6.22.2018

Read + Reflect + Respond with James 1:1-8


James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. 

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. 

But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, since he is a double-minded individual, unstable in all his ways.


(James 1:1-8, New International Version)


READ + REFLECT + RESPOND 

READ:

Read the passage slowly and carefully in your favorite version. Then do it again! Consider reading the verses aloud. Copying them by hand will also help you remember them better than just reading them.

REFLECT:
  • Write the passage in your own words. 
  • What is the main point? 
  • What are the key words in the text? 
  • Who is the original audience for these words? What have they already experienced in life, and how does this relate to what James is telling them?
  • What are some character qualities which God wants us to possess? 
  • What is the source of your joy, perseverance, faith, and wisdom?
  • How is cultivating true joy in trials different from putting on a happy mask to hide your pain? 
  • When have you received wisdom from God? How did that make a difference in your life? How did that wisdom come to you? (Reading the Bible, praying, sensing a strong inner nudge, hearing a sermon or podcast, talking to a trusted friend, or reading a book or article are some of the many ways God speaks to us.)
  • Can you think back to a time when you have been double-minded in your faith? What held you back from complete confidence? What helps you to trust God more when you are in a season of doubt?
  • Are there any areas of your life where you need more wisdom right now? What questions do you have for God?

RESPOND:
  • How can you specifically apply the verses in your own life? I have listed some Action Ideas below.
  • What are the potential benefits and challenges of your intended actions? How do you need to prepare to carry them out? Do you need help? If so, who?
  • Write a short prayer based on the verses.

Action Ideas

Start a Gratitude Journal where you list/describe your blessings. Then go further and re-frame challenging life situations into opportunities for joy. Do you want to start with something big or something little?  
Or perhaps you would like to make a Life Story Journal, where you think back on things that have happened to you, and how they have shaped you positively or negatively. If you have been wounded by life, how can you find healing? Do you need to find a professional counselor?  This article from one of my other blogs might help with the Gratitude and Life Story processes: Truth and Grace in the Stories of Our Lives.

Think about where God has sent you: your family, your job, your community, your church. What unique and specific service opportunities do you have in each of these spheres of influence? Can you try something new?

Think about a tough situation you are facing right now, one that you can't avoid/escape but need to get through. What practical steps can you take to persevere in it?

Are you in any rocky situations that you should attempt to avoid or escape rather than staying needlessly? Do you need to look for another job, leave a dysfunctional relationship, or go to a doctor? 

Thinking about where you get advice on living life, how can you upgrade your sources? Do you need to be more consistent reading the Bible? Do you need to cut back on TV or social media? Do you need to spend more time with mature friends and less time with foolish ones?

If there is someone who has helped you understand God's wisdom or who has helped you to persevere during a life challenge, take the time to thank them with a phone call, a personal conversation, a handwritten note, and/or a digital message. See Your Kindness Gave Me Courage.


HYMN

It Is Well With My Soul

"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul."



PRAYERS



Great God of Heaven, Gracious Father, we lift up our hands to receive your blessing and to bless your sacred name.

We open our whole hearts to be freshly washed and filled with your lavish love and joy, with your deep wisdom. 

We thank you for your mysterious mercies and your strength to endure in the midst of the overwhelming injustices and calamities which surround us.

May we be empowered today, and every day, each moment, to offer kindness and peace, healing and justice, in our communities, near and far.
In the name of Jesus, our friend and Savior.
Amen 
                                      (Virginia Knowles)


"For Those Who Suffer"
Eugène Bersier (1831-1889)

You are love,
and you see all the suffering,
injustice, and misery,
which reign in this world.

Have pity, we implore you,
on the work of your hands.
Look mercifully on the poor,
the oppressed,
and all who are heavy laden
with error, labour and sorrow.

Fill our hearts with deep compassion
for those who suffer,
and hasten the coming of
your kingdom of justice and truth.




TAKING IT FURTHER

Click on these links for more resources on this passage.

My Reflections on James 1:1-8


My Reflections on James 1:1-8 

This post goes with the other two posts on James 1:1-8: 
Read + Reflect + Respond and Study Helps.


IN MY WORDS 

(This is my personal expanded paraphrase of this passage. You could try writing one, too! Give it a shot before you read mine!)

