James 1:1-18. Today we start the book of James so be sure to read the “Intro to James”. Today’s reading really has three sections to it. The first section is the greeting. If you read the introduction, you will know that this is a letter and it is written to believers around 49 AD. They were a mixed group with mixed feelings about each other.
The second section is an encouragement to have joy even though they were going through a lot of trials. Again if you read the introduction you would know that many of theses people were forced to leave their homes and move away because of their faith in Jesus. They were now in new communities with new friends, other believers in Jesus, many of whom were not Jews. It would have been easy to see these Gentile (non-Jewish) believers as a big part of the problem. James encourages these believers to stick it out, hang in there and not to doubt that God will show them how to survive. He then reverses what we might think about living a life without a lot of money. He tells the readers that the poor ones should see their poverty as an honor and that the rich ones should be humble about their money.
In the third section of the reading James tells his readers that the person who holds on tightly to God is blessed or happy. The reason the person should be happy is not because they have so much stuff but because they have God’s promise of eternity with Him. James is very practical though and he knows the doubts and trouble they are going through. He himself is living in Jerusalem the center of persecution on believers. He encourages them not to think God is putting too much on them. The temptations they were going through was because they wanted things. Their inner desires were what was leading them away from God. He then reminds them that God is a giver of good gifts and that God never changes. God has brought them into this new thing, the church, and that they were just the beginning. These believers were like the first “fruit” of a harvest.
I think it is interesting that James tries to stay at peace with those around him. I also think it is cool how much he still cares for theses people who have been out of his church for 10-15 years. I also like the hint at a solution about the problems they were gong through. Three times in today’s reading he uses the word brother or brethren. And when he talks to the “brother” who is rich he encourages him to be humble. I think that means to not be selfish but to share.
Lord help me be at peace when I go through trials. Help me endure. Help me ask for your help in faith. Let me be a source of help to those I can help. Help me not live by my own passions and desires. Thank you for making me a part of the vine; help me be good fruit.
James is one of my all time favorite books of the Bible. It just tells it like it is. Not only does it speak to areas that I need to work on in my life, like counting it joy when I go through hard times, but it gives me hope that there is a positive that will come out of it. The positive that comes out of counting it joy when I go through trials is steadfastness or perseverance. And perseverance will produce in me maturity and completeness, then I will be lacking in nothing.
I believe that it is talking about a maturity of faith. That is something we all strive for no matter how old we are. Verse 5 also talks about asking for wisdom and promises that God will answer that prayer with a yes. But I don’t think that He just says “Wham! You’re wise!”. I think that He begins the process and wisdom is acquired.
There is so much in just these 18 verses. I could just go on and on. What did you like?
Even though I have been at this being a Christian thing for awhile now it can still be hard to count it all joy when going through hard times. But I can say that it is easier than it used to be. Thank you Lord for helping to become stronger in my faith.
I wanted to see how many Quiet Times I can have in a row. So I started over doing this one and my hope is to read and post every day. Help to hold me accountable CBC jr high. Today the verses that stuck out to me where 1:5 – 7. If you lack wisdom, ask but ask in faith and God will grant it. I have seen the ocean and how the waves can toss things around. I don’t want to be that person who asks with doubting. Please, Lord grant me wisdom. Help me to use that wisdom to trust you more and to show others that you are worth trusting.