James 1.1-11

James 1.1-11

This early, if not first, book of the New Testament is unique. Written as it was when the church was still mostly Messianic Jews, it has a different feel or tone about it. While most of the letters define what it means to be a Christian, this book is more about how to live as a Christian. While most epistles, especially Paul's, were written to the church in a pagan culture, this book was written, for the most part, to believers in a Jewish context. While Paul concentrates on justification by faith, James focuses on behavior as an expression of that faith. Sometimes those with an agenda attempt to push or overstate the conflict between James and Paul.  If it is not an agenda they are too lazy to study carefully. This being the case, this book is not so much theological as it is practical. The fundamental question of James is not, “What does this mean?” The fundamental question is, “How shall I live, act, and respond?”

James begins with great practicality in verse two by addressing our response to trials and temptations. The word “trial” here is not specific to hardship or suffering but a more general word that even includes temptation to moral failure. It is in adversity that we have an opportunity to discover what our faith is made of. The testing is like the testing or purification of precious metal in a crucible. From time to time we ought to consider the crucible from the perspective of the silver.

Faced with trials and temptations James suggests that we ask God for wisdom. The wisdom is not to be smart in the academic sense. It is the practical application of knowledge to pass the test of moral and spiritual growth or compromise. God generously gives wisdom to know how to live holy without reproach or upbraiding. This is specifically about God not condemning us for past failures as we move forward, and avoiding those failures in the present. The practical help of not sinning is given despite our past behavior. This adds depth when we pray, “Father, forgive my past and give me wisdom to not repeat it.” James does, however, insist on sincerity. The doubting in verse 6 is not doubting God, but rather doubting if we want to be holy. We cannot pray, “Lord, deliver me from lust, but just not yet.” Such a prayer is a waste of time and thought. Such a prayer comes from a double-minded man. It appears that James coined this term. Literally it means “Two Souls.” It is, perhaps, the only condition worse than being a hypocrite. The hypocrite has two masks or faces, and beneath them is one person. The double-minded or “two-souled” man is split at the core of his being.

James at this point makes what feels like a sudden shift. He moves from how we think about ourselves to our position in life. The shift is not as great as one might believe. Both the humble, that is, the poor or the slave Christian, and the wealthy Christian need to find their glory in a sound, not double-minded, way of thinking. He offers more advice to the wealthy because their temptations may be more obvious. Wealth is as fleeting as grass. If that is your identity, they will last as long in trials as cut flowers.

“Lord, help me to live out the truth of the Christian faith. AMEN”