Good morning,
This week we begin our study of the book of James.
Chapter one explains how to deal with trials and temptations.
The Jewish believers in James’s day were being persecuted. They had been driven out of Jerusalem and were scattered abroad. James encourages those scattered Jewish believers on how to conduct themselves during this time.
James 1
1. Trials and Temptations (Verses 1-12)
Greeting v 1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
Count it all joy v 2-4
Divers temptations or trials v 2
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Trying of your faith works patience v 3-4
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Lack wisdom-ask God in faith v 5-7
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.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.7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Double minded man v 8
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Brother of low degree (humble circumstances) vs. the rich v 9-11
Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
Endure temptation v 12
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
James begins with his greeting. His recipients are the Jewish believers from the twelve tribes of Israel. Due to the persecution of the Romans, these people were scattered.
James makes a strange statement in verse 2. He tells the scattered Jewish believers to “…count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” Why would he say this? The trying of our faith works patience. So God wants us to be patient while we are going through trials. He wants us to remember who is in charge. God knows what we are going through and wants us to rely on Him.
God does not leave us alone. He is willing to give us His wisdom, if we are willing to ask in faith, nothing wavering. Trouble is, that most times we try to deal with our trials in our own wisdom. It usually does not go well.
Then he deals with the “double minded man”. We are strange creatures. We have access to God’s wisdom, knowledge, love, mercy, and grace, yet we want have one foot in the world and one foot on God. Double minded. God wants all of us. The question is: do we want all of God?
Lastly, James tells his readers to endure temptation. When trials and temptations come, do we allow them to take over our lives or endure?
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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