James
Chapter 1
Memory verses for this week:
Deu
4:31 (For the LORD thy
God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy
thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto
them..
Introduction:
We begin a new study this week on the book of James.
In the New Testament, there are four men identified with the
name of James. It
is believed that the author of this book was most likely the half
brother of Jesus Christ, since he possessed all of the qualities of
the author. We find he was the one James referred to by his name
alone in Galatians and Acts, and was apparently well known to the
scattered believers. James was a leader in the Jerusalem church, and grew up
in Nazareth. He moved
to Capernaum when Jesus began His public ministry, but like the
other half brothers of Christ, did not truly believe in Jesus as
Lord until the end of Christ’s earthly ministry.
It is believed that the book of James was one of the earliest
books written and was addressed to the 12 scattered tribes of
Israel.
I. Purpose
of Testings
James
1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the
twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
As
mentioned in the introduction, James is the author of this book and
he identifies himself as a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus
Christ. He addresses
the letter to the 12 tribes which are scattered abroad.
We know that 10 of the tribes (those making up the northern
kingdom of Israel), were scattered before the Babylonian captivity.
The final two, Judah and Benjamin, were scattered after
Christ’s death.
James
1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers
temptations;
James
1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
James
exhorts the brethren to count it all joy when they fall into
temptations. He
goes on to explain why in verse 3, as those temptations try our
faith and teach us patience.
The
Believers Study Bible said this about the temptations we face.
In this chapter (vv. 2, 12–14) is found the classic example
of the biblical distinction between “trial” and
“temptation.” “Trials” in v. 2 comes from peirasmos (Gk.), which often means a “fiery trial” or a “proving,” tests
which are for the purpose of building fortitude in the believer. The
word translated “perfect” means the “end” or
“completeness” of a process or thing. The trials are designed to
bring about spiritual maturity and completeness in the believer (v.
3). In vv. 12–14, James makes it clear that God never takes the
initiative in “tempting” men. The general biblical teaching on
this distinction is that whereas God allows men to be tested, He
cannot by His very nature test men with evil intent (v. 13). Clearly
when men are tempted to do evil, it is the consequence of yielding
to Satan’s enticements because of their own fallen sinful natures.
[1]
Rom
5:3 And not only so,
but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh
patience;
Rom
5:4 And patience,
experience; and experience, hope:
Rom
5:5 And hope maketh not
ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the
Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
James
1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be
perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
By
nature, we are inclined to be impatient.
Even Christians sometimes rebel against the ways of God when
those go contrary to their own desires.
As we grow in the grace of patience, we will stop our
rebellion against the will of God.
And as God matures us, we will become Christians of strong
moral character. We
have many examples of God maturing men in this manner.
Job is an excellent example of a man who was tried, and when
tried, he was found faithful to God.
James
1:5 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.
James
1:6 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.
James
1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of
the Lord.
James
1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
God
gives us instructions as to what we should do if we lack wisdom.
We are to come to him and ask.
But when we ask, we are not to come with an attitude of “Oh
well… I’m probably not going to get an answer to this prayer
anyway.” Rather, we
should come EXPECTING to receive an answer.
All men need wisdom. Perhaps
the wisest man who ever lived was King David’s son, Solomon.
He showed wisdom early in his life when given the opportunity
to receive whatever he desired, he chose for God to give him wisdom.
2
Chr 1:7 In that night
did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall
give thee.
2
Chr 1:8 And Solomon
said unto God, Thou hast showed great mercy unto David my father,
and hast made me to reign in his stead.
2
Chr 1:9 Now, O LORD
God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou
hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in
multitude.
2
Chr 1:10 Give me now
wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this
people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?
2
Chr 1:11 And God said
to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked
riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither
yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for
thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made
thee king:
2
Chr 1:12 Wisdom and
knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and
wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have
been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.
Prov
8:11 For wisdom is
better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not
to be compared to it.
Prov
9:8 Reprove not a
scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love
thee.
Prov
9:9 Give instruction to
a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will
increase in learning.
Prov
9:10 The fear of the
LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is
understanding.
Verse
6 says we are to ask in faith not doubting.
The man or woman who prays and doubts is like the waves of
the sea as it is tossed about.
Some one like that will never receive wisdom.
Because this person is unstable and lacks the faith God
requires to acquire wisdom. Verse
8 has a serious warning… a double minded man is unstable in ALL of
his ways. A man or woman like this can not be depended upon.
