 
I. Problems And Believers: 1:1-12 A. The Reason We Have Problems (1:1-4)  James 1:1 "James a servant [ doulos {doo'-los} = a slave, bond-servant, one pledged or bound to serve, a devoted servant ] of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, [ diaspora {dee-as-por-ah'} = dispersion, i.e. Jewish resident in Gentile countries, scattered abroad ] greeting." The book of James opens with the half-brother of Jesus (see introduction) identifying himself as the bond-servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. This opening statement points out the truth that to be a "servant" of the Lord's, a person must first recognize that Jesus Christ is Lord. The word "Lord" means "Master" or "Sovereign." Too many Christians live as though they are the masters, and not the servants that we are called to be. The Word "servant" doesn't imply that once a person becomes a Christian they become involuntary slaves, but the word conveys the idea of being a bond-slave or a devoted servant. "A bond-slave during the time of Christ was a slave who was released, but willingly made the choice of indefinite slavery" (Exodus.21:6). A pierced ear probably meant obedience to the master's voice.
In order to have a proper attitude, we must make Christ the Lord of our lives or we are serving the wrong master. The Apostle James also tells us to whom he is writing in this verse. The word "scattered" comes from the Greek word, "diaspora" which refers to the Jews who were scattered among the Gentiles as their ancestors had been during the days of captivity. Here James is writing to those Jewish Christians that were scattered to the East in Babylon and Mesopotamia. Some have claimed that the "twelve tribes" are to be taken metaphorically as the Gentile church scattered around the Roman Empire, but this is not consistent with a literal translation (see introduction). James 1:2 "My brethren [ adelphos {ad-el-fos'} = from the same womb, brother, one of the same nation or nature, of equal rank and dignity, an associate ], count it all joy, when ye fall into divers [ poikilois) {poy-kee'-los} = various in character, divers ] temptations;" [ peirasmois {pi-ras-mos'} = a putting to proof, experience of evil, adversity, temptation ] James uses the word "brethren" in writing to Christians throughout this book in reference to other Christians. The word means "from the same womb" which is a good description of all true believers because we are all "born anew" the same way (John 3:3-8; 1 Peter 1:23). Now James addresses the issue of believers being over taken by various temptations and adversities in their lives. The troubles that James is addressing here are those difficulties designed to prove or strengthen our faith. Like metal that is tested by heat to bring out its strength and purity. This is why we can count it all joy in our trials, because God is purifying us, making us stronger. The Bible Knowledge Commentary points out that, "It is important to note that James did not say that a believer should be joyous FOR the trials but IN the trials." The believer's joy is based on his relationship with Christ, and it is Christ that will see us through (1 Cor.10:13). While the Devil tempts us to bring out the worst in us, God tests us to bring out the best in us.
James 1:3 "knowing that the trying [ dokimion {dok-im'-ee-on} = a testing; trial, trying ] of your faith worketh [ katergazetai) {kat-er-gad'-zom-ahee} = to work fully, accomplish, fashion, cause, work out ] patience." [ upomonen {hoop-om-on-ay'} = endurance, patience, perseverance or constancy under suffering in faith and duty, the precept of constancy toward God, waiting ] James begins this verse by telling us that we need to recognize or understand the value of these various trials that we go through. If we cannot discern what God's purpose is for us to go through trials, then how can we ever expect to learn and grow from our experiences? It's when we learn from our encounters with the various trials in our lives that we can grow and mature in our Christian faith. James tells us here why we have trials, "the trying of your faith." Trials come our way to test our faith. None of us really grow in faith when things are going smoothly, because it is not difficult to live the Christian life on Sunday from 9:30 till noon. It's not how we act in church, but how we act in a crisis that tests our faith. Notice that the book of James emphasized "works", but it begins with "faith". The second reason for trials is that the testing of our faith produces "patience" in the believer. The word "patience" in the Greek is stronger than just being patient, but rather it refers to tenacity, a keep on keeping on type of attitude. James is telling us that trials are not intended to weaken us, but to strengthen us. Trials build endurance in us not only so we can compete in the race, but that we can run to win the race also (I Cor. 9:23-27).
