Slow to Wrath

James 1:19-20, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

“Slow to wrath.”

Swift to hear not only means slow to speak but also slow to wrath. It becomes a Godly individual to listen to a matter carefully and weigh the truth of that matter before reacting. We sometimes find ourselves the servant who has been forgiven a very large debt but in anger refuses to forgive one that owes a much smaller amount. [See Matthew 18]

Wrath is natural to the flesh and is the quick reaction. You don’t have to give much thought in order to become angry. A small piece of gossip, an action quickly observed out of context, or an accusation made in haste are just a few things that can snap us into wrath.

“The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

What you can guarantee about quick wrath is that you will not act Godly as a result. Man’s wrath does not work God’s righteousness. A quick temper will not reflect Jesus. It will bring a stain to your personal testimony and to the cause of Christ. One might try to defend by saying, “didn’t Jesus act in wrath when He overthrew the tables and drove out the money changers in the temple?” One should first note that Jesus, while He was man, was also 100% God. Jesus did not work the wrath of man, and the wrath of God is a holy wrath. Also, the force that Jesus used, while never in Scripture described as anger or wrath, worked to the good of the work of God and gave occasion for Jesus to teach afterward. We see questions asked afterward giving Jesus opportunity to instruct. We even see in Matthew 21 that after this incident, the blind and the lame came to Jesus for healing. What Jesus did furthered His work, but the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Ephesians 4:31 instructs us to “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.” We need to give over our wrath to God and allow Him to transform our heart. The wrath of man is sinful, as is anything that hinders the righteousness of God. A Christian who struggles with wrath must confess this to God and ask for Him to change us by His Word. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” God cleanse me of my quick wrath, and help me to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath.

James 1:19, Swift to Hear, Slow to Speak

James 1:19, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”

“Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak.”

 What’s your first reaction when someone cuts you off while driving? Sometimes, our tongue acts as the first responder to these situations. Words come often before our brains have a chance to process the situation. Have you ever cut someone off by accident? Do you think that maybe the bad driver in front of you had a reason he cut you short? We recognize that on our bad days we make mistakes, but we are often much less understanding to other drivers. I mean this only as an example that we have conditioned ourselves to the opposite of the instruction in this verse.

We often are too swift to speak. Human nature tends to react before thought is applied. We tend to react to a situation before allowing common sense to play out. If someone is said to be guilty, we attribute shame before proper judgment. We react before we factcheck. Sometimes, we even “find a solution” before we have heard the entirety of a problem. How often do we gather the perspective of each side objectively before casting judgment? After years of working retail banking, I have been approached by many people in foul moods. How easy it was to be annoyed with someone and think poorly of that person instead of gathering information and learning what might be causing their attitude! Proverbs 18:13 states, “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” Our quick-reacting tongue will bring us nothing but shame and folly.

Instead, we need to be swift to hear. The word translated “hear” is more than just detecting a noise through our senses, though certainly that is included. Being swift to hear and slow to speak involves real listening and comprehension. When I taught junior high English, I knew my students were hearing me because I was a fairly loud teacher. In fact, I was loud enough that, when I started teaching, I could hear doors shutting down the hallway. I could also tell that sometimes my students were not listening though they heard me. This is why repetition is so important when you teach: you hope that at least one of the times your message will break through.

If we would be swift to hear, we will take the time to actually learn before we speak up. We would become perceptive to the needs and situations of others, and we may end up with something valuable to contribute. We could observe a person and notice an unusual mood change or out-of-the-norm behavior. Sometimes after a tragic crime, those who knew the perpetrator will say something like, “He didn’t seem like that type of person.” You have to wonder if perhaps no one was really listening. We might hear someone speak certain key words that give deeper insight to a situation.

Being swift to hear involves active listening. Active listening is total attention to a person as they speak with the goal of learning from verbal and nonverbal communication in order to fully comprehend what a person is saying so as to be able to respond appropriately and thoughtfully. Engaging in active listening means that we care enough about a person to invest a certain amount of time to the speaker. That type of investment means a great deal and shows that you do care.

When we are swift to hear, we will be slow to speak. It isn’t that speech isn’t helpful at all; it is just that we should take a moment to listen and consider before answering. Too often when someone is speaking, we are thinking about our response more than we are listening almost as if that person is not worthy of our time and full attention. In fact, it would be easy to connect being swift to speak with pride. We must think awfully highly of ourselves if we believe to know the answer before hearing the question.

I know we live in a fast-paced, multitasking society, but we all need to slow down the speaking and speed up the listening. In fact, this verse addresses “every man.” Take the time to listen before forming your opinion. Look at both sides before passing judgment. Hear the whole matter before deciding. Let us be swift to hear and slow to speak.

James 1:18, Giving Life of His Own Will

James 1:18, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”

“Of his own will begat he us.”

Of His own will, God begat all things. Read Genesis 1 and you will see that as God created all things that He said each was “good.” God created according to His perfect will. He gave purpose to each part of His creation according to His will. Colossians 1:16-17 teaches us of God’s will in creation: “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” This verse tells us that not only were all things created by God but they were created “for Him” as well.

God records special attention regarding His will for mankind. Scripture gives a rare glimpse into what seems to be a conversation within the Trinity of God in Genesis 1:26, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” It was God’s will to create man set apart from the rest of creation, not separated in interaction but in purpose. It was the will of God that mankind bare the image and likeness of God. He did not create man to be God, but He created man to reflect God. God also willed that man should have dominion over the rest of creation. Verse 27 tells us that God carried out His will: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” After creating man, God set mankind to His will, as shown in verse 28 which reads, “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion…” He gave us life of His own will.

