James 1 - 2

James 1:1-18 – Faith Revealed in Trials

The book of James was authored by James.  Who was James?  There are several people in scripture called James.  This James was the step-brother of Jesus.  James grew up with Jesus, but didn’t believe He was the Messiah until after His resurrection.  James became a leader of the church and served God.  He addressed this letter to Christians everywhere.  He wrote to teach Christians how to act like Christians.  He wanted to help believers live out their faith and to see life as a series of tests.  We are to consider it pure joy when we are faced with trials and temptations, because we know the results.  It produces patience, perseverance and grows our faith.  We know He is at work in our lives.  As Christians we endure exploitation and slander, because we are followers of Jesus.  We experience this because Jesus experienced it.

Why does God allow trials and suffering?  God has given us free will and the suffering is usually a result from the choices we make.  Sometimes God allows suffering to guide His children back to the right path when they have strayed.  Sometimes we suffer because of the sins of others.  Remember we do live in a fallen evil world.  We all suffer because man corrupted everything in God’s world when he sinned in the Garden of Eden.   Sometimes God allows suffering to increase a believer’s faith and show their witness to the world.  Some suffering is to bring glory to God.

What a perfect message at this time in our lives.  We are going through a huge trial today – the pandemic of the coronavirus.  A few weeks ago we were eating in restaurants, going to ball games and movies, shopping in the malls, children were going to school, and grocery store shelves were fully stocked.  Then the coronavirus happened.  Things are very different now.  We are isolated at home.  Some are working from home, doing homework from home, and some are out of work.  It’s a fearful time for many.  At last count the virus has made over 2,000,000 sick with over 162,000 deaths.  

How do we maintain our faith in such hard times?  James tells us to consider it pure joy when we go through trials, because of what can happen through the hardships in the end.  We’re not happy about what’s going on in our world right now.  But don’t confuse happiness with joy.  Joy is deeper than happiness and is based on how you think about something, not how you feel.

Do you what a faith that can bring you through your trial?  We all want a deep faith to get us through hard times.  We can’t have deep faith if we don’t go through trials and sufferings.  When you choose to endure the hardship, your faith grows deeper.  “So do not worry…. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness…. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matt. 6:31-34.  Trust God and He will bring you through it. 

Faith is proven real when we are tested.  How we live our lives shows our faith.  We think life should be fair, but hardships and trials come to everyone.  We should be joyful because of what we know.  God is developing us.  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purposes.” – (Romans 8:28).  How does He use a trial to develop us? – moment by moment.  Running doesn’t eliminate the trial.  The only way is to go through it.

James said if we lack wisdom, we should ask God for wisdom.  When we pray we should believe and not doubt.  Is it sinful to doubt?  We are all human and we have doubts from time to time.  We can doubt what someone says and disagree with them.  Sometimes doubt can lead us to more study, knowledge and maturity.  The doubt that is a sin is when we don’t trust God and His promises.  We should surrender our will to God in trials.  Our belief is what keeps us stable.  When we doubt, we begin to get tossed around mentally and emotionally.  James calls this kind of person double-minded and unstable.

How much confidence do you have in God’s wisdom and goodness? 

When tempted, don’t say it’s God who tempted you.  God cannot tempt anyone and no one can tempt God.  We are tempted by our own evil desires.   We’re dragged away and enticed.  That desire gives birth to sin, which leads to death.  James said “don’t be deceived”.  All good and perfect gifts come from above from God.  He chose to give us birth through the Word of Truth. 

No one is exempt from temptation, but God never tempts.  Even Jesus was tempted.  There is temptation everywhere you look in this world.  We are tempted to gossip.  We are tempted to lie to make ourselves look good.  We are tempted to argue our political views.  We are tempted in many ways.  We live in a sexually immoral world.  Sex is portrayed everywhere – TV, movies, magazines, etc.  Couples are living together as if that was the way it was supposed to be – even Christians.  Babies are being born and then couples get married.  When we give in to temptation, we let Satan get a foothold and then we have sin in our lives.  America is giving in to Satan with our selfish and lustful desires and one day we as a nation will be sorry for His judgment is coming.  “For the wages of sin is death...” – (Romans 6:23). 

Where is your faith today?

How useful is your faith in temptation?  Trials reveal our true attitude toward God. 

Where are you on the surrender scale?

How can we avoid falling into sin?  We can stay away from places and situations where we might be tempted.  Send a message to Hollywood by not watching those “R” rated movies.  Stay in His Word and fix your eyes on Jesus.  We can use the full Armor of God. – (Eph. 6:10-18). 

Principle:  God’s purpose in all trials is to develop spiritual maturity.

