Study of James

 Chapter One

In this study of the book of James we must get some back ground information. Such as James was the half brother of Jesus which James does not give a hint to this in his writings. There are some strong teachings in this book and should be studied very carefully and expressed in our daily lives for all to see.

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

Notice here James declares himself a servant. Now we have to look within ourselves and ask the question are we or do we put ourselves as servants before GOD and the Lord Jesus Christ? Understand if you do you are ready and willing to do God’s  will, what ever that might be. Think on this for a while and see what your heart and mind come up with. Because the question is really "Do you LOVE GOD?"

Lookup Verses-John 14:15; 1 John 5:2-3

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Lifes Application Bible Notes explains this as good as any.

James doesn't say if you face trials, but whenever you face them. He assumes that we will have trials and that it is possible to profit from them. The point is not to pretend to be happy when we face pain, but to have a positive outlook ("consider it pure joy") because of what trials can produce in our lives. James tells us to turn our hardships into times of learning. Tough times can teach us perseverance. For other passages dealing with perseverance (also called patience and steadfastness), see Romans 2:7; Romans 5:3-5; Romans 8:24, 25; 2Corinthians 6:3-7; 2Peter 1:2-9.  

1:2-4 We can't really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure. It is easy to be kind to others when everything is going well, but can we still be kind when others are treating us unfairly? God wants to make us mature and complete, not to keep us from all pain. Instead of complaining about our struggles, we should see them as opportunities for growth. Thank God for promising to be with you in rough times. Ask him to help you solve your problems or to give you the strength to endure them. Then be patient. God will not leave you alone with your problems; he will stay close and help you grow.

• Lookup verses-Mat 4:1-11 Jesus Temptation, Luke 22:40 Pray,  &

                                                      Titus 2:2 Patient, & Hebrew 10:36 Need Patience

James 1:5 (KJV)

 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.

To truly learn about wisdom one should do a good study of Proverbs

• Lookup Verses-Proverbs 3:13-18, Happy, Proverbs 2:6 & Proverbs 1:7. There are also many                           verses in the new testament that have reference to Wisdom.

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.

• God gives a measure of faith to each of us. The only way I know that this can grow is to walk through life learning with each trial and prayer that God will be there and help you each time to his will.
• I know the meaning of these verses as you probably do. I start out my day and try to solve all my problems and then when I come up on one that I need help on I go to everyone but the Lord. He is the last one. I think this is to small or any other reason as to why I should not concern him with this. But the truth is that he should be the first you seek out. It took me a while but I finally came to understand that he wants us to come to him and he is going to give you the best way or answer for you and all concerned. That is what is meant when we say "Trust in the Lord your God"
• This can also get into people that try to live both worlds. The world of God and Christianity and the world of sinners.

• Lookup verses-Matthew 6:22 and 6:24, James 4:8

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.

• Lookup verses-James 2:5 and 2:6

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.

• The Key here is "to them that love him" If you love someone you goal is to make them happy. You can only make God happy when you do his commandments.

• Lookup verses-Matthew, Mark 10:19, Mark 12:30, See above James 1:2

 

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

• People who live for God often wonder why they still have temptations. Does God tempt them? God tests people, but he does not tempt them by trying to seduce them into sin. God allows Satan to tempt people, however, in order to refine their faith and to help them grow in their dependence on Christ. We can resist the temptation to sin by turning to God for strength and choosing to obey his Word.

• Lookup verses-Matthew 4:1-11

 

15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

• This is the steps we go through to sin and death. Be aware of them and look for them in you daily lives. If we keep a close eye out for these we can keep ourselves clean for the Lord. In the Lords prayer he says "lead us not into temptation" So pray for God’s help.

 

16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

• James warns us to stay close to the Lord and if we receive anything of the Spirit or otherwise if it is from God it will be perfect and can be backed up by his Holy Scripture.

 

18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

• James here says that God chose us to save. Now he offers this to all men through the Holy Spirit. But not all will except his offer. The next two verses are very good teachers for us. SWIFT TO HEAR, SLOW TO SPEAK. And HOLD YOUR TEMPER. This is the kind of advice you would expect to hear from your dad or granddad. But instead you are getting it from God. You have heard the saying. Everyone thinks your dumb until you open your mouth and prove it. Or how many times have you stuck you foot in your mouth and wished you could call those words back? We all know how Jesus got angry and run the money changers out of the temple. Well do not use this as an excuse for you to loose your temper as Jesus had the power to control his temper to the point that he did not sin nor do any wrong. We on the other hand do things we regret and say things we regret when we loose our tempers.

• Lookup verses-James 1:26, Ephesians 4:31, Colossians 2:8

 

James 1:21 (KJV)

21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

• REPENT: Change your ways to that of the teaching of the Holy Bible. You say you love the Lord your God then act like it, live like it. When you fell in love with you wife or girlfriend you would do anything for her and still will if you still love her. Well God is no different. If you love him show it. It will only be to your on good.

• Lookup Verses-John 14:15

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

• What kind of love do you have if all you do is say it. You love your mother and father and respect them and do for them. As well as your children and spouse. Is God any different? NO we should live the life because we love him. You can not live in both worlds. Either you love God or you don’t.

 

26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

• Simply stated If you do not take control of your on mouth and what you say then you are deceiving yourself and your religion is vain. Stay constant in prayer and study to show yourself approved of God. Help those that are down and out. Spread the Gospel of the Lord. Teach others God’s Holy word. Live for the Lord your God as he lived for you.

• Lookup Verses-Psalms 141; Matthew 2 Timothy 2:15

06 May, 2006