James 1:18 dives further into God’s will for us: God begat us spiritually of His own will. When Adam and Eve sinned, they brought onto this world death, both physically and spiritually. Romans 5:12 teaches, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” We are born spiritually dead and separated from God, but God’s will for mankind is life. 2 Peter 3:9 gives us the heart of God regarding His creation, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” God desires to give life to all so that not “any should perish,” but He maintains our free will in noting that His desire is that all “should come to repentance.” God’s love for mankind and His will to give spiritual life is so strong that “he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16b) God gives spiritual life “of his own will” to “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord” for salvation (Romans 10:13). John 1:12-13 beautifully joins God’s will to give spiritual life with His maintaining of our free will when it states, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” God gives us eternal life of His own will.

“With the word of truth.”

By His spoken word, God created. Genesis 1:3, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” If I say, “let there be light,” I’ll probably hear the response, “Go turn it on yourself.” My word does not carry the authority that God’s word carries. Mankind has developed by God’s grace some pretty amazing advances, but every invention man produces pales to God’s design. There is much talk these days of AI (artificial intelligence), but God designed true AI (actual intelligence). The struggle and “advancements” that people are making in the field of artificial intelligence is just to try to copy what God did with His word.

Similarly, God begets us into spiritual life with the word of truth. God’s Word gives us life in Him, and we are born into the family of God as “joint-heirs with Christ.” (Romans 8:17) “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9) God does not save us because He is obligated or out of some kind of biproduct of another work, “of his own will begat he us with the word of truth.”

James 1:17, The Un-variable and Unchanging Father of Lights

James 1:17-18, “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..”

“The Father of lights.”

The first title given to God in this passage is Father. This title reminds us of the dearest relationship we have to God: we are His children, and He is our Father. It is very appropriate to see this title used when speaking of Him giving gifts. Matthew 7:11 explains, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” A loving father knows how to give his children exactly what they need. It may or may not be what the child wants, but it is a good and timely gift. How much greater ability does God our Heavenly Father exercise when giving us gifts. He gives gifts to meet our needs in a way that only He can. He gives gifts that are extra blessings that sometimes we don’t even know to ask for. Often, He has to give the gift of a reprimand to bring us back to the good and right way, as taught in Proverbs 3:11-12, which states, “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: for whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” We can always trust that the gifts we receive from God our Father are good and perfect.

It is good to consider God’s full title given here, the Father of Lights. We read of many important associations of light throughout Scripture. When we see light in a passage of God’s Word, we connect such ideas as truth, holiness, righteousness, direction, wisdom, and other Godly characteristics. We recognize the need for light, both spiritually and physically. God designed our bodies to depend on light directly and indirectly. Sunshine produces Vitamin D, which has many health benefits. We also benefit from the plant life that receives energy from the sun in order to grow, while both producing the oxygen we need and serving as a food source. We can thank God who is the Father of Lights.

Light has many spiritual applications as well. Light illuminates our condition and shows the path that we should travel. Psalm 119:105 teaches, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Light also draws those in darkness toward God. Light brings comfort and joy; while darkness brings fear and depression. Light is energy and warmth; darkness lacks both. Darkness obscures, but light gives understanding. God is the Father of Lights; He gives good and perfect gifts.

“With whom is no variableness.”

We have grown accustomed to variable lights. Many of our flashlights have bright and dim settings, which can be great for different uses, but honestly, I just get annoyed with having to push the button four times to turn the light off. I really only need my light to be bright! Our cars have headlights with variable settings to give extra light when needed (please turn off your brights when approaching oncoming traffic!).

Sometimes the sun appears to have variableness of light which sets up a very interesting comparison. There are days that the sun shines brightly in the sky and outshines all other lights. Today, I was working indoors on a project which required cutting some boards outside the house. The sun was shining so brightly that, when I returned indoors, my eyes took several minutes to adjust to the dimmer light. But on some days, sunlight seems dimmer because of cloudiness and storms. Where did the light go? At night, the light of the sun seems gone altogether. Truthfully, the sun’s light has no variableness, but our perception of it does. Clouds obscure our vision of the light, and the earth’s rotation hides sunlight, yet evidence of the light lingers in both circumstances. During a storm, light breaks through the clouds, and at night, light reflects off the moon. If we rise above the storm clouds, we see the light as bright as ever, and at night on the other side of the earth, we find day. There is no variableness in the sun, but our position to the sun makes a difference.

At times we may feel that there is variableness with God, but, if we examine ourselves during these times carefully, we find the variableness lies with us. God hasn’t moved: we have. God’s love hasn’t changed, but something we have allowed into our life has created distance. God hasn’t abandoned us, but we have turned our back to Him and no longer observe His light. Get close to God, and His light will be clear.

“Neither shadow of turning.”

One of the earliest manmade timepieces is the sundial. A relatively simple device, the sundial consists of a flat plate and a vertical stick or object called a gnomon. As the earth rotates, the sun appears to cross the sky casting a shadow that moves along the flat plate pointing to the various numerical values of time. The shadow would appear to turn along the dial in different positions throughout the day.