When I think of a double minded man, a politician comes to
mind. Many
politicians seem to talk out of both sides of their mouth, saying
one thing one time, and something else the other time.
They want to stay popular by being on the side with the
higher mark in the polls.
A backslidden or carnal Christian may try to live for God
some days, and live for the devil too.
But it won’t work. We have to have a single mind dedicated to God to be
blessed of the Lord.
I think it is wise to decide which side we are on, and stay
there. And it needs to
be God’s side. Margaret
Thatcher, the great speaker from England, once said she did not like
to sit on the fence leaning to both sides. She said people on the fence don’t know where the rocks come from, since they will be thrown at you
from both sides. That
is pretty good logic when it comes to making up our minds and
staying with our decision. If
you want to be on the right side, get on God’s side and stay.
James
1:9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
James
1:10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower
of the grass he shall pass away.
James
1:11 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.
Verse
9 points out that we are happy when we are exalted. And God one day will exalt many who are perceived to be
of a low degree. The
man or woman who faithfully serves the Lord year after year in
humble sincerity will one day receive for all the good they have
done. But there is a
warning to those who may not think they need God, that they will be
made low. Just having
money does not make us bad, but trusting in uncertain riches is a
sure way to fail. The
rich man may seem to prosper, but all too soon, he has to die.
Verse 11 reminds us that life is much like the grass of the
field. The grass is
green in early summer, but when the sun is hot and the weather dry,
the grass fades away.
Our lives are short, and we need to live them for the Lord.
I read a while back a quote by Dr. Edward LeWinn.
He said “A long life
may not be good enough, but a good life is long enough.”
His point is that a life lived for the Lord, whether
short or long, has lasting impact and a promise of greater riches
one day from the Lord. We
are to put our treasure in heavenly things.
Mat
6:19 Lay not up for
yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat
6:20 But lay up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat
6:21 For where your
treasure is, there will your heart be also.
James
1:12 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.
There
are several crowns promised in the Word of God. This verse says that if we endure temptation, we shall
receive the crown of life. What
a blessing to know that God will bless us for being faithful to Him.
J.
Vernon McGee said this about enduring temptation.
Testing is one of God’s methods of developing us
in the Christian faith. This is the way He is going to enable us to
grow and develop patience in our lives down here, but He also has
something in mind for the future—“the crown of life.”
Testing of any kind, but especially if it is a
severe calamity or tragedy, has a tendency to produce a miasma of
pessimism and hopelessness. I do not blame the man whose wife was
ill with Parkinson’s disease for feeling like he did. I do not
blame him for asking, “Why?” But the child of God can have the
confidence that God is doing it for a very definite reason and that
He has a purpose in it all.
However, the man of the world will sink
beneath the waves of adversity. Life, even at its best, makes him
pessimistic. How many pessimists are there today? How many cynics?
How many are there who are filled with bitterness, although they
have everything? We are seeing an epidemic of suicides among
teenagers, and thousands of other young people are dropping out of
society today. Why? It is because they have no goal in life. One of
the more sensible news commentators made this remark: “Back during
the depression people had a will to live and there were very few
suicides, but today when everything has been given to them they want
to die.”
When
faith is tested and surrounded by darkness, when the waves are
rolling high and all seems lost, the child of God knows that this is
not the end. It may be gloom now, but it will be glory later on. As
the psalmist said, “… weeping may endure for a night, but joy
cometh in the morning” (Ps. 30:5). James says here, “He shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to
them that love him.” [2]
II. Temptation to do Evil is Not of God
James
1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for
God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
James
1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own
lust, and enticed.
In
the first verses of this chapter, James spoke of temptation in
regards to testing or undergoing a trial.
Now he speaks of the temptation of the flesh to sin.
God does not tempt men to sin.
Back in the garden of Eden, when the first person was
tempted, Eve yielded to temptation because it was her choice. It says that every man is tempted when he is drawn away of
his own lust and enticed.
Gen
3:6 And when the woman
saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the
eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the
fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her;
and he did eat.
Gen
3:7 And the eyes of
them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they
sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
The
lusts of the flesh are not of God.
They are failures on our part when we fail and sin against a
Holy and Righteous God.
1
John 2:15 Love not the
world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the
world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1
John 2:16 For all that
is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1
John 2:17 And the world
passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of
God abideth for ever.
James
1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and
sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
James
1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
Notice
the pattern… What lust hath conceived, it brings forth sin and
death. But James wanted
them to understand, and not make those errors.
King David recognized that when he sinned, it was against a
Holy God, and against Him only.
