Context: What the NLT translates “the Jewish believers scattered abroad,” more scholarly versions, such as the NRSV, translate as “the dispersion.” The history of Israel is filled with stories of a “dispersed” community. In his recent book, Reading Scriptures as Wesleyans, Joel B. Green says the letter of James is “addressed to folks who are not at home, who do not belong, folks whose lives are lived on the margins of acceptable society, whose deepest allegiances and dispositions do not line up very well with what matter most in the world in which they live.”
Tradition tells us that James is the brother of Jesus who wrote this letter primarily to Jewish Christians in the early church. This James was an influential leader in the early church, especially in the communities of Jewish Christians who loved, revered, and followed him. Most modern commentators agree, but of course we’ll never know for sure. What we do know is that the author of the letter is well-versed in the Wisdom Literature of the Hebrews Scriptures. Jewish Wisdom Literature is found in the Ketuvim, or “The Writings.” The Hebrew wisdom books are Psalms, Proverbs, Job and Ecclesiastes. “Wisdom” means shrewd intelligence, sound judgment and moral understanding. More deeply, it means the ability to ponder and reflect on the profound problems of the human condition. Wisdom writings did not exclusively arise in the Jewish community but were a reflection of the surrounding culture. Wisdom writings from diverse religious communities will often sound very similar.
2Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. 5If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and God will give it to you and will not rebuke you for asking. 6But when you ask, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. 9Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. 10And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. 11The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements. 12God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and never tempts anyone else. 14Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. 16So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. God never changes or casts a shifting shadow. 18God chose to give birth to us by giving us the true word. And we, out of all creation, became God’s prized possession. 19Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 21So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. 22But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. 26If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
Going Deeper: If you’ve ever been separated from your community or your family, if you’ve ever felt like you didn’t belong, if you’ve ever felt like your thoughts went against everyone around you, if troubles have ever “come your way” think of those difficult times as we study the letter of James.
How easy it is to succumb to feelings of abandonment, crying out “Where is God?” when troubles come our way. Remember that and read chapter 1 with the ears of an “exile.” Make a list of practical ways that James challenges growing Christians to be strong in faith. Where are you in your faith journey? Can you see where God is calling you to grow in your spiritual life? Where does James challenge you?
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, asks a simple question, “Are you going on to perfection?” This idea of “Christian perfection” is one of his most controversial and misunderstood. Wesley defines Christian Perfection as “loving God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. This implies that no wrong temper, none contrary to love, remains in the soul; and that all the thoughts, words, and actions, are governed by pure love.” We also refer to Christian Perfection as “holiness of heart and life.” Visit the GBGM (General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church) website for more information on Wesley’s idea of Christian perfection.
Pondering: The Greek word translated “perfect” is teleios {tel'-i-os} which means complete, full grown, mature. Teleios does not mean perfect in the sense of never being wrong or without flaw. James uses this word, teleios, to indicate the end result of our suffering through our trials. James gives us a road map to perfection in Chapter 1.
1) We are tested
2) We endure
3) We are perfected … and receive the “crown of life.”
Can you see the process inherent in this complex Greek word, teleios, as you ponder the road map of James? Testing, Endurance, Perfection … Take the list of challenges which emerged from your earlier study of James 1, and consider how they fit into the process of endurance on the processing path toward perfection. How have you experienced this process (testing, endurance, perfection) in your life? How would you describe this process in order to encourage someone who is struggling by using your own personal experience?
James also reveals another road map … the journey to death!
1) We are tempted
2) We succumb to sin
3) We die spiritually
This journey is also a process. It takes time to die spiritually as well as to grow spiritually. James says, “humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls … don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”
Have you ever experienced this process in your own life? Consider when and how you heard the word God had planted in your heart. What was it like when you made that “turn” on your journey? How did you experience the “power” of God? How can you describe your experience to one who needs to hear an encouraging word?
Do you study Scripture on your own or with others? How do you listen to what God is saying to you through Scripture? How do you interpret God’s Word for yourself? How important is it that we accurately interpret God’s Word?
What is your prayer life like? How do you talk to God? How do you listen to God? How do you know that God is calling you to do? What enables you to be obedient?
Prayer: A practical man like James would appreciate a practical prayer. Have you ever tried the ACTS prayer? Use this prayer to close your time of study ...
- Adoration ... We begin our prayer by praising God for who God is and reminds us that we love God unconditionally.
- Confession ... As we move deeper we ask God to reveal our shortcomings and seek to move away from our self-centeredness as we ask God for forgiveness
- Thanksgiving ... We accept the forgiveness that is ours and praise God for the blessings we have in our lives and for the difficulties through which we grow
- Supplication & Surrender... in 3 parts
2) Prayers of Petition: We pray for our own needs
3) Amen ... which means SO BE IT!
Watch and listen to this youtube video of Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith singing Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet ... a really lovely way to use music to internalize the message of James 1. It has Spanish subtitles too!
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