James would have been trained in the Jewish religion, because his
parents were Hebrews. He would have been perfect to lead the Jews who
had accepted Jesus as their Saviour. The letter was actually written
to Jewish Christians, which is still in character for this to be the
half-brother of Jesus. The letter is even addressed to the twelve
tribes of Israel. It is, however, useful to all Christians, as well as
Jews.
It was written before 62 A.D. which is the year believed to be
the year of death for St. James.
Now we will begin the verse by verse study of the book of James
in James 1:1 "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to
the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting."
We see in this very first verse, that James did not mention the
fact that he was the half-brother of Jesus in the flesh. He was so
humbled by the fact that, he had not immediately realized who Jesus
was. He, like Mary, was the family of Jesus in the flesh, but he fully
realized that Jesus was his Lord. He calls himself servant, in the
verse above, to show his total submission to the service of the Lord.
At the time James wrote this, the twelve tribes had not returned to
Israel. James, at the resurrection of the Lord, had submitted himself
to not only salvation through Jesus, but had dedicated his life to His
service. It is easy to understand why James did not believe Jesus to
be the Messiah at first, because they were raised together as
children.
James 1:2 "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers
temptations;"
James gets right to the subject of his letter in this verse.
There was much persecution in the church in this day. James just says,
to face the problems that arise and grow from those problems. James
speaks to them as brothers in Christ. It is difficult to see when we
are facing temptations, but there is a lesson to be learned in each of
them. Jesus faced every temptation when he went to the mountain and
fasted forty days and nights. The main lesson to be learned in the
temptation, is that God will help us face the problem. He will see us
through, if we will place our trust in Him. I Corinthians 10:13 "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]." Knowing that we are to grow through this
temptation should bring us joy.
James 1:3 "Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh
patience."
Now we are looking at one of the benefits of temptations. Most of
us are not patient at all, before we are saved. If we are to take on
the likeness of Christ, then we must, also, become patient. We see a
very good example of this in Job in the Old Testament. He faced great
temptation and patiently waited for an answer from God. The end of the
temptation was victory for him.
James 1:4 "But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may
be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."
When we pray, we usually want to see an instant answer to our
prayer. We are not instantly transformed into that perfect Christian
that we all desire to be, and our prayers are many times not answered
immediately either. There is a growing process to become the person we
want to be. Ephesians 4:13 "Till we all come in the unity of the
faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man,
unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:" When we
are saved, we have just entered the path that leads to righteousness.
We grow in the Lord and His righteousness as we are instructed in His
Word. We then must apply the instructions that we have learned to
practical living to become that full Christian. The Bible says that we
must be fed milk and honey, until we grow into the mature Christian
who can handle the meat of the Word. We will see the victory, if we
patiently wait for it.
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."
Wisdom is a gift from God. Knowledge is accumulated learning. The
best way to grow in the Lord, then, would be to pray that God will
give you the gift of wisdom and understanding. Ask God for the Holy
Spirit to be your Teacher and Guide. Then study the Word of God, and
grow in the Word, and in experience. God is very willing to give good
gifts to His children who ask. When we ask, we must believe that we
receive, and we shall have what we ask. God does not just
indiscriminatly pour out wisdom on everyone. We must pray and ask, and
then we will receive it. God is not like man, that would remind you
constantly that he had given you a gift. God attaches no strings to
the things He gives us. He gives them to us, because He loves us.
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."
It is useless to pray and ask for something, if you do not
believe you will get an answer to that prayer. Faith is what causes
the prayer to be answered. When Jesus healed the sick, He said, your
faith has made you whole. Mark 11:24 "Therefore I say unto you, What
things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them],
and ye shall have [them]."
James 1:7 "For let not that man think that he shall receive any
thing of the Lord."
This is speaking of the man that wavereth. His faith is not
constant. His faith is like the tree that falls over when the
slightest wind comes. He says he believes, but he does not believe in
his heart. The following is what Jesus said to the man who came to him
for help for his son. Mark 9:23 "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst
believe, all things [are] possible to him that believeth." Now we see
the correct thing to do, if we see that our faith is wavering. Mark
9:24 "And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with
tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." He believed, but he
wanted Jesus to help him believe even more. This type of faith is
honored by the Father, because the desire of our heart is to believe.
James 1:8 "A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways."
This is speaking of an unstable person, who cannot make up his
mind. He really does not truly believe anything. His heart is not
right with God.
James 1:9 "Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is
exalted:"
You do not have to be rich, or even thought of highly in the
community, to come to Christ. Christianity is for whosoever will.
Brother means that he is a believer in Christ. He may have a lowly
task to do here on the earth, but that has nothing to do with his
position with Christ. Brothers in Christ are all the same in the sight
of God. They all have the same Father. Christians are sons of God.
There are no class distinctions in Christ.