But David had a desire to know God’s Word that he might not
sin.
Psa
51:2 Wash me thoroughly
from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Psa
51:3 For I acknowledge
my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Psa
51:4 Against thee, thee
only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou
mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou
judgest.
Psa
119:10 With my whole
heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Psa
119:11 Thy word have I
hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against
thee.
James
1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and
cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness,
neither shadow of turning.
James
1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we
should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
We
need to remember where the good things come from. Verse 17 tells us that EVERY good gift, every perfect
gift, comes from above. It
is God who gives us the good things in life.
This week, I told my wife that people who don’t follow the
plan of God for the family have no idea the damage they do both to
themselves, and their children and grandchildren.
The love I have for my newest granddaughter (who turned 2 ½
months old last week as I prepare this lesson in mid December of
2001), is such a blessing from God.
I can hold her, and we seem to be able to communicate as she
smiles and looks into my eyes. It may only be oohs and aahs right now, but she knows that
this grandpa loves her. Monday,
Denise and I will be married for 30 years.
Oh how many blessings I have experienced through these years.
And if I had not honored God with my life, not stuck out the
bad times in my marriage, not only would I be missing this blessing
of my granddaughter right now,
but I would not be there to help take care of her.
And I promise you that all the children out there need love.
I’m afraid there is a great lack of love in far too many
children today, and families are paying a price for not doing things
God’s way. We
need to remember that all these great things are not something to be
taken for granted, but they are given to us by God. Even salvation itself is a gift of God.
Verse 18 says of his own will begat he us with the word of
truth.
Eph
2:8 For by grace are ye
saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God:
Eph
2:9 Not of works, lest
any man should boast.
Eph
2:10 For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath
before ordained that we should walk in them.
James
1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to
hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
James
1:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
James
1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of
naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is
able to save your souls.
Verse
19 is one of those we need to memorize and take it to heart.
We all should be SWIFT to hear, SLOW to speak, and SLOW to
wrath. If you are
like me, you want to speak up first.
My personality is a lot like Peter’s was.
I want to speak and let my position be made known.
But sometimes a quick word does not show wisdom, but shows
our lack of it. God
wants us to be humble people who are not easily provoked.
But when it comes to God’s Word, we should take it in
totally and immediately. Our
lives should be based off of ‘Thus saith the Lord.” Psychology books will fail you.
God’s Word has endured the test of time, and it will still
be here in eternity future.
It is solid, and very much what we need to live happy and
contented lives. Verse 20 warns that wrath does not glorify God.
We are to lay aside wrath and all the negative things of sin,
and receive God’s Word with meekness.
III. Doers
of the Word are Blessed
James
1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving
your own selves.
James
1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is
like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
James
1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway
forgetteth what manner of man he was.
James
1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and
continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of
the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
One
of the old Nike commercials used to say “Just do it.” Well, that may or may not be true, depends on what you
are talking about. But
when it comes to God’s Word, we need to be doing it.
To simply hear it is not enough.
He likens doing that to a man looking in a mirror and then
walking away. A
reflection means little, but true acts of righteousness, God will
reward. The doer of the
Word is the one who will be blessed. That old saying that “Hell is a road paved with good
intentions” might be true. Many
intend to do something… they have good intentions.
But they put it off. One
small deed done is greater than a thousand good thoughts with no
action.
Mat
10:40 He that receiveth
you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent
me.
Mat
10:41 He that receiveth
a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward;
and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man
shall receive a righteous man's reward.
Mat
10:42 And whosoever
shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold
water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he
shall in no wise lose his reward.
IV. Test
of True Religion
James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not
his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is
vain.
James
1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is
this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to
keep himself unspotted from the world.
Since
the events of September 11th, I think the world has been
made aware that there are lots of religions out in the world.
There is a true religion, and then there are literally dozens
of false religions. It
says here that true religion is always in obedience to the Word of
God. It is a religion
after the true God. And
this true God we speak of is not some mystical higher being, but He
is the Almighty God Jehovah, the one declared in the pages of
God’s Word. The same
God that Abraham, Jacob, and Isaac worshipped.
False religion is a religion after man.
It is disobedient to the teachings of God’s Word.
Verse 26 says the unbridled tongue is an indication of a
false religion. True
religion is revealed in verse 27… to visit the fatherless and
widows in their afflictions, and to keep ourselves unspotted from
the world. Living Godly
lives that are righteous and glorifying to our ultimate example,
Jesus Christ.
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Prov 4:18
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that
shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
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