I, James, am a servant of God the Father and of God the Son, whom we also know as the Lord Jesus Christ, the messiah who was sent to save us. I greet all you followers of Jesus from the twelve tribes of Israel. You have been scattered among the surrounding nations because of intense persecution which the church has encountered in Israel. You may have thought you were only running away from danger, but there is also a beautiful flip side to this story. See, you now also have the glorious opportunity to spread the gospel message wherever you roam. The Good News is that because of this, even the Gentiles will be included in the Kingdom of God, not just the Jews!  

So try to gain a different and higher perspective of the tough situations that you experience in life. Rather than just sticking it out with gritted teeth, let God fill your hearts with deep and abundant joy for all he is doing within you through this time of testing. As you purposefully persevere in your trials and tribulations, God is using them in a powerful way to make you strong, firm, and mature in your faith. 

You will need wisdom, of course! That comes from God, not from your own intuition. Ask him for it, and he'll be glad to teach you! But be sure to have faith when you ask, because if you don't believe God will give you wisdom, you won't be able to receive it from him. You must have a firm confidence in his ability to guide you. Your faith in him shouldn't wobble around and collapse. You can't build any solid life on that flimsy foundation. Instead, you need a sturdy, steady trust that he will provide all the wisdom you need. 


HERE & NOW

As I think about these uplifting verses, I honestly see so many ways where I have grown through the trials I have faced in my own Christian life for over four decades. I am a much different person now, a bit mellower in my mature years, and hopefully with much better insight than when I was a teenager. I hope that I persevere with joy more than before, rather than always complaining. I try to "recycle the trash" by taking what I've learned in the School of Hard Knocks and sharing it with others so they can be comforted, equipped, and empowered. This is one way that my trials have borne fruit.


I see that joy isn't about circumstantial happiness when "everything going my way!" (Sing it with me now!) It isn't found in what's going on around me, but what's going on within me. It also isn't pasting a smile on my face when I'm really hurting. We can be authentic humans and feel those negative emotions. Jesus wept. We can too.

I also look back on many misconceptions I have had about these verses. One common perception that some people have is that we are commanded to put up with whatever intolerable situations we find ourselves in. This isn't true!

Yes, there is "stuff" that we can't avoid. But we need to be discerning about situations where we can make choices to improve or preserve our lives while still glorifying God. After all, these Jewish believers fled the persecution in Israel. Their new homes were difficult places to live, too, but they did what they could to thrive and not just survive.


Sometimes after we've done our best to sort out all of the issues and walk in peace, it's time to just walk away, to Disentangle.




