James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
The author of this letter was most likely James, the brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55). James didn’t believe in his brother until after the resurrection (John 7:5, 1 Corinthians 15:7), but then became a leader of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:13, Galatians 2:9).
The recipients were likely Jewish Christians who’d been dispersed because of persecution (Acts 8:1, 11:19). James wrote as a pastor, to a scattered congregation, encouraging them to keep living as believers. He probably wrote around AD 45, just fifteen years after the crucifixion. If so, this may be the earliest book of the New Testament.
James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James wrote to people who were going through severe trials, but urged them to rejoice because of what it did for their character. God was at work in their trials to help them mature in their faith. We prefer to live in comfort, of course, but God’s design is to make us like Christ. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son (Romans 8:29), wrote Paul.
The process of maturing in Christ can be compared to making a cake. Baking soda, raw eggs, vanilla and flour don’t taste good individually. But, when mixed with other ingredients, and baked for thirty minutes, result in something delicious. The circumstances of our lives aren’t always great in themselves, but are meant to make us like Christ (Randy Alcorn, revised).
James 1:5 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.
First century Christians needed wisdom to navigate their difficult circumstances, so James reminded them of the wisdom of prayer. We like to consult the experts, but often neglect the only one who has all the answers. The first thing to do, when we don’t know what to do, is to go to God in prayer.
A father and son were exploring an old mine with a flashlight. They marked the intersections so they could find their way out but, deep in the mine, their flashlight failed. They crept along the walls hoping to feel their way out but, after an hour, realized they were hopelessly lost. Then they decided to pray.
As they paused to pray, they felt a subtle breeze which they knew could only come from outside the mine. So they followed the breeze and found their way to safety. It would’ve been wiser to bring an extra flashlight, of course, but God can give us wisdom even when we’ve been foolish. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God.
James 1:6-8 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. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
Many believers struggle with a split personality. They believe enough to go to church, but not enough to invite others. They have one vocabulary for Sundays, and another for the rest of the week. They believe enough to be honest, unless it will cost their job. Like someone with a foot in two boats, they’re unstable in all they do.
The solution to this problem is to believe and not doubt, wrote James. We don’t become steady in our faith by doubting, but by believing what God has said. No one knew the Bible better than Jesus, or had stronger faith than Jesus. The better we know and believe God’s word, the more stable we’ll be in our faith.
James 1:13 When tempted, no one should say, God is tempting me. For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.
Tempting and testing are closely related and easily confused. If you find a wallet full of money, Satan will tempt you to keep it. But God is also testing you to see if you’ll return it. The same event can be a temptation as well as a test. Satan tempts that he may ruin; God tests that he may crown.
James 1:14 [E]ach person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.
This is how it works. First the thought enters your mind, then it sparks the imagination, then there is a sense of pleasure, then you perform the deed. That’s why it’s easier to resist temptation at the beginning than at the end. The longer temptation is entertained the more powerful it becomes.
The best way to beat temptation is by rejecting it at once. That’s what Jesus did when he was tempted by the devil in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). The temptations were powerful, but he dismissed them promptly and emerged unscathed. If we are his disciples, we should do the same.
James 1:15 [S]in, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
David’s son Amnon is a perfect example of this. The first time he had a romantic feeling toward his half-sister, Tamar, he should’ve put it down. But Amnon became so obsessed with his sister . . . that he made himself ill (2 Samuel 13:2). Then he raped her (2 Samuel 13:14) and was later but to death (2 Samuel 13:28-29). Many believers flirt with sin but that’s a dangerous practice. The best time to kill a sin is before it kills you.
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above.
This is very important to our relationship with God. The smell of coffee, a gentle breeze, and a convenient parking spot are all gifts to brighten our day. If we think of these as merely circumstantial, we’ll be guilty of ingratitude and deprive ourselves of joy. But if we believe that every good and perfect gift is from above, we’ll give thanks to God and grow in our love for him. God is always showing his love to us and we should be aware of it.
Reflection and Review
How does hardship make us better?
What’s the best way to defeat temptation?
Why should Christians be thankful for little things?
