This page is a sort of look into the book of James. I will post on the home page when I update this page. I really like this book of the Bible just because it can relate to anyone most of this is just my opinion on the verses, and I would be very thankful for any corrections or comments. Thanks for Reading!
So most people would skip the first verse of James 1, because its just a greeting. The first verse, however, is essential to understanding who James was writing to and what he was writing about.
"James a slave of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the 12 Nations in the Dispersion, Greetings."
~James 1:1~
Now James, in this message stated first that he was a slave of God, he is trying to show us that we should not just have God as our Savior, but also as our leader. We must give up the throne to him. The reference to the 12 nations simply means, I believe, that the message in this book is to anyone and everyone who wants to read it. He has no true audience or intended message, but sets a major example by the first five words.
"Consider It a GREAT joy my brother whenever you experience various trials,"
~James 1:2~
Here, in the second verse, James tells us to consider it a GREAT joy whenever we experience trials. Reference this with 2 Corinthians 12:9 and we see that God's strength, though never derived from us, is made perfect through our weakness. God's glory is shown when we are at our lowest, and we STILL take joy in the Lord. Just like Job, we must seek to glorify God always. That God's glory and grace may be seen for its true beauty and wonder. We must always seek to take joy in our trials and tribulations, because that is what the Lord requires of us, to glorify Him. If we do not take joy in our trials, we are saying that God has cursed us and that we feel that we do not deserve whatever has happened to us, when in truth we deserve all of that and much more. We deserve Hell, and no matter what the Lord gives us, as long as you are alive He has given that moment to you so that you can come closer to Him and bring others closer to Him as well. Always take joy. Of course we cannot always do it, because we are not perfect, but God wants us to strive to be perfect. Do your best and be joyful whenever you can!
"Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience,"
~James 1:3~
Verse 3 talks about the trials. God allows these trials to come because it tests your faith. He has a reason for everything, just like it talks about in 2 Corinthians 12:8. Even Judas's betrayal was used by God in order to further His kingdom, allowing the whole world to be saved. From these trials, we gain patience. We learn to seek the Lord in everything we do, waiting on Him to rescue us from our hardships. This patience gives us strength for the next test we encounter so that we may progressively grow closer to him with each trial. We can remember that He is our rock and refuge. Remember Him and never grow weary, because you will always grow with Him no matter what happens.
"But patience must complete its work, that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing."
~James 1:4~
This verse still goes back to the second and third, "Consider it a great joy my brethren, whenver you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." The first two say that taking joy in everything produces patience. This one here says that you should continue in that, taking joy all the time, conintuously. This will cause us to complete and mature, "lacking nothing." This is important as well, because in order for us to take joy in everything that happens to us, we must have God. There is no other possible solution for this, and when we take joy in everything continuously, we will continuously have God. When James says "lacking nothing" this is a way of saying that God is all we need, because when we continuously have him, we will lack nothing.
This is something that I find extremely difficult, because I try and take joy in things using things other than God. I try and say that some trial or other is fine with me because I have my friends to help me through it. I don't ask God or recognize God's helping hand in half the things I do. This is why I lack and this is why most everyone lacks, because they do not find God in everything they do. Do you find God everywhere?
"And if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing."
~James 1:5~
Here James is saying that if anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask for it from God, and he can trust that it will be given to him. Earlier in the chapter, James was saying that we must take joy in our trials in order to gain patience. In addition, we must have God in everything. He realizes human nature, and knows that we cannot find God everywhere like we should. In response to this, he says "if any of you lacks wisdom" which would be everyone because no one is able to find God in everything always. He tells us that we can ask God for the wisdom to remember him and to know that He is always there. After that, he tells us that God will always give it to us so long as we trust that God will provide. So when you can't remember Him, ask Him to keep Himself on your heart day in and day out, and He will provide.
"But let him ask in faith without doubting, for the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That man shall expect nothing from the Lord. The indecisive man is unstable in all his ways."
