James' epistle is addressed to all Christians who by reason of persecution are scattered abroad. It is the epistle encouraging the believers not to feel discouraged.
Believers of Christ are expected
to take up the cross daily and follow Him. The cross symbolizes sufferings. We
should not pray that we shall not suffer persecutions, but we should not lose
hope in the midst of oppression and persecutions. We should rather see joy in our troubles, bearing in mind that our sorrow will turn to joy and great rewards from God. We are therefore
admonished to “count it all joy”
when troubles come from all sides.
We are Overcomers. We are to be
patient and not be eager for anything. God knows all our troubles. Nothing is
too hard for God to do. We are admonished to be patient in every situation.
“But let patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect, and
entire, wanting nothing”. (James 1:4).
We are to ask for wisdom from
God. James says, ‘if any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God…’ Of course
there is no human being who is completely wise that need not to depend on God
for wisdom and understanding. The joy is that God gives abundantly without asking
for anything in return. God gives “to
all men liberally and unpraideth not…” James 1:5b.
How are we to ask? We must ask in
faith. We should not doubt. We should fear nothing but be stable and believe
that God is the owner of everything and He gives liberally. The person who is
not sure of his mind is a double minded person. A double minded person is “unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:8)
If you lack material things, you
should not worry. We are not expected to see ourselves as failures knowing that
we are rich in Christ Jesus. The advice to the rich is that they should humble
themselves, knowing that life is short and “as the flower of the grass he shall pass away”.
“For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withered the
grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it
perisheth; so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways”. (James 1:11)
God has his own reasons why He
allows temptation, and the real reason is to prove whether we truly love Him.
Those who profess to love God will inevitably suffer temptation. It is after
passing the temptation that we will “receive
the crown of life which the Lord has promised to them that love him”.
But there is one thing worth of
note, and that is, it is not God that tempts. It is man’s desires for things of
this world that draw him to temptation. It is not sin to be temped, but it is
sin for anyone to fail temptation and go back to the world to commit sins
again.
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and
enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it
is finished, bringeth forth death”. (James 1:13-14).
The result of the sin not
confessed and repented of is death. God is perfect, so everything from Him is
perfect.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down
from the father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of
turning”. (James 1:17)
The wisdom of God is accomplished
in a man who controls his tongue. We should learn to listen more than we talk.
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow
to speak, slow to wrath”.
To be continued.
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