The Letter of James

James 1:1 NLT

1 This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings!

(NLT)

I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad.

Greetings!

James opens his letter by introducing himself and addressing his audience. With a little research, were able to know how to read this book of the Bible. We know who it’s from, James. We know who it was written to, “the twelve tribes scattered abroad.” With that information, we’re able to approximate the date it was written, the late 40s. We know it was written some where in Israel, to Jewish Believers dispersed from Israel. The one thing left is the why question.

You remember the 5 Ws in school. who, what, where, when, why.

Who was involved?

What happened?

Where did it take place?

When did it take place?

Why did that happen?

Knowing and understanding the background of any book in the Bible is the best place to start a study. We gain a better understanding of the original audience, their culture, and the authors original intended meaning. In turn, helping us accurately apply his teaching to our lives some 2,000 years later.

This greeting from James is interesting for a few reasons.

First, he doesn't take use his half-brother status to gain authority. James, the Lords brother could have shared his credentials of being Jesus brother to boost his credibility. He calls himself, "a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ." No name dropping. No, "hey, listen to me, Jesus is my brother." Just a simple, "slave of God," and slave of "the Lord Jesus the Messiah." He sets the thematic role for the entire letter, true worth behind status and position, or better know as humility.

It seems in todays age we don’t quite understand this word humility. We’re taught that people who are humble are weak. To get anywhere in life you must be aggressive and assertive. I once heard it said this way and it helped me understand the true idea behind the word humility. “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” You might even say it like this. Humility is putting others first; taking care of your neighbor as you take care of yourself. I believe a famous Jewish teacher said something like that a couple thousand years ago.

The second interesting point is how he addresses his recipients. "Twelve Tribes" refers to the historical origins of Israel, the twelve patriarchs that one day became the people of Israel. After years of Assyrian and Babylonian exile, the people of Israel were scattered across the nations. God's chosen people without a country to call home.

The people of Israel we waiting for God to send his promised Messiah to restore Israel to its former glory. Jesus was that promised Messiah, except he didn't restore Israel they way they expected or wanted him to. Instead of being a great warrior king that destroys all the other nations and rescues his people. He humbles himself to a criminals death on a cross and dies for them. What a bummer.

But God had promised to restore Israel. Were they mistaken about Jesus being the Messiah? Or, were they incorrect about their interpretation of the Scriptures?

Ezekiel 37:20–22 NLT

20 “Then hold out the pieces of wood you have inscribed, so the people can see them. 21 And give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: I will gather the people of Israel from among the nations. I will bring them home to their own land from the places where they have been scattered. 22 I will unify them into one nation on the mountains of Israel. One king will rule them all; no longer will they be divided into two nations or into two kingdoms.

(NLT)

Isaiah 11:11–12 NLT

11 In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to bring back the remnant of his people— those who remain in Assyria and northern Egypt; in southern Egypt, Ethiopia, and Elam; in Babylonia, Hamath, and all the distant coastlands. 12 He will raise a flag among the nations and assemble the exiles of Israel. He will gather the scattered people of Judah from the ends of the earth.

20 “Then hold out the pieces of wood you have inscribed, so the people can see them. 21 And give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: I will gather the people of Israel from among the nations. I will bring them home to their own land from the places where they have been scattered. 22 I will unify them into one nation on the mountains of Israel. One king will rule them all; no longer will they be divided into two nations or into two kingdoms.

(NLT)

to bring back the remnant of his people—

those who remain in Assyria and northern Egypt;

Isaiah 49:5–6 NLT

5 And now the Lord speaks— the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant, who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him. The Lord has honored me, and my God has given me strength. 6 He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

in southern Egypt, Ethiopia, and Elam;

in Babylonia, Hamath, and all the distant coastlands.

12 He will raise a flag among the nations

and assemble the exiles of Israel.

He will gather the scattered people of Judah

from the ends of the earth.

And here in Isaiah is speaking about the coming Messiah;

5 And now the Lord speaks—

the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant,

who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him.

The Lord has honored me,

and my God has given me strength.

6 He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me.

I will make you a light to the Gentiles,

and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

James was familiar with these texts and I believe his introduction was proclaiming Jesus is the Messiah and that they misinterpreted the Scriptures. They thought that the Messiah was going to come as a Lion and restore Israel. But that doesn’t happen until his second coming. The first coming he was to come as a Lamb. The lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. That seems to be the metaphorical language James was using when referring to the Twelve Tribes. I believe he was also referring literally to the Jews that were recently scattered from the persecution of Saul as recorded in Acts.

Acts 11:19 NLT

19 Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews.

(NLT)

19 Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews.

Maturity

(NLT)

James 1:2–4 NLT

2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

It's not natural for one to be filled with joy when going through troubles and trials, or temptation. James is calling for his listeners to do something supernatural here, he's calling them to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. Something we cannot do fully on our own.

He is also reminding them that trials are not some form of punishment. The reason we're to consider it an opportunity for joy is that trials play a vital role in our spiritual growth. We need them. We might not like them, but we need them. Just like when a bodybuilder hits the gym to build muscles. Here is what happens to one who lifts weights.

“After you workout, your body repairs or replaces damaged muscle fibers through a cellular process where it fuses muscle fibers together to form new muscle protein strands. These repaired protein strands increase in thickness and number to create muscle growth. This adaption, however, does not happen while you actually lift the weights. Instead, it occurs while you rest.”