With God, there is no shadow of turning. God doesn’t change. Hebrews 13:8 asserts, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” In Malachi 3:6, God declares, “For I am the LORD, I change not.” Psalm 90:2 proclaims, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” An everlasting God has no need to change; therefore, we can totally and absolutely depend on Him.

We live in an ever-changing world. Things break down, wear out, deplete, and become unreliable. People are one thing, then another, then change again. They say something, but then they do something else. Landscapes change; ideas morph; customs differ; and attitudes range. We change too. We grow older. We can’t do what we once did, and we often don’t care if we do. Things that were important seem less important as we mature. We don’t know how we will feel tomorrow, and we can’t remember how we felt yesterday. How can we rely on a world that changes as we also change? We can’t.

But God does not change. He is the rock of our refuge. All things in this world experience atrophy, but God is as strong today as He has been for all of eternity past and as strong as He will be for all eternity future. His wisdom does not escape Him; His mercy is still plentiful; and His grace still helps in time of need. He has not failed, and He will remain faithful. His love is still bountiful, and His judgment is still true. We have no need to fear in a world full of shifting sand because we rely on our unchanging Father. There is no shadow of turning or variableness in our Heavenly Father, and every good and perfect gift is from Him.

James 1:17, Good and Perfect Gifts from God

James 1:17, “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.”

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.”

James 1:13 told us that “God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.” Temptation to evil does not come from God. Our own lust is what draws us away to entice us. God gives to us out of His great love for us. He gives in recognition of our temporal needs during this life and our spiritual needs in regards to our eternal future. We see in James that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.”

Before considering the two types of gifts mentioned in this passage, we should meditate on the word every. We have every reason to give God all the glory for the good things in our life, and we have every reason to reprimand our lust and our flesh for the sinful things we allow to enter our lives. Our flesh is self-destructive, but God gives every good and perfect gift. Every one of these good and perfect gifts come from God because He knows how to give such good and perfect things far beyond our ability to give.

“Every good gift.”

God cares for us in this life. Some believe God to be the Beginner of all things, but He has left us to fend for ourselves as history unfolds of its own accord. They picture God as a “great Clock-winder,” having set us in motion to just watch without interference or not watch and care at all. Logically, this position makes no sense as it does not match any character we can understand. Why would God create as carefully as He did to just remain “hands off” for the rest of our time? But more importantly, the Bible asserts frequently that God is concerned with the affairs of mankind. After all, we belong to God; we are His creation made in His image.

“Every good gift…is from above” shows us that God cares about us in this life. He wants us to be able to live for Him without the burden of having to fend for ourselves. God takes care of our physical need. He does expect us to work the opportunities He allows, providing through the jobs He sends our way. He knows that work is good for us. After all, He did design for us to work (the curse is in the pain of work, not the work itself). But God is interested in meeting our physical, temporal needs. We can and must trust Him for these needs.

Jesus teaches us in Luke 12 that God cares for our physical needs. He first directs us to “consider the ravens: for they neither son nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them.” We worry about our physical state and want to make sure we have done everything we can do to have a guaranteed, secure future, but our worry and our planning removes our faith. We need to trust God, for if God feeds the ravens who does nothing to prepare his own way and considering “how much more are ye better than the fowls?” as Jesus also stated, then we see that we can rely on God’s good gifts to sustain us. In fact, Jesus concludes by stating, “And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind…but rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.” He guarantees that if we will keep our eyes on the kingdom of God instead of on the temporary, He will take care of all these other things. God gives every good gift.

“Every perfect gift.”

God also gives what we need with eternity in mind. Everything that we will receive to mold us into the Christian we ought to be comes from God. God gives every gift that perfects us and brings us to maturation as God sees fit. Eternity should be the main focus of our lives, and God gives us what we need in this area also.

The design of God’s Word equips us with the necessities to mold us. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 instructs, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” All Scripture, given by God, profits us by bringing us to completion and fully furnishing us unto all good works. God’s Word is a perfect gift that is “quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). We rely on Scripture to guide us toward laying up treasure in Heaven with eternity in mind.

In reflection of God’s perfect gifts in his own life, Paul asserted in 1 Corinthians 15:10, “But by the grace of God I am what I am.” God’s grace is another of His perfect gifts that brings us to spiritual maturity. God sees in us what we can be in Him and molds us, if we are willing, into what we never thought we could be. We can only attribute the outcome to God perfect gift and echo, “Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” For it is not in ourselves that we find what we need, but it is in the perfect gifts of God. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,” Philippians 4:13. God gives every perfect gift.

Consider today the gifts that God gives, and it should not surprise us that every good and every perfect gift is from God. Luke 11:13 notes, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” God knows how to give.

James 1:14-16, Do Not Err

James 1:14-16, “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. Do not err, my beloved brethren.”

“Drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”

Twice in Proverbs we are told, “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.” (22:3, 27:12) In other words, any reasonable person will evaluate a situation. If he sees evil, he keeps away from that evil. He actively seeks how to avoid sin, though he is not perfect. He is conscience of how temptation works so that he can defend against it. But the simple do not so. They clumsily and carelessly pass on without notice to the evil or care toward the temptation, placing themselves under punishment and consequence.

So many times we are quick to blame Satan for our sin, and certainly Satan does work against us. We are warned in 1 Peter 5:8 to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” We are told in the next verse, “Whom resist stedfast in the faith.” James 4:7 instructs us to “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Satan wants to lead us astray, but he has no actual power over God’s children. He cannot force you into anything. James 1 brings the responsibility to rest where it belongs, upon us. “Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”

“When lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin.”