"Disentangle"
by Virginia Knowles

When I was a girl of 10 or so
I would sit long with a fat skein of vibrant yarn
Tangled by carelessness or cat
And I would focus my child eyes and
With supple hand, loosen the knots gently
Guide this end through that loop
Look again and plan how to untangle this mess
Delicately
And one by one the knots would clear
I would wind new inches onto my salvage ball
Wedged between my knees to keep it from rolling away
And I would work another tangle and another, satisfied
Then set it aside for later
Times, too, that fibers enmeshed, refused to budge
No undoing that hard and tight knot, no chance of change
No choice but to give it a hard yank, break it right there
Or better yet, find scissors and cut it loose
To go on with disentangling and reclaiming the rest
I think of that now

~~~~~~


How about you? How do you need to handle your life situations?

You might need employment to provide for basic personal and family needs. But perhaps your current job is so stressful that it leaves little time or energy for anything but the work day, and your key relationships are suffering. Maybe your boss or your co-workers are unfair to you, or unethical in their business practices, or presenting you with a strong temptation to immorality. Do you have to stay there? Maybe not! Is there a way you can look for another job at a different company or even just a different department? Can you cut your hours? Can you upgrade your job skills so you can switch careers? If you can find a way out, or even a way to just improve where you are, you don't need to suffer needlessly. It is within this process that you can focus on gaining strength and perseverance to carry you on to the next step.

Are you in ill health? What positive steps can you take to move toward wellness and healing instead of passively suffering? Do you need to make a doctor's or dentist's appointment so that your body can function effectively without as much pain or discomfort? (I just had a root canal this morning, because the aching jaw was a bit of a distraction to me!) Do you need to cut out sugar? (I'm speaking to myself here.) Do you need medication to help with mental illness? Do you need to quit smoking or misusing other substances? There is no shame in seeking medical help for whatever physical or emotional challenges you face. Most wellness changes don't yield instant and complete success. You will need to persevere with the process and not give up if you want to see progress!

Or perhaps you find yourself in a dysfunctional or dangerous relationship, such as one where domestic violence or intense emotional abuse is an issue. Your safety and/or your sanity could be at serious risk. Perhaps your children are being harmed. You should seek professional counseling to assess the situation and your options. You should make a safety plan in preparation to exit the relationship as you find necessary. It's not a popular thing in Christian circles to walk away from a "committed" relationship. You may be counseled to gut it out, to "forgive and forget" or "to turn the other cheek." That sounds pious, but you could be seriously injured or even killed. God does not call us to stay in abusive situations when we can leave. It's hard to move on, but there is help available. Start by calling your local domestic violence shelter or one of these toll-free national numbers. 
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800)799-7233 
  • USA Domestic Abuse Hotline: (800)999-SAFE 
I have written extensively about the issue of abuse in dating relationships and marriage. You can read some of the articles at these links.

My friend Susan Moore, mother of 12, has written about the process of escaping an abusive marriage and then recovering in spite of complex PTSD. Here are two of her articles:


You also do not need to stay connected to spiritually abusive organizations. If you find that your church or another religious movement is using manipulation, deceit, intimidation, or other control maneuvers, it may be time to walk away rather than stay. Sure, do what you can to confront the problems, but if you can't make a substantial difference, there is not point in you being there to the detriment of your faith, joy, and Christian witness.  You might like to read: Moving on from Broken - My Church and Life Transition Story and When Abuse Leads to Cynicism.

You can also read more at these other blogs which track spiritual abuse in churches and religious movements:  Spiritual Sounding Board and Wartburg Watch.

Here's a post by Rebecca Davis on the importance of using both our intelligence and our emotions when we think about issues and make our choices. Reason trumps emotions? 90% of evangelicals say yes

One little poem that I think of when I'm making choices is this:

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change; 
courage to change the things I can; 
and wisdom to know the difference.

From "The Serenity Prayer" by Reinhold Niebuhr


Yes, we sure do need that "wisdom to know the difference" -  discernment from God to know and choose what is right and good in our lives. So many times we jump ahead with whatever religious notions pop into our brains, or what we've been told that "the Bible clearly says..." and then assume that is his wisdom for us. "God told me..." But wisdom is based on the foundation of Scripture, so whatever he supposedly reveals to you needs to line up with that.  God is not out to trick you. He wants you to be wise.

To be honest, even after I have been a Christian for over four decades, I still struggle to fully trust God. Part of that cynicism came from realizing that much of what I had been told in churches and Christian movements was based not on God's unchanging wisdom but on faulty interpretations of Scripture. Some of this teaching resulted in the abuse of spiritual influence, which can have devastating effects. So at times, I've had to back up from what I thought I knew in order to reassess what is really true about God. I wrote a little about this in a journal several years ago. You can find excerpts of that here: Soul Musings from an Old Journal.

