The Book of James (3)

James 1:5–12 KJV 1900

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. 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. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 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. 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.

I. Ask wisdom of God. v.5-8

James 1:5 KJV 1900

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.

Matthew 7:24–27 KJV 1900

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

A. God gives liberally.

Luke 21:15 KJV 1900

15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

Romans 11:33 KJV 1900

33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

2 Timothy 3:15 KJV 1900

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

B. God does not scold.

James 3:17 KJV 1900

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Proverbs 3:13–14 KJV 1900

13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding. 14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, And the gain thereof than fine gold.

Hosea 14:9 KJV 1900

9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? Prudent, and he shall know them? For the ways of the Lord are right, And the just shall walk in them: But the transgressors shall fall therein.

C. Ask in faith, never wavering.

Matthew 13:58 KJV 1900

58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Luke 16:13 KJV 1900

13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

James 1:8 KJV 1900

8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

James 4:8 KJV 1900

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

1. Wavering illustrated.

2. Wavering receives nothing.

3. Wavering shows instability.

II. Rejoice in one’s status. v.9-11

Luke 19:17 KJV 1900

17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

A. The poor: Christ exalts.

1 Corinthians 6:2–3 KJV 1900

2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

2 Timothy 2:12 KJV 1900

12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

Revelations 1:5-6

B. The rich: Christ humbles.

James 4:14 KJV 1900

14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

1 Peter 1:24 KJV 1900

24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

Isaiah 40:6–7 KJV 1900

6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, And all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: Because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: Surely the people is grass.

Isaiah 51:12 KJV 1900

12 I, even I, am he that comforteth you: Who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, And of the son of man which shall be made as grass;

Job 7:6 KJV 1900

6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, And are spent without hope.

1. A danger: False security.

2. The body of the rich ages and dies.

3. The pursuits of the rich fade away.

III. Remember the reward for enduring; A crown of life.

Luke 6:48 KJV 1900

48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

James 5:11 KJV 1900

11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

Job 17:9 KJV 1900

9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, And he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

John 14:1–2 KJV 1900

1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

2 Corinthians 4:17 KJV 1900

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

Matthew 10:22 KJV 1900

22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

1 Peter 1:13 KJV 1900

13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Psalm 17:3 KJV 1900

3 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; Thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

John 14:21 KJV 1900

21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Hebrews 5:8 KJV 1900

8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;