The sin is not in being tempted. Jesus Himself was tempted of Satan. In fact, Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Jesus didn’t have the sin nature of lust to draw Him away, but Satan did his best to try to entice Jesus without success. Jesus being tempted in all points allows Him to be “an high priest” Who can be “touched with the feeling of our infirmities” (Hebrews 4:15). The sin is not in being tempted.

Sin comes when we allow lust to conceive. Our own lust draws us away from the safety of the closeness of God and entices us toward sin. It works as Satan did in the Garden of Eden with Eve. When Satan spoke to Eve, he did so away from the direct presence of God. Not long after Eve and Adam sin, we see God calling unto Adam saying, “Where art thou?” There is distance where once was fellowship. We are safe when we are close to God, but our lust draws us away to entice us. We are susceptible to sin when we are drawn away. Our flesh is enticed; and we either rely on God for the way of escape that comes with every temptation, or we allow lust to conceive. By faith, we can rely on the truth of 1 Corinthians 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” But when our faith wavers, we give room for our lust to conceive and bring forth sin. We are led by our own lust to do that which we know is against God’s commandment and desire for us. We sin.

“Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

Sin always results the same, death. This is what God warned Adam and Eve from the beginning, and it still is true today. Romans 6:23 tells plainly, “For the wages of sin is death.” Death is separation. We are most acquainted naturally with physical death, which is the separation of spirit and body within a person. The body cannot continue on its own. Physical death was a natural consequence of Adam and Eve’s sin, but it wasn’t the worst consequence. Spiritual death, or separation from God, was also introduced that day. Immediately, Adam and Eve lost fellowship with God. We all are born into this condition through the bloodline of Adam. Romans 5:12 explains that “as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Thankfully, Jesus conquered death on the cross to offer salvation from this condition. Romans 6:23 begins by explaining that the wages of sin is death; however, the end of that verse asserts that “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” To escape the eternality of spiritual death, God by His grace sent Jesus as the payment of sin so that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Once saved, we are held in God the Father’s hand, where we are safe for eternity.

Sin can still cause a type of death for the Christian, however. Understanding that death is separation, sin will separate the immediate fellowship and closeness a Christian has with God. There is no permanent separation for a Christian, but we can lose the joy of our salvation and are in danger of quenching the Spirit. But God is gracious and promises in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We can confess that which is breaking our fellowship with God and seek restoration as did David in Psalm 51 after being confronted about his sin. God, in His grace, will restore those who return to Him.

“Do not err, my beloved brethren.”

It is wonderful to be “beloved brethren.” The word beloved is not just loved, but it is “worthy of love.” We are not worthy of God’s love in any way of our own doing, but Jesus made us worthy. God has placed that value upon us. Because God loves us, He does not want us to err. Better to not have to suffer through the consequence of sin. Also, if we are told not to err, we are not bound to err. We do have a choice; there is another way. God’s Word tells us how to stay right with God, but God also knows us and loves us enough to give us a way back to Him when we do sin. 1 John 2:1-2 explains it well: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

James 1:13-14, God Is Not the Tempter But the Redeemer

James 1:13-14, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”

“Let no man say…I am tempted of God.”

“The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.” (Psalm 33:5b) Our God is a good God, and He is working for our good. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Knowing these two truths helps us understand that we are not tempted of God, though he uses temptations and trials to build us into spiritual maturity. Remember Joseph’s words in Genesis 50:20, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good.”

James chapter 1 speaks of the trying of our faith by the tribulation we face, but the passage speaks also of another temptation that tries our faith. Our faith is tried when we are tempted to sin. How we withstand this type of temptation tells much of the faith we have in God. If our faith is weak, we waver and give the temptation room to work. But if our faith is strong, we can escape unspotted. Consider 1 Corinthians 10:13 which promises, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” God promises that with every temptation is “a way to escape” so that we are not bound to sin. Our faith must be firmly held in God and His Word to escape the temptation. We have to trust God more than our flesh. When our faith wavers, we give opportunity to be drawn away of our own lust and enticed. Sin soon follows.

We need also to recognize that God is not the tempter. God does, however, allow temptation, and we should be thankful that He does. The choice makes us different and special from the rest of His creation. Consider Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. God placed the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden not to tempt Adam and Eve but to give them free will. Without a way to disobey God, there would have been no way to choose Him either. God did not entice Adam and Eve to eat of that tree; in fact, we see the opposite is true. God gave strong warning to the couple that if they ate of the fruit of this tree that they would surely die! God placed them in the garden, gave them free will, and gave them protection to help them avoid sin.

The tempter was that old serpent, Satan. Satan twisted God’s Word, lied about God’s motivation, and appealed to the pride of man. He denied God’s truth about the consequence of sin, a lie that persists still today. Now we are born with this sin nature passed down through Adam, and we deal with a corrupt flesh that leads us to be drawn away of our own lusts and enticed.

“But every man is tempted.”