James 1:4 "But let patience [ upomonen {hoop-om-on-ay'} = endurance, patience, perseverance or constancy under suffering in faith and duty, the precept of constancy toward God, waiting ] have her perfect [ teleion {tel'-i-os} = complete, of full age, perfect, brought to its end, wanting nothing necessary to completeness ] work, that ye may be perfect [ teleioi {tel'-i-os} = complete, completeness, of full age, perfect, mature ] and entire, [ olokleroi {hol-ok'-lay-ros} = complete in every part, perfectly sound in body, entire, whole, used as getting cargo out of a ship undamaged ] wanting nothing. [ medeni {may-dice'} = not even one (man, woman, thing), anything, none, not to have anything left behind ] In verse four, James gives a third reason why we face trials. Believers have trials so that they can grow spiritually. Twice in the verse, James uses the term "perfect," which carries the idea of making something complete in every part or in its entirety. In other words, trials cause us to mature and be complete. Warren Wiersbe points out that God builds character before He calls us to service, and that God must work in us before He can work through us. We must keep in mind when going through various trials in our lives, that God, like a loving parent, is working a labor of love in us to help us to grow up into mature and useful spiritual adults. G. Coleman Luck says: "The goal of this patient endurance in testing is that all the rough edges of our character may be made smooth and that we may be complete in all the graces God wants us to have." James also tells us that God is doing his work in us so that we will be "wanting nothing." This literally means, "not to have anything left behind, not to fall short or to be inferior." These should be words of comfort to all of us who are experiencing trials, knowing that we have a heavenly Father who wants to give us everything that we need to grow, not wanting to hold one thing back. We must remember that when we have trials in our lives, our attitude will often determine our outcome. We must remember the old phrase, "no pain, no gain." Our trials may be painful, but they will get us to the point of where God wants us, lacking nothing. William Barclay sums it up like this: "If a man meets his testing in the right way, if day by day he develops this unswerving constancy, then day by day he will live more victoriously, and day by day he will reach nearer to the standard of Jesus Christ Himself"
B. How To Resolve Problems (1:5-8) James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, [ sophias {sof-ee'-ah} = wisdom (higher or lower, worldly or spiritual ] let him ask [ aiteito {ahee-teh'-o} = to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require ] of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, [ oneidizontos {on-i-did'-zo} = God will not scold you for asking, to defame, rail at, chide, taunt, revile ] and it shall be given him."
Verse 5, is the only prayer promise in the Bible that has a "100% guarantee" to be answered positively; the giving of wisdom. James tells us that we are to pray for wisdom when going through trials. Tommy Higle defines wisdom as: "The ability to take our intelligence and use it to apply our knowledge to our problems. Divine wisdom helps us to endure our problems and thus not waste God given opportunities for maturity" J. Vernon McGee defines biblical wisdom as: "Wisdom is to know how to act under certain circumstances of testing, of trial, or when problems or questions arise. Life is filled with these, and you and I need wisdom from God" I think one of the best definitions is given by William MacDonald: "Spiritual wisdom is the practical application of our Lord's teachings to everyday situations." We must not confuse wisdom with knowledge. We live in the "Information Age," and it has been said that "knowledge is power." To the world, knowledge is an end into its own self, but biblical wisdom goes beyond this. There's a lot of people today who are knowledgeable, but do not have wisdom. The Christians' wisdom comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit who leads and guides us unto all understanding (John 14:26; Rom.8:14). Biblical wisdom allows us to apply biblical truth to our own lives and circumstances so that we can grow spiritually. God's giving nature is also revealed in this verse (contrast this with man's giving nature!). James tells us that God gives wisdom "liberally," or "bountifully." Since God's purpose is to help us to grow spiritually through our trials, then why wouldn't He freely give us the wisdom to cope with our circumstances? God holds nothing back when we ask for wisdom in dealing with our problems. In fact, if most Christians would just study their Bibles they would find the answers to many of their problems before they would ever have to ask! But James' point here is that we have a God who wants us to grow spiritually, and is willing to help by giving us all the divine wisdom we need to make it through our trials. We have God's promise in this verse that we will never hear God scold us for asking. "The only condition for all this is that we have to ask."
James 1:6 "But let him ask [ aiteito {ahee-teh'-o} = to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require ] in faith, nothing [ meden {may-dice} = not even one (man, woman, thing), anything, none ] wavering. [ diakrinomenos {dee-ak-ree'-no} = to separate thoroughly, to withdraw from or oppose, hesitate, doubt, stagger, waver ] For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with wind and tossed. James now tells us that when we pray and ask God for wisdom we must do it with faith. "The greatest enemy to answered prayer is unbelief." This reminds me of the story about a farm community who came together to pray for rain to end a drought. But the only one who had faith that God would answer their prayer was a little girl who showed up carrying an umbrella. So often we go through the motions of prayer, but we really don't believe that God will answer our prayers. The Greek word for "faith" (pistis) speaks of a "persuasion, assurance, or of clutching God". When we pray and ask God for wisdom, we need to be fully persuaded that God will answer us without any hesitation or doubt. James says that those who do waver are like the waves on the sea, one moment they are up and then the next they are down. This is speaking about those believers who say they will trust God to answer their prayers, but then turn around and rely on themselves.
