Men's Study (4)
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4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,
10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.
11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Often, the testing of our faith can hit out of nowhere.
People can easily be overwhelmed.
The question is how do we consider it...certainly the enemy can use anyone in his pursuit of trials that he brings our way.
We also can look at Job and the very men who sought to admonish Job (even they were incorrect and being used of the enemy) were permitted to do so by the Lord.
So when we finish a text like last week, we have to look at the text with a possible question: What is the outflow of this?
What do you think is the outflow of our two verses last week?
Let’s be mindful: faith is tested— if you are a believer.
The result or outflow should be perseverance, but the ultimate goal is completion — the lack of nothing. See vs. 4
So we wait for endurance to do what God intends.
Look to vs. 5
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
No one, other than Christ, is perfect.
So if we have not arrived, what do these verses tell us about wisdom?
When he says, “given out generously” in vs. 5...what is meant?
How do we receive wisdom?
What is significant about the person who asks without faith?
24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Certainly, we do not receive what we ask for if we do not believe.
So if we do not believe we doubt.
Then James transitions to the next concept of the man brother with less and the man with much.
Let me pause and ask the question: “is James belittling the wealthy or praising the poor”?
Look to verse 11
11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
In essence, it is not that we should be in Awe of someone who becomes extremely wealthy any more than someone who we should look less upon because they are not.
The recognition is we are each the same before the Lord.
16 Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases.
17 For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Saints persevere
22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
