus’ time, as well as our own, there are many ways people categorize each other. Many of these ways are forms of dividing one another. Another word for it is factions(Galatians 5:19):
The acts of the flesh are obvious: Sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
James is making the case that if we indulge in the act of dividing people via favoritism, we are acting against God. It is one of the acts of the flesh, as defined by Paul in Galatians. Favoritism acts against the very nature of God.
2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Here James gives us an example of favoritism. He uses some of the trapping of his culture. First, the word used for “meeting” is synonymous with synagogue. Remember, he’s speaking to the newly converted Jews. They would understand the hypocrisy which James is uncovering. If they are gathered to connect with God, yet are very easily showing favoritism, there is something askew with the heart.
In James’ time, the Jews were under Roman rule. The Romans measured their wealth in a variety of ways. One was the wearing rings. The more rings you had, the richer you were. There were even merchants that rented rings so people could feign influence. James’ contention is this: if favoritism is shown, it is an evil action that something is wrong inward. If we care more about outward appearance then our heart is conditionally compromised. This displays a deep-set selfishness in us. We are subversively asking “what can this person do for me?” They don’t understand what God sees. (1 John 2:3-4).
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
The poor more readily respond to God (1 Corinthians 1:26-31). Why? because they don’t have resources that act as a barrier to God. They are more dependent because they have so little. It is harder for the rich to see God. Following that logic the rich have something wrong with their heart. It is evidenced by how they exploit the poor. They drag them into court (1 Timothy 6:10). They blaspheme the name of God.
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
The royal law of Jesus Christ is found in Matthew 22:36-40. It expresses to us that we are to love God with all our being (heart, mind, soul). Emotionally, Intellectually, Spiritually. We are to love God and those around us. If we are living in that space, then how can we be judging others?
10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Obeying God’s law is discussed in there verses. James lays it out simply: if you are in violation of one thing, you are in violation of it all. That sounds scary to someone who is legalistic. But if you are operating under grace, it casts a different light on it. Breaking God’s law is to violate God’s will. In other words, we are in rebellion to the will of God when we sin.
Remember, James is talking to recently converted Jews, so they would understand this concept. In our world, we must understand that sin is viewed differently by God. We tend to give sin a rank, or hierarchy. But God sees sin as a violation of his law. Since He is the judge, He has the right to apply wrath or mercy. It is only when we get involved that we begin to assess value. We judge.
But he says this in verse 12: Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom. What is that? That is Mercy. If we understand the mercy part, then we will understand that our judgment of others is not correct. We should always show mercy without partiality (Matthew 7:2). Mercy defines our relationship with God.
Faith and Deeds 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?
James begins one of the most important points of his book: can faith alone save someone? Can we proclaim faith without action? This is a big question. Many believe that faith can be attained through words and nothing more. (Ephesians 2:10, Titus 3:8)
15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
James gives us an example. Our faith, if it is true, is always based in love. Love for God, love for others. If we proclaim faith, yet do nothing with it, then do we have it? If we fail at the most basic part (helping others), our faith must be called into question.
Real faith has two components: The spiritual (relationship with God) and the physical (care for others). We must care for others. Faith must be accompanied by works.
This is not works. A works-based faith is much different. It requires that you accomplish many things in this world and bring them to God. It is very much in the vein of offering a sacrifice. “See everything I did in your name?” It is the hope that our good will outweigh our bad enough to get into heaven. It is flawed at the very core, because it is about us trying to control our destiny.
Faith with works is what James is talking about. The foundational part of this approach is faith in Jesus. That’s the very first thing. Once authentic faith occurs, Jesus begins the journey to change your heart. When your heart is change, there becomes a desire to help others. Faith, instead of works, is the cornerstone. Faith with works is the natural result of our submission.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
Living faith must contain works. It is the outward evidence of our changed heart. We can’t see someone’s faith, but we can see their deeds Faith is shown through our deeds (Matthew 5:14-16). Saying we believe in God, but having no action, is equivalent to the reverence demons have for God. They believe in God, yet are not aligned with God. James is saying there is little difference.
20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
Abraham is the first of two examples James gives us. Abraham was justified by faith (Genesis 15:6). When he followed God’s direction to sacrifice Isaac, his obedience was evidenced in action. He was approved by his action. If he didn’t trust God, he couldn’t be obedient to Him. He was justified by works, not faith alone (2 Corinthians 5:17). If there is no evidence of a new life, then there isn’t genuine faith. Works must accompany faith. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Rahab helped the spies elude the authorities in the promised land. Her faith was shown as a living faith because it was active. Her works were present; faith was alive.
