Responding in Obedience

O:

Written by James a servant of the Lord who was an important leader in the Jerusalem Church

James is a servant of God -> Humble title applied to Christians in General (Acts 2:18, 4:29; Titus 1:1)

Acts 4:29 ESV

And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,

Acts 2:18 ESV

even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

Titus 1:1 ESV

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness,

Twelve tribes in the Dispersion -> Greek diaspora meaning the “scattering” of Jews throughout the Near East and Mediterannean regions outside of Israel after Jerusalem fell in 6 BC

All joy -> Confidence based on the assurance of hope in Christ

Brothers -> refers to a Christian living faitfully; greek “adelphoi”

Trials -> Greek peirasmos -> Challenging cicumstances but does not refer to temptation

Steadfastness -> patience as referenced in Luke 8:15

Perfect -> greek teleios “something more complete”

Lacking in nothing -> not material blessin but strong faith

Any of you -> struggling Christians

Wisdom -> ability to reach and implement proper decisions

without reproach -> God gives to all regardless of their past

Only in faith does one receive his blessings Luke 11:9-13

Luke 11:9–13 ESV

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

double-minded -> Having two allegiences: God and the World (Luke 16:13)

Luke 16:13 ESV

No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Prays for us to have wisdom and to seek God for it

Trials and Testing and Endurance comes only from God

Interpretation:

The author is James the head of the Jerusalem Church. Believed to be written in between 40-60 AD. Original audience was to Jews who were also Christians. Purpose was to strengthen Jewish Christians under trial to correct a misunderstanding of Paul's letters about justification by faith alone and to pass down to first-gen Christians wisdom.

Application:

James tells us three things:

Find Joy in Trials through Faith

Seek Wisdom from Christ

Avoid double mindedness