James 1:7 "For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord" James tells us in verse 7, that the prayers of flip-flopping Christians are faithless prayers, and God will not honor them. In fact, they shouldn't even expect God to answer them. James commands (he uses the imperative volitional command of "think") them not to even think that God will answer them! J. Vernon McGee says, "If you are going to work out your problem for yourself, then God cannot work it out for you." Many Christians today think that God is under an obligation to give them whatever they ask, but James puts this false concept to rest in the next verse. James 1:8 "A double minded [ dipsuchos {dip'-soo-khos} = two-spirited, vacillating (in opinion or purpose), double minded ] man is unstable in all his ways [ odois {hod-os'}; a road, a progress (the route, act or distance), journey ] Not only should the believer who wavers expect nothing, James tells us that they are "double minded." They are literally, "two-spirited" or "vacillating." In other words "their hearts, minds, and loyalties are divided between God and the world". He will not fully commit himself to God. And we know that Jesus said concerning this:
These Christians had divided hearts, and as a result they are "unstable in all their ways." In other words, they are inconsistent in their Christian walk because they cannot seem to make their mind up whom they will trust or follow. There is a continual battle within them over this issue. Believers need to make up their minds like Joshua, "...choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15), then God can and will give us the wisdom we need to handle those trials that come our way.
C. The Result Of Going Through Problems (1:9-11) James 1:9 "Let the brother [ adelphos {ad-el-fos'} = from the same womb, brother, one of the same nation or nature, of equal rank and dignity, an associate ] of low degree [ tapeinos {tap-i-nos'} = base, cast down, humble, of low degree (estate), lowly, the person in the valley place ] rejoice in that he is exalted." [ upsei {hoop'-sos} = dignity, be exalted, height, on high, to put up on the mountain ] James now tells us that the Christian needs to rejoice not because of their earthly circumstances or their poor economic situation, but because of their spiritual position. The brother of "low degree" is speaking about those who find themselves hitting "rock bottom", they are literally in the "valley place." James says that when we find a Christian brother hitting rock bottom, we can rejoice because God can "exalt" them. This carries the idea of lifting someone up to put them up high on the top of the mountain. "How do you get up to the top of the mountain?" By being humble and letting God lift you up. God sometimes has to allow the proud heart to be broken before He can use it. Proverbs 11:2 says:
When trials come your way, rejoice! Because God is getting ready to lift you up and place you where He wants you.
James 1:10 "But the rich, [ plousios {ploo'-see-os} = wealthy, abounding with, rich ] in that he is made low: [ tapeinosei {tap-i'-no-sis} = depression (in rank or feeling), humiliation, be made low, low estate ] because as the flower of grass he shall pass away." [ pareleusetai {par-er'-khom-ahee} = go by or away, perish or neglect, pass (away, by, over) ] James tells us in verses 10 and 11 that the rich man cannot buy his way out of his trials either. Like the poor man who has to be humbled so God can lift him up, the rich man cannot rely upon the earthly things to see him through his trials. Trials help the rich to see the vanity of riches, because in spite of having wealth he is still made low. James also points out the fact that all the wealth that this world can provide is still only temporary in light of eternity. Therefore "a rich man should rejoice when he is made low so that God can elevate him also". Foy Valentine stated this best: "Riches may buy special status in this world's clubs but in the church, bought by the blood of Christ, everybody is somebody"
D. Our Reward (1:12) James 1:12 "Blessed [ makarios {mak-ar'-ee-os} = supremely blest, fortunate, well off, blessed, happy ] is a man that endureth [ upomenei {hoop-om-en'-o} = remain, to undergo, bear (trials), persevere, endure, one who stands up alone when they are tested ] temptation: for when he is tried, [ dokimos {dok'-ee-mos} = acceptable, approved, tried ] he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. James ends this section with a "beatitude", or God's definition of contentment. "Blessed" means "happy, fortunate," or "supremely blest." James said that "we can have an inward happiness that is not dependent upon any outside circumstances or events". Happiness doesn't come from never having trials, but in having victory over our trials. There is also a reward for those who are able to "endure," which literally means "one who stands up alone when they are tested." In other words, "happy is the man who stands his ground when temptations (trials) come his way." The reason they can be happy is because God is using these adverse circumstances in their lives to mature them, and knowing this should cause us to rejoice. Another reason why a believer can find happiness in trials is that they will receive a reward for their faithfulness from the Lord. The "Crown of Life" isn't speaking about eternal life, but refers to a reward. This pictures a victorious Greek runner who is rewarded with a wreath or crown being placed on his head. There are five rewards referred to as crowns in the New Testament;
All believers have eternal life, but not all believers will receive the crown of life. This crown will be given only to those who endure and are faithful till the end (Rev.2:10). "Trials can make us better people, or they can make us bitter people." I know of no Christian who is bitter when they stand firm upon God's promises.