So in the final two examples of this book, we have two different paths to understand.
Abraham: If we believe, then we will do. Rahab: If we believe, then we will help.
CHAPTER 3
3 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
James starts this chapter discussing teachers. He says teachers in the church will be judged more strictly. Why is that? Because teachers have a scope of influence who they bear a responsibility to. They must live righteously, as examples to the church. And they must dispense the word of God properly. This begins to build to a larger point.
Next, he discusses stumbling. Stumbling is something we all do. Stumbling is not a fatal flaw, but a brief sin. It causes us to understand we sinned, ask for repentance, and turn our hearts and minds to God once again. It affects our fellowship. Our life must be marked by less stumbling. Words reveal our inner nature. The control over the tongue indicates that we have control our actions.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
Here, James gives us an example of how deadly our words can be. Like the rudder or the bit, it is a small part of us but carries a great power. It steers the course of us. The way we talk has a great effect on others and reveals the condition of our heart. Man alone cannot tame the tongue.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
This contributes to our contradictory character. Our talk can be used to praise God and cut down others. James aptly asks the questions: should both of these characteristics come out of the same person? Or better yet, should both of these coexist in a Christian?
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
There are two types of wisdom: worldly and spiritual. Worldly wisdom is good advice that gets us through life. Brush your teeth, exercise, save money. The foundation is in the world. Spiritual wisdom, however, is the wisdom founded in the relationship first. How we treat people, how we conduct our life, how we follow God. James says that our life should be an example to those around us. A good life, centered on God, produces good fruit. This should be evident to those around us. Humility is derived from spiritual wisdom.
14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
Selfish ambition is the opposite of humility. It is a showing of pride. It shows that we possess a world viewpoint. He calls it earthly and unspiritual, demonic even. Earthly refers to people who think only of this life. Unspiritual is about animal gratification. And demonic refers to the influence. If we continue on in this vain, we will find not only disorder but a break down of our spirit. We will further debase ourselves. This is when we are solely depending on worldly wisdom.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
But spiritual wisdom produces something very different. It produces a loving and giving heart. There is purity (absence of sinful attitude or motive); peace(kindness to others); Gentleness (tender character); Consideration (not stubborn/willing to yield); full of mercy (merciful); Good fruit (example of the Holy Spirit working in you); without partiality (no favoritism): sincerity (the motivation is peace).
CHAPTER 4
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
James begins by asking us a seemingly simple question: what causes fights and quarrels? He answers it with a fundamentally deep reason: it is because of the inner war we all share. It is the spirit vs.the flesh. The spirit is the part of us that wants to please God and the flesh is the part that wants to please ourselves. In Greek, the word Sarx is the word James is using for flesh. This means the physical body as a functioning entity.
Our sin nature is part of us. It was inherited through Original Sin. The sin works through the flesh, desires to oppose God and and seeks sinful gratification. Paul talks about how it manifests in the Acts of the Flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). For those who decide that they’d rather operate in the flesh, there is a result (Romans 8:13).
But there is a way to overcome our sinful nature. First, we must acknowledge our sin. This isn’t the standard “I am a sinner” mantra we as Christians take up. We must understand the specific sin. This takes a willingness to find it, a desire to identify exactly how sin operates in our life, and a willingness to extract it. The only way to truly destroy it is to walk in the spirit. First, we must repent and call for salvation (Acts 2:38). This is where the indwelling of the Holy Spirit happens (Ephesians 1:13). Then we must accept our new life in Christ. This is about understanding your past but not being a slave to it. Taking off the old clothes, putting on the new ones. Lastly, we must starve the sin (Colossians 3:5). Cut off the byways to it. Cut it off so it doesn’t have a place to live inside you.
Next, James visits two points. First, he says that “you do not have because you do not ask.” Often, we don’t let God into the issue. We keep him at arm’s length and try to handle things on our own. This is a reason we don’t get what we want.
Second, he says we don’t get what we want because we ask with wrong motives. This is a big one. We have to look at our prayer life and ask ourselves if the prayers we issue to God are for His kingdom or for our own personal comfort. James’ contention is this: if we are after our personal comfort we will always have a life in conflict, we will not get what we desire, and we will grow to resent God.
