The book of James
James 1:5-8 "5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
God is the source of all true wisdom. His wisdom is not hidden from us. It is readily and freely available to anyone who desires it when asked and received in faith. God's wisdom is found in His Word, the Bible. The Bible reveals who God is, God's plan of salvation through Jesus, and how imperfect people can grow to lead godly lives as they become more like Jesus.
James 1:9-11 "Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.
James warns of the fruitlessness of wealth. Money by itself is not the evil thing. It's the wretched love for money and relying on our income or bank accounts for stability, which will always leave us unhappy and unfulfilled."
The right way to enjoy wealth is a way to honour Him. When we choose to be content with the riches of Christ, instead of putting our trust in material wealth. We must rather focus on pursuing holiness in our behaviour, attitude and mind and not to gain material wealth.
James 1:12-14 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Unfortunately, temptation is a reality for every believer. But God promises a way to flee from every temptation that a believer may encounter so that we can stand it. God will give us the power to say 'no' when we want to say 'yes '. James reminds us that temptation does not come from God. Temptation comes from our own desires and passions, the world and the manipulation of Satan. He also reminds all of us who endure and resist temptation is richly blessed by God.
James 1:16-18 "Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures."
James contrasts the struggle of temptations we experience with the reality of God's goodness.
Our God is good, righteous, holy and right. He is deeply merciful, perfectly loving and infinite faithful. He cared for us from the beginning, He created us, and we (man) are the firstfruits of His creatures. He gave us dominion over all of creation.
There is no greater sacrifice than the precious price He has paid for us through His Son Jesus.
He gave us His love when we had nothing to sacrifice to Him. We must allow God's truth in His Word to define our reality.
Scripture reference: New King James Version
Thank you for reading and studying with me. Hope you will be blessed by this series of studies on James.