The author of this letter was most likely James, the brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55). James didn’t believe in his brother until after the resurrection (John 7:5, 1 Corinthians 15:7), but then became a leader of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:13, Galatians 2:9).
The recipients were likely Jewish Christians who’d been dispersed because of persecution (Acts 8:1, 11:19). James wrote as a pastor, to a scattered congregation, encouraging them to keep living as believers. He probably wrote around AD 45, just fifteen years after the crucifixion. If so, this may be the earliest book of the New Testament.
James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James wrote to people who were going through severe trials, but urged them to rejoice because of what it did for their character. God was at work in their trials to help them mature in their faith. We prefer to live in comfort, of course, but God’s design is to make us like Christ. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son (Romans 8:29), wrote Paul.
The process of maturing in Christ can be compared to making a cake. Baking soda, raw eggs, vanilla and flour don’t taste good individually. But, when mixed with other ingredients, and baked for thirty minutes, result in something delicious. The circumstances of our lives aren’t always great in themselves, but are meant to make us like Christ (Randy Alcorn, revised).
James 1:5 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.
First century Christians needed wisdom to navigate their difficult circumstances, so James reminded them of the wisdom of prayer. We like to consult the experts, but often neglect the only one who has all the answers. The first thing to do, when we don’t know what to do, is to go to God in prayer.
A father and son were exploring an old mine with a flashlight. They marked the intersections so they could find their way out but, deep in the mine, their flashlight failed. They crept along the walls hoping to feel their way out but, after an hour, realized they were hopelessly lost. Then they decided to pray.
As they paused to pray, they felt a subtle breeze which they knew could only come from outside the mine. So they followed the breeze and found their way to safety. It would’ve been wiser to bring an extra flashlight, of course, but God can give us wisdom even when we’ve been foolish. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God.
James 1:6-8 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. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
Many believers struggle with a split personality. They believe enough to go to church, but not enough to invite others. They have one vocabulary for Sundays, and another for the rest of the week. They believe enough to be honest, unless it will cost their job. Like someone with a foot in two boats, they’re unstable in all they do.
The solution to this problem is to believe and not doubt, wrote James. We don’t become steady in our faith by doubting, but by believing what God has said. No one knew the Bible better than Jesus, or had stronger faith than Jesus. The better we know and believe God’s word, the more stable we’ll be in our faith.
James 1:13 When tempted, no one should say, God is tempting me. For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.
Tempting and testing are closely related and easily confused. If you find a wallet full of money, Satan will tempt you to keep it. But God is also testing you to see if you’ll return it. The same event can be a temptation as well as a test. Satan tempts that he may ruin; God tests that he may crown.
James 1:14 [E]ach person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.
This is how it works. First the thought enters your mind, then it sparks the imagination, then there is a sense of pleasure, then you perform the deed. That’s why it’s easier to resist temptation at the beginning than at the end. The longer temptation is entertained the more powerful it becomes.
The best way to beat temptation is by rejecting it at once. That’s what Jesus did when he was tempted by the devil in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). The temptations were powerful, but he dismissed them promptly and emerged unscathed. If we are his disciples, we should do the same.
James 1:15 [S]in, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
David’s son Amnon is a perfect example of this. The first time he had a romantic feeling toward his half-sister, Tamar, he should’ve put it down. But Amnon became so obsessed with his sister . . . that he made himself ill (2 Samuel 13:2). Then he raped her (2 Samuel 13:14) and was later but to death (2 Samuel 13:28-29). Many believers flirt with sin but that’s a dangerous practice. The best time to kill a sin is before it kills you.
James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above.
This is very important to our relationship with God. The smell of coffee, a gentle breeze, and a convenient parking spot are all gifts to brighten our day. If we think of these as merely circumstantial, we’ll be guilty of ingratitude and deprive ourselves of joy. But if we believe that every good and perfect gift is from above, we’ll give thanks to God and grow in our love for him. God is always showing his love to us and we should be aware of it.
Reflection and Review
How does hardship make us better?
What’s the best way to defeat temptation?
Why should Christians be thankful for little things?