4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?
He uses the same language God used against the embattled Israelites. Covetness (selfishness) is the same as Idolatry. Remember, he is speaking to converted Jews. They would understand the breaking fo the covenant.
Friendship with the world defies God’s will. We cannot have friendship with the world (the system that opposes God) and have an authentic relationship with God. This is evident is what God did for us. When we believed, the Holy Spirit came to live inside us. He guides us, but also convicts us. If we ignore Him (grieve, quench him), then we do not allow the spirit to reveal himself. It hinders our Godly lifestyle. And that is the part that God yearns for us to be guided by.
6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
The solution to this inner war is submission. The Holy Spirit convicts, but also grants us the grace to serve God. He tells us that we must resist pride. Why? Because grace comes to the humble. If we want to experience God’s grace, we cannot experience it in the space of Pride. Pride, simply put, is when you don’t need any help. Humility is when we realize we can’t do it ourselves.
So how to we solve this inner war? Here’s James’ solution.
1. Submit to God. We must realize his grace and humble up, surrender to Him. Trust Him. Follow Him. We will receive the benefits of a follower then. But our journey must be authentic. 2.Resist the Devil and he will flee: The word James is using for Resist isn’t passive. It means Stand and Against. That implies activity. This fight is about active resistance. Against the deception, lies and intimidation the devil flings our way. If you think of how a lion chases a pack, he never goes after the strongest, but the weakest, the slowest, the one separated from he pack. As you become stronger you can resist. 3.Draw near to God and he will draw near to you: This is a promise. How do we draw near? through worship, through prayer, through relationship, and through changing your life to fit His will. Our active response to God ignited the relationship. 4.Cleanse your hands: As we draw near, there’ll be sorrow for our past life and sins. There will be shame. 5.Purify your hearts: You can’t be double-minded. You can’t love the world and have an authentic relationship with God. You must choose the true path. 6.Grieve mourn, wail: Humility is the key. Authenticity is the only way.
11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister[d] or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
Katalalia is the Greek word James uses for slander. It refers to groups of people, meeting privately, fo the purpose of destroying others. We do this is a variety of ways in our life. But here’s the bigger point: the way we speak about others is an outward expression of our heart. This breaks the Royal Law. It takes away judgment from God. We have no authority to do that. When we are operating in humility, judgment is impossible.
13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.
We cannot make plans away from the constant hand of God. Yet in our culture, we do this all the time. We make plans for our weeks, months, even years. We do it with vacations, retirement, all sorts of things without consulting God. Our life is fragile. Pride is the foundation of planning without God.
17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
Genuine faith is proven by action. The uncertainty of life should not propel us toward fear, but toward action. If we do not do what is right (verified by the Holy Spirit), then it is wrong; it affects our fellowship. CHAPTER 5
Warning to Rich Oppressors 5 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.
The illusion of wealth is an idol that pulls us into at state of opposition to God. The reason James talks about the wealthy, in particular, is for the same reason that the bible normally addresses the rich. It isn’t necessarily calling out people of status, or in a certain bracket, but the rich are always identified with an arrogant independence. People who chase money are chasing something opposite of God’s will, Thus, they act outside God’s will (1 Tim 6:10). Those with their eyes set on the world (this life) alone do not have the eternal outlook God desires. They live for themselves. When James gives us three examples of the frailty of riches, it is to make a very succinct point: Wealth (Rotted, regards to food), Garments (Moth-eaten, refers to clothes), and Gold & silver (Corroded, refers to money) are the very things that a person focused temporally will strive after. These are basic needs which God has already told us are provided for us (Luke 12:22-34).
These very things will testify (witness) against us. The way we live our life, and what we strive after, are the very things we will be judged on. It is a life lived independently of God. In John 15:5-8, Jesus tells us that a vine cannot exist independently of the tree. We cannot operate independently of the source of our life, which is God. When we try to do that, we are acting against His will. We must set our minds on eternity.
No one articulates the problem with the pursuit of wealth than Solomon. In Ecclesiastes 5:10-17, we get a very good view of where the pursuit of fortune gets us:
10 Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. 11 As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them? 12 The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep. 13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners, 14 or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit. 15 Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands. 16 This too is a grievous evil: As everyone comes, so they depart, and what do they gain, since they toil for the wind? 17 All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.