Everyone faces temptation because each of us has a lustful flesh that draws us away. None are immune. In fact, throughout history, only one person has ever been born without sin nature, that is Jesus Christ. Jesus lived sinless and perfect. He had no sin nature, but even He was tempted of Satan. We can read Matthew 4 of Satan’s temptations to Christ and how Christ remained without sin through them. In fact, we learn of Jesus being tempted in Hebrews 4:15, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

Jesus knows what it is to be tempted, and He is “touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” He remained “without sin,” but we fall under the category of “all have sinned.” Yet He is still touched with the feeling of our infirmities! Romans 5:8 expresses that “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” He knows the temptation we experience, and He lovingly made a wonderful way of escape. He died for us. He rose again to offer eternal life. For those that place their faith in Him for salvation, He gives freely eternal life. You see, God is not the tempter, but He is the Redeemer! And because He knows how much we need to escape temptation, He has given us an opportunity to “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

When you are tempted (and you will be), come boldly to God’s throne to obtain mercy and find grace, which is exactly what you need in time of need. Come early and come often! The more time you spend at the throne of grace, the less opportunity your lust will have to draw you away.

James 1:12, Endurance Rewarded

James 1:12, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

“Blessed is the man that endureth.”

Enduring temptation has a purpose. We learned already in this chapter of James that the trial of our faith works patience, and that patience brings us to maturity as a Christian. We also learned the importance of unwavering faith as we endure trials and temptations. We can trust that God will use trials for our good. Who can speak more of enduring trials than Joseph in the book of Genesis? Hated by his brothers and left for dead, sold into slavery in a foreign land, accused of horrific crimes for doing the right, wrongfully imprisoned and forgotten—Joseph understood trials. When reunited with his brothers after many years and after God brought him to a great position of power, Joseph told his brothers, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good.” Joseph recognized that all the trials served a divine purpose.

Joseph also saw the reward of endurance through God’s blessing. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation.” God exalted Joseph and used him to save many people. The passage promises a blessing to the one who endures, but those who waver under the weight of the trial never get to see the joy of God working. God rewards the Christian with great blessing for following Him in faith. Matthew 5 and Luke 6 both record Jesus’ great teachings on the blessings given to those who are faithful in following Christ. Here in James 1:12, we learn that there is a special blessing given for enduring temptation: “for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life.”

“When he is tried.”

Dokimos, the word translated into this clause “when he is tried,” holds a very interesting meaning. In New Testament days, this word was used to describe people who maintained their integrity in financial dealings. In those days, coins were of a softer metal and could be shaved to appear of proper size but actually be underweight. There was a major problem in society with what was essentially counterfeited currency. But some merchants were known to deal honestly and were careful to only put proper currency into circulation. These merchants were labeled as dokimos. They were merchants of honest report.

James 1:12 connects the idea of dokimos with the Christian enduring temptation. In order for the honest merchant to remove improper coins from circulation, they had to put the coin to a test. The Christian who endures shows himself to be dokimos, that is to say, he shows himself to be genuine as a Christian. The trials of life serve as a test that sorts those with wavering faith from those who fully trust God. After all, if you can place faith in God during the most difficult of times, then you can endure until the end.

“He shall receive the crown of life.”

The endured trial produces the opportunity for the Christian to receive a special reward from God in eternity, the crown of life. We see this reward referenced also in Revelation 2:9-10 which states in a letter to the church in Smyrna, “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” This church suffered through trials of tribulation and poverty, but God promised that He would reward their enduring faithfulness with this special crown. What an honor to receive recognition from Almighty God for remaining faithful!

Another great honor is attached to this reward: it is “promised to them that love him.” There is a connection of enduring temptation to loving the Lord. Maybe we don’t make this connection enough in our minds. We will struggle with wavering faith if we don’t love the Lord as we ought. Demas was unable to endure because he “loved this present world.” 1 John 2:15 warns us to “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” If you love the world, you have no love for our Heavenly Father in you. There is no room left for Him. Matthew 6:24 asserts, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Don’t expect to endure if God is not first in your life. We need to really fall in love with God again and draw close to Him if we will endure the trials and receive the wonderful honor of the crown of life. I am reminded of the lyrics, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” When we focus more on Jesus and draw closer to Him, we will find solid, enduring faith that allows us to remain constant and endure the trial.

James 1:12, Endure

James 1:12, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

“The man that endureth.”

We need endurance. We need men and women of God that can endure. We are not promised an easy race, but God does promise that we can endure. Hebrews 12:1 tells us to “run with patience the race that is set before us.” Running this race is not about being the fastest and crossing the line first. We need to be faithful to finish. The best tool a long-distance runner can develop is endurance. How do we endure the temptations and trials in order to finish?

Hebrews 12:1 further instructs us to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us.” Sin is a terrible thing that will cause us not to finish this race to receive the reward. Sin easily besets us. While we know that none of us are perfect or will reach perfection this side of eternity, how we regard sin makes a great difference in how we run this race. Unconfessed and unforsaken sin in our hearts interrupts our relationship with God. Psalm 66:18 warns that “if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Sin ruins our joy, our peace, and even our ministry. David prayed in Psalm 51 for the cleansing of his heart from sin so that he could see restoration in these areas and more. We will not endure if we allow sin to beset us.

Sin is not the only besetting factor in this race; we can also be hindered by weights that we carry along. In my college days, I would try to schedule my classes spread apart enough for time in between for travel. But for an odd semester or two, I would have to schedule back to back classes that were located on the top floors of buildings at opposite ends of the campus. The only way to make that trip successfully was to sprint carrying the books and materials for both classes in my backpack. What I learned is that if you are going to run a race, better to not do so with a heavy weight strapped to your back. In fact, runners can be so conscious of excess weight that they choose their shoes by which weighs less (ounces of difference) to be as light as possible. Extra weight can beset you or hold you back in a race. You want every advantage possible.