~James 1:6-8~
James here tells us to trust in God. We must have faith that God will provide for us. The ones who doubt God will go to and fro between Him and other idols, waiting to see what they get from each area, weighing the benefits and then choosing their best option. That man should expect nothing from the Lord. The one who does not expect anything from the Lord will not recieve anything because he tries to use God like a little wish-generator to get what he wants. God will give him nothing. The indecisive man is unstable in all his ways because when he goes to and fro, he chooses the best results he can get, but if God gives him nothing, he will go somewhere else and put his faith there. His instability comes from the fact that he trusts those things and they fail in the long run. He is unstatisfied.
He puts his faith in something other than God because God does not give him anything. God does not give him anything because this man puts his faith in worldly things like people and other idols. So how on earth can God bring him closer to Himself if this happens? Because God does not give him anything. God lets the man put his faith in false idols, and when they fail, that man will realize that God is the answer, God is eternal, and God will fulfill him. So always put your faith in God and know that He WILL fulfill your needs if you trust Him to.
"The brother of humble circumstances should boast in his exaltation but the one who is rich should boast in his humiliation, for he will fade away like a flower of the field."
~James 1: 9-10~
So lets see I'm rich, rich in what? Rich in spirit, in God, in love, and feelings, in thought, in gifts, a lot of things. I'm poor, poor in what? Poor in money, will power, speed-thought, and word-making. What is James trying to say here? Who is he addressing? In truth, upon looking at this verse, it doesn't matter. James says boast, but he does not say boast of yourself. In truth, he is saying to boast in God. The one of humble circumstances should boast of God's grace and mercy, bringing him to such a high position. While the one who is rich should boast in his humiliation, because he should boast in being humbled, because, as said in 2 Corinthians 12:5, "of such a man I will boast, but of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities." The humbling of someone brings them closer to the Lord, as shown through the laws of undulation (C.S. Lewis Screwtape Letters) where you go down to a depressing low, but the Lord brings you out closer to him. So no matter where you come from, where you go, always boast in the Lord, whether you will be humbled to a simple field flower, or brought up to the most important person in the world. Semper Tuo Da Gloriam.
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"For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass, its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man will also fade away in his pursuits."
~James 1: 11-12~
The sun rises and it withers the grass and destroys the flowers and all beautiful appearance of it, the rich man will fade away in a similar manner. Everything that appears beautiful simply vanishes and is destroyed by God. He removes all sense of existential being, simply getting rid of all outer appearance. The same thing happens to the rich man. He gets all caught up in making money and being rich and looking good, that he loses sight of God. When the time comes, his riches and wonderful appearances will similarly be removed by God and he will be seen for that which he is. The man that stores up his treasures on earth will lose them, and will be nothing in the eyes of God, who never knew him. That man strives and strives to accomplish things on his own, but fails because he lacks the one true God. He has no solid foundation, and when the foundation is assaulted by waters, he will fall into his foundation of sand and be lost. Be not like the rich man. Keep your focus on God always, because he will support you. Be humble in all you do, and know that what you do should be to glorify God. Do not fall away from Him, but know that he is with you and will protect you so long as you trust in him. Ultimately, Lay up your treasures in heaven. Semper Tuo Da Gloriam.
"Blessed is the man who endures temptation for when he has been approved he shall recieve the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him. But do not let anyone say when he is tempted, "I have been tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. And when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown, brings forth death."
~James 1:13-16~
So this big chunk is held together by the theme of temptation. James says here first that those who are able to endure the temptation that is set before them will receive the crown of life from God. The crown of life. I am going to look into this a little deeper, but just the sound of that, the crown of life. Doesn't that sound amazing? On top of that we know that God doesn't tempt us, He simply allows temptation to be placed before us so that we can grow closer and closer to Him. It is a wonderful thing that is so totally worth the trial and tribulation that is put in our lives. God does not tempt us, but he allows us to be drawn away by our desires that turns into sin. This sin leads to our death. We sin every single day, and thus, we live in death. The only thing able to renew us from that death is God. He is our redeemer and friend, and we always need Him to remind us that He is always there for us. Semper Tuo Da Gloriam.