Verse 10: The pursuit of wealth does not satisfy Verse 11: As wealth increases, so do expenses; it is never enough Verse 11: There is no benefit except earthly pride Verse 13: Wealth harms the owner Verse 14: Wealth is often lost Verse 15: You cannot take it with you
Solomon lays out a path that is devastating to the person who is lost in pursuit of riches. And as we read this list, written over a thousand years ago, we see that it is still as true then as it is today. When we pursue riches, for riches sake, it is detrimental to us physically and spiritually.
4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you. The rich, in their arrogant independence, forgets about treating people correctly. The rich live without regards to others and the poor (oppressed) have little satisfaction of justice in this life. As the rich trample the poor and cause this injustice, James reminds us that God hears their cries. And God, the true judge, promises justice.
Patience in Suffering 7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.
Patience and endurance is a hallmark of Christian living. Persevering through trials is a testing of our faith. The testing of our faith leads to a maturity in Christ. It tackles the issue. If the issue returns, we have the wherewithal to approach it with calmness and clarity. It is strength built in us from the creator.
In this example, the farmer is patient. For much of the time the farmer does not see the fruits of his labor. He must till the land, plant, cover, water, and wait for the rain. But its essential that the farmer not lose hope. There is an early rain, which softens the earth and prepares the seed for growth, and a later rain that brings the plants to maturity. Both he must wait on. He cannot rush the rain. He must endure. In the same way, we are to endure trials; God’s timeline is unknown, but He is building perseverance in us.
9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
Grumbling against one another is a sign that we haven’t endured to the end. We’ve come out of the trial with impatience. We’ve taken the reins and told ourselves it is time to stop. And we may find the fault of our situation as someone else’s. We begin to grumble against them. But here’s the situation: grumbling (complaining) isn’t acting in accordance with the will of God. We act in defiance of Him. We become the judge. And we will be judged on it.
Trials have a way of nubbing us down to the core. We get harsh, we get tired, we just want it over. But we can’t let our trials affect our heart. We must still move forward, committing to the relationship with our Father and with others. Going back to the source is always the answer.
10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
James gives us the examples of the Prophets and Job as people who had to endure trials. Many of the prophets died preaching the word of God. Job endured trial after trial. Especially from the story of Job we find some real connectivity. Job was put through a trial when God allowed satan to test his faith. Chapter after chapter we see tragedies affect Job, but we also see that God’s doing it for a reason: he’s refining Job, he’s making him better through his adversities, and even though it is excruciatingly hard at times, in the end Job is a better man. A stronger man. This is the process that me must go through to be refined by God. We don’t learn through good times.
12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.
James tells us to define our answers. Invoking the name of God in our answers shows a lack of character; our words should stand on their own. 13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.
Instead of succumbing to trial, the answer is prayer. What if you aren’t going through trial? The answer is the same: pray. The connection to God is the key to both trial and happiness. What if you are sick? Call the elders to what? Pray. And apply oil. Oil was used as a medicinal ointment in this timeframe. In other words, there is a spiritual and physical element to everything: an application to the spirit and flesh that both help us in our journey.
15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Can prayer heal someone? Is this a spiritual or physical application? The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. But we need to get the motive right. We need to be living righteously (in connection with God, in righteous living in the world). If we want the power of prayer to be effective, it starts with getting the heart right.
Confession is the second part of this equation. Confession brings spiritual and physical healing to those confessing. It also removes the hindrance to the Holy Spirit. It destroys secret sin. When we confess to each other and to God, we step into a new level of relationship.
17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
A final example is that of Elijah. Elijah was a normal guy, yet he could stop and start the rain. How is this possible? The entire story of Elijah is marked by deep connection to God through prayer. Prayer and connection, again, are the keys.
19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
Helping a sinning Christian, or the unsaved, is an important function of someone who has active faith. Why? Because your active faith helps you interpret who needs what degree of help from you. If a Christian is in trouble, we need to guide that person back. If it is the unsaved, then our example needs to be there to intrigue. Our love needs to be on display. We need to comfort both parties, but it only happens when we are perceptive and led by the spirit to do so.
This brings a person into restoration. That means that the relationship is once again whole, the lines are open, confession and forgiveness has happened. This is a blessing for both. Sometimes we need the help, sometimes the other person does.