Another way to understand the idea of besetting weight is from the wisdom of 2 Timothy 2:4 which states, “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” The last thing a soldier needs when going to battle is to be thinking of things at home or elsewhere that might distract him from his mission. If his mind is elsewhere, it may cost him his life or the life of a fellow soldier. A soldier must be focused on the job at hand.

So must we Christians not be entangled with the affairs of this life, or, in other words, we cannot burden our backs with unnecessary weights of which have no eternal value but simply encumber us and hold us back. Maybe it isn’t something you can find listed as a sin, but maybe it falls under the category we find in 1 Corinthians 6:12, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” It might be lawful (not a sin per say), but it also might not be expedient or profitable. We need to strive to not be under the power of any such weight.

What are these weights? This varies from person to person. A good test is to ask yourself, “Is this activity or thing hindering my relationship to God? Am I doing this more than or instead of spending time in prayer and in God’s Word? Do I allow this to keep me from regular attendance to church? Do I think about this more often than it really deserves? Is this my drive more than service to God?” You may think of other questions that could help identify the weights in your life that could beset you in this race and cause you not to endure.

More importantly, we need to ask God to reveal the weights and the sins that would hold us back and cause us not to endure temptation. We need to pray as the Psalmist did in Psalm 139, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Let God reveal to you what you can lay aside for the cause of endurance and allow Him to make the change in your life. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

“When he is tried.”

We can endure when we are tried! This is another example of “when” used instead of the word “if.” We will be tried, and when this happens, we need to endure. We must endure, if not for our own sakes, then for the sake of the next generation. We must be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus so that we can teach the next generation to do the same and “teach others also.”

James 1:9-11, We Have Reason to Rejoice

James 1:9-11, “Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth 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.”

“The brother of low degree…is exalted.”

“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18:10-14)

We have a choice to make: either “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” or “those that walk in pride he is able to abase.” In the above passage, the Pharisee thought he could lift himself up before God with his impressive giving and righteousness, but what do we have to offer God that might impress Him? The Pharisee thinks himself better than other men, fasts often (improperly so, as fasts are not to be noticed), gives tithes of everything he has, and really thinks himself to be something special. But the publican could not even lift his eyes to heaven. This publican was humbled in God’s presence knowing the he didn’t do anything to deserve God’s favor. He said, “Be merciful to me a sinner.” He was no more or less a sinner than the Pharisee, but he was wise and humble enough to recognize his own condition. The publican humbled himself and God exalted him, but the Pharisee exalted himself and he would God abase.

Whether rich or poor, we have reason to rejoice in the Lord.

“Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted”

The brother who is poor can rejoice in that God exalts him. He easily recognizes his dependence upon God, and he easily traces God’s working in his life. He knows that he won’t be able to impress God with anything he has, but he sees God time and again provide to meet his needs. He lives Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

“But the rich, in that he is made low.”

The rich also have reason to rejoice in that he is made low. The rich have to take great care to recognize that God provides for them also. It is imperative that the rich remember how wealth so easily fades. We see here in James that riches are fleeting. The passage describes the rich “as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth 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.” In the Old Testament, we read of Job who was both a wealthy man and a righteous man. He was humble before God, though he certainly had an amount that could lead him to trust in his riches. And having lost all of his earthly riches, Job proclaimed, “Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” He mourned for the loss of his sons and daughters, but he could bless the name of the Lord because he trusted God. If his rejoice had been in his wealth, he would have fallen apart. But because of his reliance on God, it could be said of Job, “In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”

It may seem odd that these verses are placed in the middle of a passage teaching about faith and trials, but God intends for us to connect these. There is not a person on earth, whether he be of low degree or rich, that should be rejoicing in anything or anyone but God. It takes faith for the poor to understand that God exalts them, which gives the them reason to rejoice. It takes faith for the rich to trust God despite their riches and rejoice that God makes them low. The trying of the faith is for the rich and the poor; all must rely on God, and all can and should rejoice in Him.

James 1:9, Let the Brother Rejoice!

James 1:9, “Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted.”

“Let the brother of low degree rejoice.”

When was the last time you rejoiced over being poor? God provides for our needs, but He doesn’t necessarily make you materially rich, and for this we ought to be thankful and rejoice! Seem contrary? Maybe our perspective is contrary. Maybe we don’t value enough what is eternally important, and maybe we have set too much importance on that which is temporary.

There is an epidemic of comfortability among today’s Christians. I don’t know too many Christians who are in pursuit of extreme wealth (probably related to the company I keep), but there are some who just want to reach a particular level of comfort in order to be happy. They believe that once they reach that level they will be able to do more to serve the Lord. So they work toward their pension, make sure they have specific comforts to enjoy, and insure a certain level of fallback wealth in case things take a turn. Ministry is secondary and an afterthought, placed among the leftovers. This mindset destroys the pioneering spirit of ministry. These Christians look for a comfortable place to serve instead of exercising a pioneering vision to build a ministry within a church. The spirit of comfortability is said to be the responsible thing to do, but this thought process is grounded in man’s philosophy.

