James 1

The opening verses of James sound a lot like a combination of Romans 5 and other words from Paul. James calls upon the believer to be focused and steadfast in suffering so that we may be found to be mature and complete. It implies that maturity and completeness do not come any other way!

James cautions the double minded that they will be unstable in all their ways and will accomplish nothing! This hits home right now as I have felt conflicted and "double minded" in some areas. I need to focus on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith and lean only on his Word!

I have heard friends who are veterans of the 12 step programs claim James as their own. They say that his blunt honesty and his call to us to take responsibility for our own decisions would fit right in the best AA meetings of today. When James says, "No one, when tempted, should say, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. But one is tempted by one's own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death." James 1:13-15 NRSV, he is giving all of us a dose of tough love!

James turns early to a call to a social gospel - or at least a balanced life that includes social responsibility! Read the following passage again, "But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act--they will be blessed in their doing." James 1:22-25 NRSV. This is good writing probably resulting from good preaching!

This chapter of James closes with a call to bridal the tongue and to care for widows and orphans in their distress. I need help with bridling my tongue, and I rejoice in opportunities to help the need. Lord, help me to grow up!