Writing poetry helps me to restore my faith in God. I linked some of my other poems in the Read + Reflect + Respond post for this passage, but here is another that is related to the passage we have been studying.

"Lift Up Your Head and Laugh"
by Virginia Q. Knowles

“Lift up your head and laugh!”
He spoke as a prophet.
But what did he know those thirty odd years ago?
What did he know of my future?
I was still so young then
With only a taste of raw and broken
And visions of a whole life open before me
Certainly not knowing quite what to expect
But with dreams and plans nonetheless:
Happily ever after with maybe
A few little bumps along the way…
Why not? And why not laugh?
Life could be, would be, one grand adventure.

It’s been a rather curious life indeed
This grand adventure of mine.
Now I shake my head and laugh
At myself, at how I clung to so much
That prickled and burned and then gave way.
Yet mysteries and marvels
Came to me when least expected
Laughter mixed with tears and sighs
And more than a few bumps along the way
So much good and so much grief mingled in
So much for dreams and plans!
A worthwhile journey still,
Just not how I thought it would be.

It’s not just me, I know
I watch the world walking by
And I try to understand, wonder
Where it is going: out and about
And home again, home again
A million silent stories walking by
A million mingling stories of mourning and mirth.

I have lived long and learned much
And I find myself speaking to the young ones
With their whole lives open before them
The words of the timeless sage
Thirty hundred years ago:
“There is a time for everything…
A time to weep and a time to laugh.”
They have seen me weep, and I will weep again.
But for now, I will lift up my head and laugh.




Study Helps for James 1:1-8


Study Helps for James 1:1-8

These study helps for James 1:1-8 are a supplement to
Read + Reflect + Respond and My Reflections.


ALTERNATE VERSIONS


James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. 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. 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. 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.  (New International Version) 

From James, a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings! My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything. But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, since he is a double-minded individual, unstable in all his ways. (New English Translation)

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. 
If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord. (New Revised Standard Version)

TEXTUAL AND BACKGROUND NOTES


James was most likely the half-brother of Jesus, as well as a leader of the Jerusalem council (Acts 15), but he doesn't mention either of those positions. The Jerusalem council was a meeting to determine the relationship between Jewish and Gentile believers in Jesus. He said then, "It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God."


The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) means both male and female believers. See also verses 16 and 19; and in 2:1, 5, 14; 3:10, 12; 4:11; 5:7, 9, 10, 12, 19. The word in the KJV is brethren, which despite its similarity to brothers, is actually used here as a gender neutral plural.


James is in the genre of Wisdom Literature similar to Proverbs and Psalms. It is not a narrative of the life of Jesus, who is not mentioned very frequently in this book. It is not a treatise of systematic doctrine (orthodoxy). It is more a collection of pithy moral/ethical exhortations toward right living (orthopraxy) and right inner attitude/feeling (orthopathy).

Comparing the three versions (NIV, NET, and NRSV), we find these alternative words and phrases which mean basically the same thing but might have different connotations:
  • servant / slave: Servant is a word more palatable to our modern ears, whereas slave communicates the intensity of James's discipleship commitment as a Christian leader. Note that each one is voluntary in this context. Jesus is not a bully slave master holding his followers captive by force or intimidation. Instead, he "captivates" us by his love.
  • twelve tribes scattered among the nations / dispersed abroad / in the Dispersion: James was writing to a primarily Jewish-Christian audience who had fled Jerusalem due to persecution. (It is also possible that he is addressing believers descended from Jews exiled prior to the time of Christ, such as during Assyrian captivity centuries earlier. Paul had encountered these Jewish enclaves on his missionary journeys, and after he evangelized them, they became outposts for the gospel.) Another word for this kind of  cultural dispersion throughout history is diaspora. I think scattered may be easier to understand but it can come across as a random happening. Dispersed seems more active and purposeful, as they were also being sent by God to evangelize the other nations. 1 Peter starts in a similar way: "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia..."
  • pure joy / nothing but joy: One is stated as a positive, the other as a negative. Pure means not mixed with anything else. How does each phrase communicate to you differently about the trials you might experience?
  • face trials of many kinds (any kind) / fall into all kinds of trials: I prefer the word face instead of fall, because we face circumstances that naturally come across our paths on the journey of the Christian life, moreso than than accidentally falling into sins that we could have avoided. For "all kinds" or "many kinds", the KJV uses the word divers, which means about the same as diverse, or many different kinds. It isn't always the same thing that comes along, so we have to be prepared for a variety of experiences.
  • perseverance / endurance: Persevere seems more proactive than endurance to me, like something positive action you choose to do in a situation instead of passively putting up with it. Yet each word conveys the message of maintaining stamina for tough times.
