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I.
Author and date of the book of James - James the half-brother of
Jesus, written between 45 and 48 AD
a.
James the son of Zebedee and Brother of John Mark (Mark 1:19)
i.
Suffered martyrdom before James was written Acts 12:2
b.
The son of Alphaeus (Mark 3:18)
i.
Very unlikely that he wrote it, he is not mentioned much more
c.
The father of Judas (not Iscariot) Luke 6:16
i.
Was not a recognized leader in the church
d.
The half-brother of Jesus Christ (Gal 1:19)
i.
He was a recognized leader of the Jerusalem church
ii.
Very similar to the speech that he gave in Acts 15
e.
Some groups of people don't believe that Jesus had any brothers,
and believe that James the son of Alphaeus and this James are the
same.
II.
Vs. 1-4
a.
Count it joy when you encounter trials because they are for your
own benefit, so that you will be more spiritually mature
i.
Testing refers to your faith being tested, and equates it to gold
being tested in the fire.
This testing truly will develop steadfastness in the face
of difficulties
ii.
Perseverance must finish its work, just as tested and true faith
works to produce perseverance, so perseverance must be allowed to
continue its perfect or finished work to produce the ultimate by-products
of maturity and spiritual fulfillment.
b.
James gives the first of many progressions through this chapter:
trial → testing faith → endurance → perfect and
complete faith
c.
So What? We will encounter trials and difficult times (James makes
sure that we know that it is not if, but when we encounter these
trials). How do we want to react to them? Most of the time we want to say "Why
God" We do not want to see what He is doing, we just want it
to be over with. James
wants us to see that this is happening because God is strengthening
our faith and endurance. Just as an athlete must work, through
pain, sweat and tears, we must work to make our faith the polished
chiseled product.
III.
Vs. 5-8
a.
If you don't know, ask God he knows and will give you all the wisdom
you need, but make sure you ask in faith and donŐt doubt.
i.
James recommends getting wisdom from the one who would give it generously
and without a grudge
ii.
Come to God and ask, but He dare not come to God like a wave of
the sea, blown [horizontally] and tossed [vertically] by the wind.
iii.
You must not be not double minded or two-souled or unstable, like
an unsteady staggering drunk
iv.
Seeking answers from God requires an assurance in God
b.
So What? When we encounter these trials, and we don't know which
way to turn, the only direction we need is up. Look to God, and he will provide all that you need. The faithful man will receive the answers
that he needs, but the one who is faltering in his belief in God
will not benefit from God's wisdom.
Can God do it? Then ask as if He can.
IV.
Vs. 9-11
a.
The man in low circumstances must glory because of his High position,
and likewise the man who is rich should glory in his humiliation.
Riches are like grass flowers they will only last for a moment.
i.
The man in low circumstances has a high position by being
counted a son and heir of God, his very sufferings being a pledge
of his coming glory and crown
ii.
The one who is rich can be glad for his human frailty knowing that
he has eternal glory in Christ
iii.
The flower may flourish for a few days and be admired by all
who behold it, but the sun soon withers it; even so men may have
their hours of exaltation, reveling in their riches and the privileges
that wealth can give, but soon all this must come to an end; and
unless they possess eternal riches laid up in heaven they will be
utterly desolate and alone.
b.
So What? No matter
what situation we are in we need to understand that God is bigger
than the air we breathe and that He controls our lives. He may bless us with very little in the area of possessions,
or may give us much. We
must understand that it is only temporary and that only he will
last forever.
V.
Vs. 12
a.
The man who sticks it out under the trial, once approved by God,
will receive a true reward, the Crown of Life.
i.
It is not the man who suffers only that is blessed, but he
who endures, who with patience and constancy goes through all difficulties
in the way of his duty.
ii.
when his graces are found to be true (so metals are tried
as to their excellency by the fire), and when his integrity is manifested,
all is approved [by] the great Judge
iii.
The reward the crown of life that we will one day lay at the feet
of Jesus when we get to heaven.
b.
So What? When in a
trial no matter how big or small, our response is being judged by
the ultimate judge, and he determines when we have successfully
completed it, we will receive a crown of life that we can lay at
the feet of Jesus. This should be our motivation as we encounter
things which are difficult for us. We should live as if Big Brother is watching (because He is).
VI.
Vs. 13-14
a.
When you are being tempted, don't blame God, He can't and wont tempt
you, but look at yourself and know that your sin is causing the
situation
i.
The heart of man is their source-its lusts which lead through
sin to death. Let no one deceive himself on this point. That which
inwardly tempts the heart comes form oneself. All good and perfect
gifts come from God, and He never changes, He does nothing but good
ii.
When one is tempted it is his own lust which tries to draw out or
lure: in hunting and fishing as game is lured from its hiding place,
so man by lure is allured from the safety of self-restraint to sin.
The language of the hunting is transferred to the seduction
of a harlot.
iii.
The method of sin. First it draws away, then entices. As holiness
consists of two parts-forsaking that which is evil and cleaving
to that which is good, so these two things, reversed, are the two
parts of sin. The heart is carried from that which is good, and
enticed to cleave to that which is evil.
b.
So What? When we are in situations our tendency might be to blame God,
because after all he is in control of everything. But God did not create robots; he gave
us a will and the ability to choose what we do. James is telling us that if we really want to see who or what
is causing our difficulties, then we need to look at our own sin
which begins with lust.
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