James 1:19-27-2:1-13 – Faith Revealed in Attitude

James lists several ways a Christian should behave.  We should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.  Usually anger comes from being self-centered.  If we are eager to listen and slow to speak, we are others-centered.  Our anger simply promotes our own agenda.  Our anger doesn’t bring about the righteous life that God desires for us.  We should get rid of all moral filth and evil and humbly accept His Word planted in us.  We should watch our tongues.  Our tongues will get us into trouble every time. 

We are to not only be hearers of the Word, but be doers of the Word.  Many hear God’s Word on Sunday mornings at church, but they are not doers of the Word.  One way to be doers is to bridle the tongue.  James uses the example of someone who is religious, but is not really right with God which is evident because he doesn’t bridle his tongue. 

Do you gossip?

When was the last time you walked away when gossip started?

James says the real walk with God can be seen by looking after orphans and widows in times of their distress and to keep yourself from being polluted by the world.  Who are the orphans and widows and how do we help them?  They are the less fortunate and are all around us.  We can visit the sick and elderly, send them encouraging cards, mow their yard, run errands for them, take them to their appointments, etc.  We can donate money or give our time to organizations like Salvation Army, the Red Cross, food and clothing banks, etc.  There are many ways.  Just look around and you will find them.

How eager are you to hearing from God?

Do you study the Word out of habit or hunger? 

Do you accept God’s Word as authoritive living?

Ask yourself, “Am I living as a hypocrite”?

How has God placed in your heart the love for others? 

Has it changed you?

Who is on your mind that is lonely and thirsty for love?

James says we should not discriminate.  Don’t shun those who are different from you or whose appearances don’t live up to what you think they should.  God shows no favoritism.  “But if you show favoritism, you sin …” – (James 2:9).  None of us are perfect.  We are human and we all break the 10 Commandments.  There’s nothing we can do on our own to make up for it.  But Jesus did.  He died on the cross for everyone.  He paid for our sins, which make us perfect in God’s eyes.

The poor man may not have earthly riches, but if he is a believer he has something greater than he could ever imagine.  He is an heir of God.  One who has Christ has all the spiritual blessings of Heaven for eternity.  The rich man (if unsaved), has only his worldly riches to hold to.  So if rich or poor, we are equal.  God does not look at our bank account.  He does not show favoritism by the clothes we wear or the company we keep.  The rich are not any higher, because of their riches.  It’s all going to fade away anyway.  If we are Christians, we all have the wealth of salvation, which is an eternal value.  Worldly things are not eternal.  God had chosen the poor, but not because there is a benefit to being poor.  Here in this James passage the poor are a class of humble people who put their trust in God.  They depend on Him, not on things they own.  God chose rich and poor people who trust in Him.  They all have a place in the kingdom of God. 

We are to keep the royal law which is, “Love your neighbor as yourselves” – James 2:8, Matt. 22:39, Mark 12:31.  It is the royal law because it comes from our great King Jesus.  If we keep this law we are doing right, but if we show favoritism we sin.  Judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who hasn’t been merciful.  Mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:8-13).

Principle:   Authentic faith produces genuine love for others.

James 2:14-26 – Faith Revealed in Deeds.

James gave examples of both false faith and authentic faith.  False faith knows about saving faith, but is a stranger to living by it.  This faith in only an intellectual faith and is useless, but it has no value and produces no results.  Authentic faith is a complete faith with words and deeds working together.  Authentic faith lives in hearts born for obedient service that works in cooperation with the Spirit to please God.

Faith without action is not a saving faith.  Real faith produces action and changes your heart.  Our works (deeds) don’t save us, but faith without works is dead.  “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” – Eph. 2:8-9.  We might be a good person, but being good doesn’t count.  Being a good person or having faith without works does not bring salvation to a person.  Our deeds are the proof of our faith.  We have to do more than just believe.  Even the demons believe in Jesus.  We have to put our belief and faith into action like that of Abraham and Rahab.  They believed, had faith and followed with actions.  That’s true faith.  Works don’t save us.  Every believer knows God and that He died on the cross, but if we don’t fully surrender, we are lost, separated from God and destined to Hell for eternity.

James tells us there are three elements of true or saving faith: (1) The first element of faith is to believe – to embrace the basic teachings of Christ; (2) Then faith involves our response to what God has done - not only did Jesus die on the cross for all, but that He died for you and me; (3) Finally, faith involves trust or commitment - trust in His promises and commit to living to please Him.

Put all these elements together and faith means that you receive Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord and are committed to following Him.  Does this describe your life? 

Principle:  Authentic saving faith transforms our hearts to love and to serve like Christ.

How do people know you have committed your life to Jesus?

How are you displaying love to others?

Does your faith prove authentic love?

Do you struggle to live out what you believe? 

Join me here next week as we continue our study of the book of James  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

 _______________________________________

If you have enjoyed my post and have found if helpful, please leave a comment or share this post with the buttons below.

You can follow this blog by clicking "Subscribe by Email".  If you follow by email, you will receive an email every time there is a new post.