Bible Study Outline - James
Bible Study at Gospel Light Christian Church, Singapore
by Pastor Dr Paul Choo
James 1:1-11
v. I James - There were two apostles named James - the son of Zebedee, and the son of Alphaeus. The author of this epistle is the latter, who is also called the "Lord's brother" (GAL 1: 19) - probably a close cousin (who were also called by the Jews, a brother). He was one of the leaders of the Jerusalem Church (GAL 2:9).
a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ - Though he was a "pillar" (GAL 2:9) of the Church, he calls himself a servant (ie, bond-slave). To be a slave of Jesus Christ is better than any other job in the world. He says that he is a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ - to tell the Jews that to serve Christ was to serve God.
to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad - The Jews had been scattered by ancient conquests of Assyrians and Babylonians, by recent persecutions from the Romans (ACT 18:2), and recent persecutions of Jewish Christians by unbelieving Jews (ACT 8). Many of them had also migrated to other lands in search for better prospects. James writes to the Jews because he was the apostle to the Jews (GAL 2:9).
greeting - This is the usual secular salutation - not the usual biblical salutation.
v.2 My brethren -Jews and primitive Christians commonly called each other brethren to remind themselves of their bonds.
count it - Though it was not natural for the persecuted Jews to,consider their persecutions as blessings, James exhorts them to count (ie esteem) them as blessings. As Christians we are not to live by sight nor our senses but by faith (2CO 5:7). Man can live on a higher plane than brute beasts because of the power of reason, and Christians can live on a higher plane than the unsaved because of their spiritual understanding (1CO 2:11). How we react to a matter depends on how we perceive it.
all joy - i.e chief joy. Though obviously no one enjoys afflictions, a correct perception of God's purpose and His hand in it and their effects on our character, our testimony and our rewards will make them joyous experiences rather than grievous ones. Moreover, God's special comfort is also experienced in our hearts during trials. Therefore a Christian's 'worst' is better than the world's best! See HEB 10:34, 2CO7:4, ROM5:3.
when ye fall - implies something unexpected and sudden.
into divers temptations - The Jews were persecuted in divers ways - politically, socially, economically, religiously etc. Just as a doctor has different remedies (including some very painful ones) for different sicknesses, God also uses divers afflictions to cure us of spiritual diseased. These afflictions are called temptations, because they bring up many hidden weaknesses and sins to the open in the same way temptation's bring up many hidden passions to, the open. God not only knows what temptation to use, but also how long to apply them to our lives
v.3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith - we need to know the purpose of an affliction before we can count it a joy. In v.2 an affliction was called a temptation, here it is called tryign of your faith i.e to put our faith under trial, whether it be real or false. Though many aspects of our character are tried (i.e tested) by afflictions, but only faith which is the most important (HEB 11:6) is mentioned. Therefore faith is the virtue that must be most diligently cultivated.
worketh patience - i.e perfecteth patience. Afflictions make it harder for us to continue our Christian testimony, but as we persevere under afflictions, we are exercising our patience (ie, endurance, spiritual stamina). Without spiritual stamina we will be unable to serve God effectively. We must be careful to use afflictions to perfect our patience and not allow them to destroy it. Though afflictions are God's ordained instruments to increase our patience, they are often used wrongly by Christians as excuses to quit. We should willingly trade earthly ease for such a spiritually useful virtue as patience.
v.4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing -James is not teaching the doctrine of sinless perfection. The word "perfect" refers to completion (ie, entire, wanting nothing). Many of the persecuted Jewish converts had been worn out by their severe and prolonged afflictions and were about to quit, before their afflictions could purge out their ungodly characteristics (eg. lack of faith, pride) out of their life. As Christians we must strive to be "perfect, even as our Father which is in heaven is perfect' (MAT 5:48) - and there are no shortcuts to achieving this.
v.5 If any of you lack wisdom - In times of afflictions, it is so difficult to discern God's purpose for us, and how best we should respond to the afflictions, therefore we need God's wisdom.
let him ask of God- Wisdom to rejoice in our afflictions can only come from God. And God normally only gives when we ask of Him. James digresses, to teach about prayer in these four verses.
that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not - "Liberally" literally means "simply", ie, single-mindedly, with no ulterior motive. If only we are as liberal with our prayers, as God is with His giving. "Upbraideth nor, ie, will not scold us for asking so often - as men do after they have already helped a person before, and have run out of patience and resources to help. The golden rule is: the receiver must never forget what he received, and the giver must always forget, what he gave.
and it shall be given him - Wisdom shall be given because it is good - but God will not give anything that is not good for us.
v.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. - all prayer must be in faith, i.e the asker must have faith in Jesus' salvation, and faith that God loves His children and desires nothing but the best for them (as recorded in the Bible). When we waver between faith in God and distrust of Him (like a wave going backward and forwards) our prayers will not be answered. Lack of faith us usually the result of low views of God, His love, wisdom and power.
v. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. - Though God gives liberally, faithless men are not ready to receive from God. James warns faithless men not to have wrong concepts about prayer. We too need to warm men who have wrong concepts about God's holiness, hell etc. Everything that we receive is of the Lord, - because He is the mediator between God and men.
v.8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. - If we are double minded in our faith, we will also be double minded in our ways - wavering between obedience and disobedience. Faith is the mother of obedience and godly living
v.9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted - The Christian who is of low degree because he is afflicted with poverty or other afflictions should rejoice (i.e glory, boast) because he realizes that this is God's means of shaping him spiritually (i.e exalting him)
v. 10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. - on the other hand, the Christian who is not being afflicted with poverty or persecutions (i.e rich) should also rejoice when he is convicted by the Holy Spirit that his riches are only temporary, and that he, like the flower of the grass will soon pass away. He should rejoice because this humbling thought will keep him from the sins that come with pride. Rich Christians should be humbled by the fact that they are often worse off than poor Christians, because they are subject to more temptations.
v. 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. - Rich Christians must also be conscious of the fact that when God sends afflictions upon them, they too can wither as quickly as a flower scorched by the desert sun.