We should look back to the followers of God of old times to see what it means to rejoice in our low degree. Paul said that he took “pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake.” Paul wasn’t one looking to be comfortable; He wanted to serve God from a state of low degree. He closed that verse by saying, “for when I am weak, then am I strong.” Paul added in an earlier passage, “If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.” Nearly all the apostles gave up whatever future they might have had to suffer reproach with Christ. Moses is mentioned in Hebrews 11:25-26 for “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.” We read of men like George Mueller who dedicated his life to God’s work and by faith saw God provide for every need, living purely by faith and not the comforts of this life. We read also of David Livingston, Jim Elliot, and many missionaries of old who were not concerned about comforts but dedicated themselves to God’s work. We also see many modern examples of God’s servants who leave the comforts of their homes to live by faith in order to see God use them for a work. What we see in their lives is the joy of low degree as they exercise faith in God.

Christ gives us the greatest example of low degree in Himself. Philippians 2 teaches us, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Christ didn’t come to earth to set an example of being comfortable; He set the example of humility in low estate.

What we often miss is that wealth and comfort can actually be at best a hindrance and at worst a curse. Comfortability from our own hands gives us space that we don’t have to trust the Lord. We can instead find pleasure in the stuff with which we surround ourselves, we can find provision in our good-paying job, we can find peace in our bank accounts, and we can find rest in our retirement. We can see everything we need and can therefore relax and afford to do some giving. Why exercise faith? “But without faith it is impossible to please [God].” There is great danger in this lifestyle. 1 Timothy 6:9-10 clearly teaches us the danger of this type of pursuit: “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” The pursuit of comfort is the pursuit of a level of riches. The love of money doesn’t always look like the old Scrooge McDuck cartoon of swimming in your gold, but it is also a person who looks to their money to provide comfort and stability instead of looking to God to supply.

“Rejoice in that he is exalted.”

We need to learn 1 Timothy 6:6-8, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” Those of low degree can rejoice because he understands that true gain is in Godly character and eternal riches and in a life dedicated to the cause of Christ. The brother of low degree doesn’t have to build himself up, but he rejoices “in that he is exalted.” God will exalt this brother! The Philippians 2 example of Christ reminds us that after Christ humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, “God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;” Paul tells us the reason that he gloried in his infirmities is because God is glorified, which is what really mattered to him and what should matter to us.

The brother of low degree can rejoice because he has learned the truth of Matthew 6:19-21, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” The brother of low degree has an easier time keeping his heart in the right place because his treasure is not in earthly comforts but in heavenly places. He has learned to seek “first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” He knows that “my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus,” and can therefore rejoice in low degree.

James 1:6-8, The Danger of the Double Minded

James 1:6-8, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

“Ask in faith, nothing wavering.”

The Christian walk requires faith. We start this life by faith as declared in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” These verses reason clearly that if salvation were by works, we would have saved ourselves giving us cause to boast of ourselves. We know that we don’t have the ability to save ourselves. We rely on God for all matters, and we have no cause to boast in our lives. What we have is cause to give God the glory. “By the grace of God I am what I am.” (1 Corinthians 15:10a)

We also know that “without faith it is impossible to please [God].” (Hebrews 11:6a) It is no wonder that we also must ask in faith, whether we are asking for a quality like wisdom, or we are asking for growth, or we are asking for God’s intervention in a matter. Unwavering faith is required to see God work.

“Let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”

My dad’s testimony is that he was not saved the first time he recited words asking for salvation. His heart was that maybe it was true that Jesus would save him and that he would give it a try. He was not placing his faith in Christ the first couple of times he recited words, and he knew that there was no difference in his heart—that nothing had changed. But he came to realize that he had to ask in faith, and upon placing his faith in Christ for salvation, Jesus saved him. Dad could then testify that he knew that he had eternal life!

Christians approach prayer in this way sometimes. We might ask God our petition, but do we really believe? We know we need to grow in an area such as wisdom or the like, and we ask for God to work so that we can grow, but we waver at the trial as if God had made some sort of mistake. If we don’t place our full faith in God AND in His ways, why should we expect to receive anything from Him? In fact, it is presumptuous on our part to expect God to do some kind of work when we don’t even trust Him. Scripture describes this person with wavering faith as “a double minded man.”

“Unstable in all his ways.”

The double minded way presents danger to the Christian. This type of believer has some sort of desire to follow God but lacks the faith to do so. He might want to grow, but he struggles to trust God’s methods of growing him. God allows the trials that will work patience and thereby grow the Christian to completion, but the double minded man sees the trial and runs toward his own way. He becomes a Christian at variance with himself, opposed to his own new nature given to him at salvation.

One danger, which we have already discussed, is that this double minded man will have an ineffective prayer life. James 5:16 remarks that “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” We see effectual prayer from the righteous man in chapter 5, but in chapter 1 we see ineffective prayer from the double minded man. What a contrast! The faithless should not expect to see God work, but the righteous man exercising faith in God will see much victory! We should take serious warning to the double minded lifestyle if we want to see God work in and through us.

A second danger is that this double minded man is unstable “in all his ways.” In a previous post, I referred to the person with wavering faith as a “seasick Christian” using the image from verse 6, “For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” Seasickness makes you stagger. It is difficult to remain stable no matter what direction you try to go. The double minded Christian thinks to follow God but, with the application of trials, turns another way and spins around enough to make him unstable in any direction he goes. The only stable way is the way of faith to follow Christ. The only surety we can have find is in trusting Christ for our growth and our needs.