Our muscles only grow through trials. We rip them, and they grow back bigger. Its difficult. No pain, no gain, right. This growth doesn’t happen while we’re working out. It happens after the trial is over. That is the only reason someone will lift weights, to get bigger, stronger muscles. Knowing that trials are what brings growth, one is able to endure the process of going to the gym and lifting weights day in and day out. As we go through actual life trials, we can focus on the results they bring in the end. This will give us an incentive to counting them as joy. Again, this is the supernatural working of the Spirit.

Faith is tested, endurance has a chance to grow, you will be complete in spiritual maturity.

I wish it was that simple. I’ve been through some trials where my faith was tested and it was difficult. I felt like giving up. What’s the use? It’s not easy when you’re in the middle of being tested. But, I believe what really matters is how we face trials. We don’t need to be all smiles, saying everything is good. But we do need to trust that God will one day use this trial for something good.

If you take a test and fail, what is the next step? Study, and take the test again. Say you’re going to take your drivers test for the first time and you fail. You are required to take the test again until you pass or you will never get your license. But once you pass your drivers test, you win. You get your license to drive. If we continue to fail the faith test and don’t allow God to develop our endurance fully, we’ll probably have to face another trial to help us grow.

James 1:3–4 NLT

3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

(NLT)

This idea of endurance is repeated by Paul in Romans.

3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Romans 5:3–5 NLT

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

This idea of endurance is repeated by Paul in Romans.

(NLT)

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

As we go through the letter of James, it might seem like he bounces around from topic to topic. It’s hard to find much structure. It seems that he is all over the place and not very focused. Well, he is in a way. But he does offer some link words or link concepts that connect his though process through out the letter.

Have you ever read the children’s story, “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie?”

Well, a boy gives a cookie to a mouse. The mouse asks for a glass of milk. He then requests a straw (to drink the milk), a mirror (to avoid a milk mustache), nail scissors (to trim his hair in the mirror), and a broom (to sweep up his hair trimmings). Next he wants to take a nap, have a story read to him, draw a picture, and hang the drawing on the refrigerator. Looking at the refrigerator makes him thirsty, so the mouse asks for a glass of milk. The circle is complete when he wants a cookie to go with it.

That’s a bit of how this letter from James is arranged.

As we read in verse 3 and 4 James uses the connecting word “endurance” in the NLT, or “steadfastness” if you’re reading form the ESV, and “perseverance” from the NIV. He then uses the connecting word needing in verse 4 with need in verse 5. Then he connects verse 5 to verse 6 with the word ask.

James 1:4–6 NLT

4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. 5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.

(NLT)

4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.

In verse 5, James seems to pull this idea of asking for wisdom from Proverbs.

Proverbs 2:3–6 NLT

3 Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. 4 Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. 5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

(NLT)

3 Cry out for insight,

and ask for understanding.

4 Search for them as you would for silver;

seek them like hidden treasures.

5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,

and you will gain knowledge of God.

6 For the Lord grants wisdom!

From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Wisdom refers to the knowledge of God’s plans and purposes, and the ability to live accordingly. Wise people can identify the nature and purpose of their trials and understand how to overcome them.

If your endurance is not fully developed, you won’t be complete. So ask for knowledge and understanding so you can identify the nature and purpose of trials and overcome them so your fortitude can be fully developed.

James then warns that one should not expect to receive anything if their trust in not in God alone. We must believe and not doubt when we ask God. We must have the right attitude.

James 1:6–8 NLT

6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

(NLT)

6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

James will go on to develop this idea of believers with a divided loyalty being unsettled and unstable in future chapters. But here, he is making the claim that

It seems he is reflecting Jesus teaching in Matthew when he curses a fig tree.

See, Jesus and his disciples were returning to Jerusalem. Jesus was hungry and noticed a fig tree down the road. As he walked up to it he noticed there are only leaves, no figs. So he cursed the tree, “May you never bear fruit again!” The tree immediately withered up.

The disciples were amazed. They ask, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”

Matthew 21:21–22 NLT

21 Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. 22 You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”

(NLT)

21 Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. 22 You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”

Jesus is not giving a “blank check” that if we have enough faith we can have whatever we want. This “pray for anything” is qualified by scripture only to include what God has promised to give his people. It’s not a promise that if we have enough faith, God will give us a new car or a million dollars. Also, It’s not a statement that the poor or sick lack faith.

James 1:6–8 NLT

6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

(NLT)

Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

Ephesians 4:14 NLT

14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

(NLT)

14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

When going through trials, we ask God what to do. He shows us. But then we hold back, uncertain whether or not we want to obey. James says that if you are going to hold back, don’t bother asking. When God shows you His way, He expects you to take it.

A person who’s trust is in God alone, stands sure and undisturbed in all of the storms of life.

Essentials to overcoming trials:

A joyful attitude

An understanding mind

A surrendered will

A heart that wants to believe.

Sum up verses 2-8 in the fashion of “If you give a mouse a cookie,”

The Letter of James

James 1:1

4

Life’s trials produce endurance and can make us perfect

Life’s trials produce endurance and can make us perfect

James 1:4-6

When our endurance if fully developed, we’ll be complete, needing nothing. But if we need wisdom, ask God for it. When we ask, trust in God alone.

James 1:6-8

God’s answering of prayer is contingent on trust in God.

Divided loyalty, unsettled as a wave, blown and tossed by the wind, unstable in everything they do are all evidence of spiritual immaturity.

Trials demand wisdom —> wisdom demands prayer —> and prayer demands faith