A. Where Temptations Come From (1:13-14) James 1:13 "Let no man say when he is tempted, [ peirazomenos {pi-rad'-zo} = to test, enticement to sin, to solicit to sin, to tempt; the same word used before for tested, but the context has changed in this passage ], I am tempted [ peirazomenos = same as above ] of God: for God cannot be tempted [ apeirastos {ap-i'-ras-tos} = untried, not temptable, not liable to temptation to sin, inexperienced ] with evil , neither tempteth he any man" James now addresses a different type of problem that Christians may face, "temptations." In the previous verses James dealt with trials that come from outside sources, but now he focuses on temptations which sometimes can be harder to handle because it often concerns our thoughts and desires. While both of the words "trials" and "temptations" use the same root Greek word, "peirazo," the context has changed in this passage (often it is the context which assigns the meaning to a word). In this passage of Scripture, "peirazo" carries the idea of being tempted or enticed by evil. Think of it this way, a "test" is from God for our strength (spiritual growth), and a "temptation" is normally self generated (often deals with moral issues). James also states here that everyone is tempted (no one is exempt). So it's not a matter of " if " you will be tempted, but a matter of " when " you will be tempted. This is important because temptations are something that all believers will be faced with as long as they are in this world. James' point is clear, while temptation may be associated with the trials sent to us from God, we are not to think of temptation in the sense of solicitation to evil as coming from God. God's purpose for trials is to help us grow spiritually and away from sin, not toward it. Stated more clearly, "God does not send trials to make you worse, but better." We know this to be true, because James plainly states that God cannot be tempted with evil, nor does He tempt with evil. Often Christians will blame God for evil things that come their way, but they are wrong to do so according to this verse. Lets put the blame where it belongs and not where it doesn't. According to Genesis 3:1-8, we are shown who the real tempter is, and we see it again in Matthew 4:3, "And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." Being tempted is not a sin, but giving in to it is a sin.
James 1:14 "But every man is tempted, [ peirazetai {pi-rad'-zo} = to test, enticement to sin, to solicit to sin, to tempt; the same word used before for tested, but the context has changed in this passage ] when he is drawn away [ exelkomenos {ex-el'-ko} = to drag forth (as with fishing nets: to drag the net in tow), entice to sin, draw away, allure ] of his own [ idias {id'-ee-os} = one's own, when they were alone, apart, home, private ] lust, [ epithumias {ep-ee-thoo-mee'-ah} = a personalized self-longing (espec. desire for what is forbidden), desire, lust after ] and enticed." [ deleazomenos {del-eh-ad'-zo} = to entrap, take or catch with bait, delude, allure, entice ] In the last verse we saw that Satan is the one who tempts us to sin, but in this verse we will see that "we are responsible for the act of sin, not Satan." It is interesting that James uses "fishing" terms here in verse 14 to describe how temptation works. The first term we see is "drawn away." This is from the Greek word, "exelko," which means "to drag forth as with fishing nets" or "to drag the net in tow." James is using a word picture of fishermen drawing in their net, thus trapping the fish within the nets. "Exelko" can also mean "entice," or "allure," like a fisherman who puts bait on his hook to get the fish's attention. The second word that James uses is "enticed" (deleazo), which carries the idea of "entrapment, enticement," or "alluring." This is the next step in fishing, once you have the fish's attention, then you want the bait to be so alluring that they take the bait before they are aware that there is a hook buried underneath the bait. Now here's where a lot of people stop, and want to blame someone else for their succumbing to the various temptations that are dangled in front of them. But James is clear on this issue, it's not the tempter who is responsible for your actions, but you. I remember the comedian Flip Wilson who made popular the saying, "The devil made me do it!" But James says that the devil didn't make you do it, rather it is your own lust and selfish desires for forbidden things that made you do it. Like that old fish who sits there looking at that worm, and the longer he looks at it the bigger and juicer it gets. And before long, he can't stand it any longer and he takes the bait. Why, because his own desires got the best of him. Not only are Christians like sheep, we are like fish too. The Bible gives us many examples of this; Adam and Eve in the garden, and David and Bathsheba are just a couple of examples of people who succumbed to there own selfish desires that led to sin.
If you have not already done so, please consider trusting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. For more information on Salvation Click Here to view "How can I get to Heaven?"
 
Send E-mail to Russ: webslave for Christ ( Click Here ) with questions or comments about this web site and it's content. Last modified: 4/10/2007 |