Book of James 1: 1-18

I have moved my  thoughts to the book of James. It is a small book compared to others but it is full of Gods thoughts.

James opening statement

James 1:1  This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the "twelve tribes"—Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings!

James has just introduced himself. He has humbled himself before God and has shown his authority by claiming to be a "slave" in God and Jesus. This James was the brother of Jesus but he did not say that. He was the leader of the Church of Jerusalem but he did not say that either. He was a Slave of God. When we think of the word slave what comes to mind? We as Americans think of the African Americans that were captured against their will and forced into slavery. This was James bonding himself willingly to God as his servant. The first slavery is against man and God's will the second slavery that James is speaking of is out of tremendous respect total following of God and is freely given.

So this greeting has the words of Jesus through James to the twelve tribes who have scattered throughout the world. Since they had scattered God now had a platform in many areas that had Jewish synagogues for the preaching of his word. Hence the "scattered abroad". All of that in the first sentence of the letter.

ENDURING TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS

 James 1:2-18

James 1:2  Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. James 1:3  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. James 1:4  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

It seems to me that the words "joy" and "trouble" are not compatible in the same sentence. We all have trouble in our lives at one time or another. Some is self induced and others will be done to us. I can remember as a boy that I lied to my mother and I was punished for it. I did learn from that. Lying is a self induced issue and you need to learn to avoid that. The other side of the coin was when I was in the Navy. I was trying to complete a course and was failed by an man.  That man stated a pure lie against me. I had never met that man until that day. He didn’t even know me. I learned from that but what I learned was not good because I lost trust in some people.

We go through these trials to become a better person, better Christian, and a wiser person. Listen to you elders is an old saying but there is truth in it. Am I a complete Christian, no, am I a better one, Yes. Will  I ever be a complete Christian, I doubt it but I/you need to keep trying

James 1:5  If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:6  But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:7  Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. James 1:8  Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

These verses caused me to pause. Verse 6  But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Divided loyalty is the issue here. Does that mean that you doubt God at some point? Does it mean that you believe in God but consider other religions to be correct also. Lets cover the last point first. The Bible has many prophecies in it. It is said that about 1/3 of the Bible is about prophecies. most of them have been completed. How about other religions and their books? Not one prophecy stated has been completed. Jesus said. John 14:6  Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me. So if you consider other religions an alternative to Christianity you have a divided loyalty. Therefore you need to look at verse 7 closely because you fit that verse. James 1:7  Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

What about doubt? Doubt is normal for most people. Christianity is difficult religion to believe in with today's thinking. Does that make you qualify for divided loyalty? Lee Strobel wrote in his book "The case for Christianity answer book" page 179.

·         "Doubt is not the opposite of faith; the opposite is unbelief."

·         "Doubt is normal. Virtually every thinking person-regardless of beliefs-at times has doubts."

·         "Even King David, John the Baptist, and the Apostle Thomas doubted-yet they are considered heroes of our faith."

·         "Doubts are not necessarily destructive; they actually strengthen our faith."

He goes on in the book and discussed things that will help doubt. The book is a good read so check it out. So many people doubt because they had a tragedy in their lives. That is a big topic that I cannot tackle here. The one thing I would say was it man's doing or God's doing. Think through that.

James 1:9  Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. James 1:10  And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. James 1:11  The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.

James 1:12  God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. James 1:13  And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and He never tempts anyone else. James 1:14  Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. James 1:15  These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. James 1:16  So don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. James 1:17  Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. James 1:18  He chose to give birth to us by giving us His true word. And we, out of all creation, became His prized possession.

What is Temptation? When Victoria's Secrets advertises a garment are you tempted? The man is looking at one thing and the woman is looking at it differently. Do you think this advertisement is from God? Not to likely. When a man lusts after another woman do you think that thought is from God? In our culture we emphasize sex. Underwear adds, Toothpaste so you can have a more attractive smile, Jeans advertisement the tighter the better right? Our nation, culture and desires have denigrated our belief in God. We are being driven from schools, speech, political correctness etc.

Have you ever had a perfect moment with God? James 1:17  Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. James 1:18  He chose to give birth to us by giving us His true word. And we, out of all creation, became His prized possession. We are his prized possession, do you feel that way? A perfect moment may be during a song or a meeting with a friend. When it happens remember James 1: 17,18. That moment is a gift from God. The Lord's prayer is:
 "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen."
I have embolden (will) That is God's will not our will. War's are started because someone want's dominance over someone else. Do you think that is God's will. The Declaration of Independence has these words in it: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. I think that is how God sees us equal until our free will moves us from God's will.