James 1:1-4 <— Click to read verse

Considering trials a great joy is a hard concept but very true. Trials are gifts. The trials we endure should make us thankful, Why? We learn so much about our own strengths but also we learn compassion for others and we come to better understand their pain. We understand from a better perspective. Most importantly we learn that we need God in every way, every day. For our healing, strength, comfort and hope. We learn to go to Him. We endure through Christ and it matures our faith in God and our love for Christ grows. 

James 1:5-8 <— Click to read verse

Remember this is written to brothers and sisters, to fellow believers. So, if we are God’s child (saved and born again) we can ask for wisdom and it is freely given to us. James is talking here about wisdom in God. If we need that kind of wisdom, God’s wisdom to know what to do in a trial, how to be a good steward, how to be obedient to God. If we need that then ask God. He will give us that freely. Wisdom will show us God’s love and help us to be obedient and rely on God even through hardships. James lived that out even till his death. The only wisdom that works is from God. 

Wisdom and knowledge are two different things. Wisdom is a skill for decision making and stewarding life. Knowledge is like tell me what door to walk through. Here in James it is talking about not wanting to have God tell us here is door #2 walk through it. We want the ability to discern and know right from wrong and how to make the right decisions like Solomon with two mothers of the same child in 1 Kings 3:16-28. We want God’s skills of decision making and to live in God’s wisdom. 

The last part of these verses warn us to not be swayed and tossed to and from by what the world and those who live according to the world may tell you to do. Godly wisdom is stable. Don’t be confused by having faith one minute and questioning God the next. We are called to have faith and to be stable in our thoughts and behavior, our beliefs and our actions. Mark 9:23. When we are dialed into our faith and living in His wisdom then we will be focused and not easily swayed. Here James condemns double mindness, loving the world and going back and forth in our beliefs, actions and our faith. The world will pass away. God is for eternity. Stay focused on God. 

James 1:9-11 <— Click to read verse

James is direct. He doesn’t just tell us to pray but tells us how to pray. James was known as a man of prayer. Church history writings you’ll read where James was referred to as having “camel knees” hard, perhaps calloused from praying so much on his knees. As he was being stoned and beat with a stick till his death, he prayed for them to be forgiven. Would we do this? We should. The books of James and 1 Peter should be examples for Christians today in 2024 and for all years to come. James was a non-believer John 7:5. Imagine that he grew up as a brother of Jesus but didn’t believe. We don’t know when he did believe but we know he was there in Acts 15 and Paul mentions James in Galatians 1:19. 

James 1:12-18 <—Click to read verse

“Crown of life” in verse 12 is referred to as the “Martyrs Crown” in Revelation 2:10. Bestowed upon those who persevered under trials. Greek word used is “Stephano’s” same word used in 1 Corinthians 9:25 speaking about an olympic athlete receiving a crown. However if we’re in this for the rewards then we’re missing how great heaven is. The crown of life is not a kingly crown. It is a symbol of God’s glory. All crowns bestowed upon us , we should be looking forward to placing them at the feet of our Lord Jesus. 

Temptation can be trials we face and persevere in. Being faced with temptation and holding close to our faith. Also facing health situations, staying faithful and trusting in God to get us through it. That is the right thing to do. We all face temptations. Pray the beautitudes Matthew 5:3-12. This passage reminds us that the same Greek word in verse 3 for endure and patience is the same word used here for persevere and also used for trials and temptation. When in a trial we are at our weakest and could more easily fall to temptation. God does NOT tempt us trying to get us to sin. He is not the author of sin. We choose sin. Every good thing comes from God. 

James 1:19-27 <—Click to read verse

Listen intently, we should take time to think before we speak and temper our anger. Reacting in anger does not bring God’s righteousness. Humbly accept the word. Get rid of evil and all immoral filth from our life. TV filth, movie filth, music filth, book/reading filth, talk filth, language filth, sexual filth, behavior filth. Get it out of our life. Stop going to places and taking part in things that represent sin. Turn humbly to accept the word, the truth which is God’s word. Humbly means “in lowly position, unpretentiously, in a way that shows a modest or low estimate of one’s importance.”  Don’t just hear God’s word but do what it says, live it. If we say we’re a believer but don’t do it God’s way, don’t live it God’s way then we are fooling ourselves. We better check ourselves . In James 1:21 it shows how powerful Gods word is. When witnessing to someone about the gospel of Christ remember that God’s word has power. Show them the scripture telling them how to be saved from the Bible. Our word is not powerful but God’s is. Isaiah 55:11 tells us that “God’s word will not return void”. Guard your testimony every day in every way. 

In James 1:24 think about how often we sit watch and listen to someone preaching God’s word , agree with every word and then turn, walk out and forget what we just heard and often go on sinning by doing some of the very things we agreed was wrong. We were definitely not feeling God then were we?  The person who walks out and took note, applied the word to their lives, does it God’s way will be blessed. God loves everyone, but not sin. We can’t love God and also love sin. We so often have a sinful desire and try to find a way to excuse it so we can do it or continue to do it. 

James 1:26-27 really is a wake up call. So many people and we all are guilty at some time, we say we believe but we can’t stop the sin we are holding onto. For example, yelling, cursing, a person may not put much significance in stopping then they are fooling themselves. When others hear them then their testimony is destroyed. How can they expect to be used by God? If this behavior is a problem then pray for God to help you. Ask Him to convict you with guilt when you begin to use foul language. We should never want to dishonor God by our words. It may seem impossible to stop but all things are possible through Jesus Christ, Matthew 19:26. 

James 1:27 tells us how a pure believer will take care of orphans and widows. They will also keep themselves unstained from the world. Wow. This is the opposite of what we see in society today. The orphans, elderly and even veterans are pushed aside like they don’t matter. We see the way babies are tossed like trash.  We should be thankful for a church who places a priority on caring for widows and orphans.  If your church doesn’t do this, perhaps talk to them about that. We are taught by society today to accept this sinful world and often we hear things like “live and let live”. “What others do is between them and God.” However as a believer we have a responsibility to share the gospel. We will be held accountable for opportunities we squander. For passing by the chance to share what the Bible says with someone. If we don’t and that person ends up in hell we will answer for that. Always speak with love, with kindness. A harsh tone does nothing to soften someone’s heart if they’re an unbeliever. We can’t force anyone to change what they believe or to change a behavior. We can only show them what God says, show them how much God loves them and how He wants the best for them. Then pray for them. The rest is up to them.