Opening Prayer
Lord of life, I am grateful that there is no challenge I face today that you cannot empathize with and help me through.
Read JAMES 1:1-11
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.
Trials and Temptations
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 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. 6 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. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
Footnotes
- James 1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verses 16 and 19; and in 2:1, 5, 14; 3:10, 12; 4:11; 5:7, 9, 10, 12, 19.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
As we consider this letter, be open to the challenges God will bring to us through our reading and thoughts.
Think Further
In these opening verses, James introduces some of the topics he will be addressing throughout the letter. As a result, there are a number of issues introduced and this can make James’ argument in this section difficult to follow But there is coherence if we understand that this forms the ‘thematic foundation’1 for the entire letter.
James begins by recognizing that this is a community experiencing trials (v. 2). The natural response to tough times is to ask questions about the source of those trials, the rationale for them, and how we should respond. James is certain that the only way these questions can be properly answered is to ask for God’s wisdom (v. 5), given generously by God to those who ask without doubting, because to doubt God is to be ‘double-minded’ (vv. 6–8). Introduced in verse 9, another issue that James will go on to address in the letter is the problem of rich and poor within the community and, specifically, the transitory nature of wealth and the fact that God honors the poor. Who has not experienced tough times? James says that we should respond in joy because of what God will do in us as we go through these times. This is countercultural, because it appears nonsensical, but God is more interested in our growth in maturity (v. 4). We recognize that truth requires God’s wisdom precisely because the world will say it is absurd. However, that is not the only countercultural aspect of James’ teaching in this passage. The value the world gives to wealth and its possession and to those who lack such wealth is turned on its head. At the beginning of James, we are reminded that we are called to live differently from the world. This is not optional!
Apply
Ask for God’s wisdom to see the world as he sees it and to enable you to live differently within it. Remember, God gives generously to those who ask.
Closing prayer
Mighty God, thank you that you are trustworthy, always ready to give me what I need to follow you.
Last Updated on April 3, 2024 by kingstar
