Everyday Joy
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
This morning we are going to begin looking at the book of James.
I love how the NIV describes this book and its author.
“James, a man of action, emphasized the right kind of behavior for a believer. Those who call themselves Christian ought to act like it, James believed, and his letter spells out the specifics.”
The book begins by identifying the author. It is James. What do we know about him? That all depends on which “Biblical” James you think wrote this magnificent book.
Some have suggested that it might have been written by James, the brother of John, one of the son’s of Zebedee, but this is unlikely since he was martyred by Herod Agrippa 1 (Acts 12:2).
Then it could be James the son of Alphaeus. This is the one that many Catholics choose as the author of the book. Catholics need it to be this James, because they promote the theology of the perpetual virginity of Mary. Since the major reason for it being this James is to protect the perpetual virginity of Mary, it probably isn’t this James. After all, we know from history that Mary had at least four other sons (Matt. 13:55): James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas.
The next choice is James the father of Judas (not Iscariot). However, he was not a significant figure in the early church, so it seems unlikely that he was the author of such a significant Biblical text.
Finally, there is James the half-brother of Jesus. He became the head of the church in Jerusalem. Further evidence comes from comparing the Greek used in James’ speech in Acts 15 and the Greek used in this epistle. It is very nearly the same.
Perhaps the most conclusive evidence that it was the half-brother of Jesus comes from other early church writers including, Origen, Eusebius, Cyril of Jerusalem, Athanasius, and Augustine. Each of these early church writers believed the author to be James the half brother of Jesus.
With this background, lets begin our study of this wonderful book of James. If you have your Bibles, turn with me to the first chapter and we’ll begin reading with verse 1.
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
The Greeting
The Greeting
We’ve already determined that it was most likely written by James the half brother of Jesus, and the leader of the church in Jerusalem during the first century A.D.
He called himself a doulos or bondservant Traditionally, it is translated as “servant,” “slave,” or “bondservant.”
The most accurate translation is “bondservant.” It indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another. Undoubtedly, this is the background for the concept of being the Lord’s slave or servant. KEY: This concept was found in the Old Testament scriptures. In the Jewish mind, this concept did not connote drudgery. Instead it carried the idea of honor and privilege. The term was used of Israel in Isaiah 43:10. And it was often associated with famous Old Testament personalities, including such great men as Moses (Josh 14:7), David (Ps 89:3; cf. 2 Sam 7:5, 8) and Elijah (2 Kgs 10:10); all these men were “servants (or slaves) of the Lord.”
James was writing to the 12 tribes, a reference to Jews, that had been scattered (diaspora referred to the Jews not living in Palestine). They had been scattered among the Gentiles. This was done by the Roman Empire so that they would not try to revolt against Rome’s authority.
Becoming Joyful
Becoming Joyful
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
James jumps right into his admonition for the early church. Wasting no time, he begins with some of the most difficult words to carry out.
Consider the trials that we face as pure joy. Joy is not the same as happiness, but it does seem to embody some of the same characteristics. It is often defined as anything that causes cheer and dispels gloom, or the emotion of great happiness and pleasure. I like the definition that I heard the other day, Joy is the understanding and excitement that comes when we believe God can act in our situation (v. 2a) .
Notice that James says we are to rejoice whenever—the idea here is that it will happen. This shouldn’t surprise us since Jesus, Himself said in this world we will have trouble (Jn 16:33).
Peter echoed this idea in 1 Peter 1:6.
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
And Paul carried out the same type of thought in Romans 8:18.
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
James says that all our trials should produce in us anything that is not doom and gloom (v. 2b).
because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
He continues to say that testing this kind of joy is profitable for what it produces in us. It is a kind of completeness (no room for anything else) (v. 3a).
The reason we can have joy in our trials is because of what it produces in us—perseverance (Gk: steadfastness, endurance, expectation, patience, remaining behind or holding out) (v. 3b).
Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James says that this perseverance works in us to produce maturity (perfection) and completeness, so that we don’t lack anything! (v. 4)
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
To emphasize the complete work of the trials in us, James tells us that IF someone lacks wisdom all we have to do is to ask God (v. 5a).
God gives wisdom generously to people (v. 5b).
And He gives wisdom without finding fault in people (v. 5c).
Faith verses Doubt
Faith verses Doubt
James has just said that if a person lacks wisdom, all they need to do is ask God for it and He will give it to them. But there is a “catch.”
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
They must ask, believing and not doubting! (v. 6a)
The one that doubts is like a wave of the sea—tossed around by every wind that blows! (v. 6b) We need to be careful that we are not blown around by every new thought or idea that comes along.
That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
The doubting person shouldn’t think they will receive anything from the Lord (v. 7).
Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
They are doubled minded. James says that anyone that is doubled minded is unstable in ALL that they do! (v. 8)
A person is doubled minded when they fail to believe God—or they doubt God.
This kind of “sin” began all the way back in the Garden of Eden when Eve failed to believe in God’s goodness and care. The sad thing is that this lack of belief in God’s goodness and care continues throughout humanity today.
In the midst of trials we need perseverance. We need to stand firm so that we can receive the “Victor’s Crown!” (Jm 1:12). God wants to give us his blessings. He wants us to persevere. And gives us joy—that comes from the assurance that He can intervene!
So What?
So What?
First and foremost, we need to adopt the attitude that James had, and become a slave to God by choice!
We need to understand that trials are a part of life. This is especially true for the follower or servant of Jesus Christ.
Next, we need to learn the truth that Christians are supposed to accept trials with JOY, the understanding and excitement that comes when we believe God can act in our situation! And sometimes we are not even aware of what He is doing on our behalf.
We need to understand why we have all kinds of trials. It is so God can develop several qualities/characteristics in our lives. Qualities/characteristics that include:
—Endurance and perseverance.
—Maturity or perfection.
—And completeness or fullness.
We need to learn that God wants to grant us wisdom, and wants to give it generously.
But in order to get it we need to believe without doubting the promises of God!
Doubting God’s goodness is the root of all sin!
And trusting and believing God while trusting and believing the world at the same time causes double mindedness, and a person who becomes unstable in ALL that they do! Joyful faith keeps us focused on Jesus, and fills our lives with wisdom.
