James 3:1-18.  I think James’ letter has gone like this so far.  There was a greeting (James 1:1) and then he jumped right in and encouraged them to endure the testing of their faith (James 1:2-4). Then he told them to ask for wisdom (Probably about how to endure the trials they were facing.) but they had to ask sincerely, both believing they would get the wisdom (in faith) and with the intent of acting on the wisdom (James 1:5-8).  James them seems to hint at what wisdom he has in mind.  He tells the reader that their value has nothing to do with how much they have (James 1:9-11).   Then he added some motivation, they would be blessed if they endured, if they got the wisdom and acted on it.  But they had to keep the right perspective.  They needed to realize that the temptation to avoid the trials was based on their own evil nature.  They were not to blame God because the wanted the easy way out.  God was working things for their good, a good that would not be complete until the end (James 1:12-18, See also Romans 8:28).  James then got more specific with what wisdom he wanted them to follow.  He told them to stop following their feelings (anger in this case) and to respond to what they were seeing in the Bible, specifically to take care of the needy among them (James 1:19-27).

James 2:1-11 continues the idea of taking care of the needy by telling them to not play favorites with the rich.  They need to care for their neighbors.  He then warns them that they need to follow this second greatest commandment (Matthew 22:39-40) because God will eventually judge people.  James then gives a second argument for caring for others; it is proof that we really have faith in Jesus.  This sort of bounces off of the other idea about judgment; if you don’t have actions that prove your faith maybe you don’t have faith.  If you have not believed in Jesus you will suffer judgment.

Which brings us to today’s reading.  If my outline above is close then it seems the letter is trying to deal with some people not being cared for, there is favoritism and the poor are losing out.  It is very likely that these poor were Jews since James was addressed to the “twelve tribe which are scattered”. According to Acts 8:1 when persecution began in Jerusalem many of those first believers (who would have been mostly Jewish originally) were scattered.   Proverbs 15:2 tells us that a wise man make knowledge acceptable.  While the letter looks like it is encouraging the Jewish believers to hang in there I think it is also telling the other believers with them to start stepping up to the plate, or should I say with the plate.  Chapter three looks like some in the churches were actually teaching the people around them not to look out for others but just for themselves.

In the beginning of chapter three he warns them that not many should become teachers.  Bad teachers not only live lives which dishonor God they teach others to follow their bad example (Matthew 23:15) so in a way they sin twice and have more to answer for.  So our mouths have a great deal of power.  The tongues of teachers need to be under control.  But controlling the tongue is difficult, perhaps impossible (James 3:8, also think about the “we” in verse 2).  Thankfully teaching is a gift from the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7-8, 28-29; Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:8,11) and as such the words of a teacher can be controlled b the Holy Spirit.

The end of chapter 3 kind of supports my idea that James encouragement is more to the other believers than to the ones in trouble.  I think he is telling the rich believers (and their supporters) to suffer along with the poor by caring for them.  In James 3:13 he comes back to true wisdom.  He tells them that if someone among them thinks he is wise it show up in their life as care for others.  If the actions are self centered they are not wise, at least not with god’s wisdom.  Bitter jealousy (maybe talking to the poor again) and selfish ambition (talking to the rich and their friends) is evil and demonic.  James ends by reinforcing what God wants to see in all of our lives.  Purity, peace, gentleness, reasonable (easily persuaded or willing to yield), full of mercy and good gifts, without playing favorites, and not hypocritical.

God help me be a good teacher.  Help me encourage others to live beyond themselves.  Help me live beyond myself.  Let me never play favorites.  Help my life be about others and what is good for them.  Let me love you with all that I am and let me love others at least as much as I love myself.  Let me give much.