  • finish its work / have its perfect (full) effect: Full effect conveys that the perseverance is working to its desired purpose. We are never quite "finished" until we see Jesus, and there will always be more perseverance along the way. Either way, we grow in strength and firmness.
  • mature and complete / perfect and complete: Perfect, as we think of it, can give us the sense that we have to be flawless and never make mistakes. That isn't quite possible this side of eternity. But each of us can be mature, which means we have grown into a fruitful and effective stage of life.
  • not lacking anything / not deficient in anything / lacking in nothing: Lacking seems to imply not enough quantity. Deficient seems more concerned with quality. A person could display a lot of zeal or piety, but it could be misguided and not do much good. Anything and nothing are, of course, referring to spiritual growth here, not material possessions.
  • lacks wisdom / is lacking in wisdom / is deficient in wisdom: same as above!
  • without finding fault / without reprimand  / ungrudgingly: all of these phrases communicate that God is gracious and not out to get us 
  • believe and not doubt / ask in faith without doubting / ask in faith, never doubting: Asking is more active than just believing. Action is believing enough to communicate desire.
  • blown and tossed (around) / driven and tossed by the wind: same idea as "unstable" and out of control

RELATED PASSAGES

Rejoicing in Times of Suffering & Trial

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:12

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7


Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. Philippians 1:27-29

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5 


Equality / Unity in Gender / Social Class


So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26-28

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1


What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. Romans 6:15-18

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 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, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Ephesians 2:11-22


Wisdom

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:1-7

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. Proverbs 2:1-11


So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.  Ephesians 4:11-16

BIBLICAL COMMENTARIES

Asbury Bible Commentary


From the Introduction to James / Theology:
"The epistle is not intended to be a primer on Christian theology but a mosaic of admonitions on how to order one's life in keeping with a professed faith in God. Belief in the existence of a God who enters into the experiences of people according to his wisdom and grace is assumed. God demands recognition and requires accountability on the part of humankind. He makes himself available and responds to the sincere appeals of the believer offered in prayer. He hallows the adverse experiences of life and ensures peace and goodwill among people who walk before him in humble faith.
The Messiah has come in the person of Jesus. Through him a believer is enabled to relate to the law with new power and unaccustomed freedom. Although man was created in the image of God, he has fallen into sin and permits the incubation of sin when he yields to his lower impulses despite his understanding of God's will. God, however, provides a new quality of life for those who conquer sin."

"The stark realities of opposition, discrimination, and resentment, however, become the rule rather than the exception. James charges the reader to turn these difficult, trying experiences into spiritual profit. When he commands them to consider it pure joy, he challenges them to take a definite positive stance in the midst of trials. “Take charge!” he shouts, “Welcome the challenge!” This testing of their faith will begin to generate endurance, which serves as a basic ingredient in the development of Christian character.
James challenges the readers to be open to the ultimate effect of endurance—a mature and complete Christian life. The word perfect, a favorite of James, describes “a fullblown character of stable righteousness” (Davids, 69). It comes by making trials work to the advantage of the believer. It sounds great, but it is not easy to do. Each situation requires perception, evaluation, and an informed response. Who has that kind of resourcefulness? It is within reach through prayer."

James directs the readers: Ask God for wisdom; ask in steady faith. The wisdom James has in mind must surely be the kind found in the Proverbs. It is sound judgment, proceeding from a reverence for God (Pr 1:7). To ask in faith is to embrace the way of righteousness and to be committed to it. Admission of need is not reprehensible, but equivocation is intolerable to the Lord. Doubt creates uncertainty and prevents clear thinking. James is graphic in portraying indecision as erratic waves that dictate the outcome—emptiness.

Charles Spurgeon - James 1

Excerpts: 


"Happy is that man who serves the Lord, whose whole life is not that of an independent master of himself, but of one who is fully submissive to the divine command. ...Do not sorrow over your trials, do not look upon them as misfortunes and calamities, they are black vessels, but they are loaded with gold. Your choicest mercies come to you disguised as your sharpest trials. Welcome them; do not sorrow over them, but rejoice in them."

James 1:6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Now on the shore, now sinking back, now driving fearlessly ahead, then sinking down. This is not the kind of man that prevails with God in prayer, it is not the kind of faith we ought to have in God a faith that is very brilliant on the Sunday, and very dull on the Monday: a faith that is triumphant after a sermon, but which seems to be defeated when we get into actual trouble.

James 1:7-8. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Unstable in everything. Till you get a single heart, till your whole soul is bound up in confidence in God, you cannot expect to be stable in your ways. “Unite my heart to fear thy name,” and then I shall not be a double-minded man.