Managing Christian Trials-1

MANAGING CHRISTIAN TRIALS-I—James 1:1-27

Attention:

A plane is on its way to Los Angeles when a blonde in Economy Class gets up, moves to First Class & sits down.

The flight attendant watches her do this & asks to see her ticket. She examines it, then tells the blonde that she has paid for Economy Class and that she will have to sit in the Economy Class section.

The blonde replies, “I’m blonde, I’m beautiful, I’m going to Hollywood & I’m staying right here!”

The flight attendant then takes the news up to the cockpit & tells the pilot & co-pilot the trouble.

The co-pilot goes back to the Blonde & tries to explain that because she only paid for Economy Class, that she was not allowed to sit in the First Class section.

The blonde replies, “I’m blonde, I’m beautiful, I’m going to Hollywood & I’m staying right here!”

The co-pilot returns to the cockpit, tells the pilot that she still won’t budge & asks the if he should have the police ready to arrest her once they land.

The Pilot tells the co-pilot not the radio the police just yet.

He asks, “You say she’s a blonde?” My wife is a blonde. I speak blonde...I’ll handle this.”

So the pilot goes back to the blonde lady & whispers in her ear. She then says, “Oh, I’m sorry.” & immediately goes back to her seat in Economy.

The flight attendant & co-pilot are flabbergasted. They ask him what was said to make her move without a fuss.

The pilot says, “Oh, its simple really....I just told her that First class isn’t going to Hollywood.

The pilot was able to effectively manage the difficulty he faced.

Likewise, Christians are expected to effectively manage the difficulties they face.

James divulged the proper management of trials which were endemic/common to Christians.

There are proper ways of managing the those difficulties.

How are Christians to manage their trials properly?

Tackling trials properly involves managing...

1—Tackling trials properly involves managing...

SOURCES of GUIDANCE(:1)

Explanation:(:1)Prioritizing sources/Advice

:1—“James, a bondservant of God & of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.”

“James”

Jesus’ half-brother?—MacArthur, Richardson

‘He neither calls himself an apostle, nor does he say that he was the brother of Christ, or bishop of Jerusalem; whether he was James the elder, son of Zebedee, or James the less, called our Lord’s brother, or some other person of the same name, we know not. The assertions of writers concerning these points are worthy of no regard. The Church has always received him as an apostle of Christ.’—Adam Clarke-1832

“A bondservant of God & of the Lord Jesus Christ”

Why separate these two terms for the Triune God? Most people claim minimal belief in God but it greatly narrows one’s alliegence to their God when He is served via “the Lord Jesus Christ.”

James is prefacing his letter by the acknowledgment that he is a willing slave to God & Jesus who is the Christ/Messiah of God.

The context & other scriptures determine the difference between bondslave & slave. He obviously is given to Christ willingly, & is thus a bondslave. His service is the same, but his dedication arises from the heart. James in particular is called to his specific purpose(s) at the determination of God in Christ.

“Bondservant/Servant”—doulov—1) A slave, bondman, man of servile condition—1a) a slave, 1b) metaph., one who gives himself up to another’s will those whose service is used by Christ in extending & advancing his cause among men, 1c) devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests; 2) A servant, attendant. Doulov is the usual word for slave, one who is permanently in servitude, in subjection to a master. Strong—a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency):-- bond(-man), servant.

“Lord”—kuriov— He to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord. Strong— Supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) Controller; by implication, Mr. (as a respectful title):-- God, Lord, master, Sir.

“Jesus”—Ihsouv= ‘YHWH is Salvation’

“Christ”—Cristov— ‘Anointed.’ The Messiah of Israel per Daniel 9.

Jn. 4:25-26—Anticipated by the woman at the well—“The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.””

“To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:”

Believing Jews. A reference to the house of Israel—Harkening back to Jacob’s 12 sons born to him by Leah/Zilpah & Rachel/Bilhah.(Gen. 29:31-24; 34:16-18). They represent national Israel.

James’ 12 tribes are believing/spiritual Israel, the ‘remnant’ who are saved by the blood of Jesus their Messiah.

How could this letter get to the diaspora? It is evidently a so-called circular letter as it does not address specific problems in a certain place—intended to be passed on from believing body to believing body, from church to church.