The bottom line is that we should ask of God, but we should ask in faith. God desires to give liberally, but we must ask with unwavering faith. We have no right to expect anything of God if we are not going to trust Him. Trust His methods, trust His timing, trust His answer, and trust His heart.

James 1:5-6, Ask in Faith, Nothing Wavering

James 1:5-6, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”

“Let him ask of God.”

Where do you go when you need something? I don’t know about you, but I’m pulling up Amazon! You can find far more there than you need, for a price of course. (Not sponsored at all!) During the great toilet paper crisis of 2020, I was working at a financial institution with Amazon open in the background of my workstation ready to pull the trigger on any toilet paper that suddenly became available, because it would be gone in a matter of minutes.

Where do you go when you really need something? I hope as a Christian you go where you are invited by God, to the throne of grace. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16). Whether it be wisdom as discussed in this Scripture or any other need, let us ask of God. He wants us to ask. He is waiting for us to ask as a Father for His children. He gives liberally, and His gifts are good. Matthew 7:11, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

“Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.”

But we need to ask in faith. Do we believe God or don’t we? We are such sight-based believers that we struggle with exercising faith. We know we don’t have much faith, because Jesus taught that “if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matthew 17:20) We would see more, but our faith wavers.

When James says “nothing wavering,” he is referring to having no hesitation, no doubt, and no variance. We hesitate when we ask God to do a work, perhaps even asking for wisdom as this passage teaches and see Him begin to use a trial to answer our request and we pause. We might say, “Wait a minute! This isn’t what I asked for! I don’t want this.” We want the result, but we don’t think it is worth the work done on us. We might hesitate in our faith. Or we tend to doubt that God can even do what He says He will do. We might ask with our lips but our heart is far from belief opening the door for anxiety and fear. If we doubt, are we really exercising any kind of faith? To not exercise full faith puts us at variance of ourselves. Variance is opposition to oneself. We, by our new nature as Christians, are designed to trust God. We trust Him for salvation and a home in Heaven to enjoy in our eternal life. Faith is a necessary part of the walk of the believer. Hebrews 11:6 asserts, “But without faith it is impossible to please him.” Even calling ourselves “believers” implies a continuation of believing God; otherwise, we should be called “the believed” as if it were only in the past. If we are going to ask of God, we better do so in faith, nothing wavering.

“Like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”

Being seasick feels awful. I’ve been on the water more than a few times in a boat tossed by waves. You learn tricks to try to avoid seasickness, but sometimes it just grips you. We see many seasick Christians tossed “like a wave of the sea driven with the wind.” This picture perfectly describes the wavering faith of a Christian. Our new nature wants to have faith toward God while the winds of doubt drive us the other way. The waves and the wind work in opposition, and progress becomes impossible. In fact, the next verse reads, “For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.” How do we get out of this wavering condition?

When you are seasick, you can find relief in a couple of ways. First, you must get your eyes off your condition and on to something stable like the sky. I have felt the worst seasickness when I’m looking down at the moving boat or have my eyes fixed on something that I am doing too long. As soon as you feel the nausea coming on, you must get your eyes up. Second, you need to get yourself to solid ground. When your footing becomes stable again, you very quickly begin to recover.

Christian, if you don’t want to waver in faith, being tossed around by the wind and waves, you need to get your eyes off the problems and trials and back on to Jesus. Put your focus on the wrong thing and you will waver, but put your focus on your Savior and you can thrive. Also, get yourself back on solid footing. Ground yourself in the Word of God and the promises of God. We waver when we leave solid ground. If you find yourself wavering, ground yourself in Scripture. Don’t leave there until you find what you need so that you can “ask in faith, nothing wavering.”

James 1:4-6, If You Lack Wisdom, Just Ask of God

James 1:4-6, “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed..”

“If any of you lack wisdom.”

Lacking wisdom is trending, wouldn’t you say? If you aren’t sure, just start watching some Facebook reels or random YouTube videos or the news for that matter. But are they the only ones lacking wisdom? Do we have the Biblical, Godly wisdom that is necessary for a close walk with God? Do you think as a Christian that you have all the wisdom that you need? Do any of you lack wisdom? I hope that we can be humble enough to know that we can grow in this area, yet sometimes we actively avoid that which would teach us wisdom.

Something we often try to avoid that would teach us wisdom is the trying of our faith. We tend to have the mindset that because trials are difficult that we should try to avoid them. But “when we fall into divers temptations,” and our faith is tried, it works patience. Patience then performs its completing work on us, making us entire and wanting (or lacking) nothing. This means that the perfecting work of patience leaves nothing behind or forsaken of which we need. The part of that refining work that is emphasized here is God’s gift of wisdom.

Proverbs 4:7a asserts that “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom.” James 1 comes behind that saying, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Wisdom is principal, and God gives it liberally if we will ask Him. We might be embarrassed or feel guilty about having to ask for wisdom, but James shows us that God “upbraideth not” the request, or, in other words, He does not revile or reproach you for asking. The fact that He gives liberally when asked just shows how much He wants you to request wisdom from Him.

“Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.”

But sometimes our faith wavers. Have you ever been asked to teach something only for your student to question your lesson? As a former teacher English teacher, I could tell you of all sorts of times I taught varying grammar lessons and was questioned on every level, but let me share something far more shameful on my part. I have been that student. My wife is a wonderful piano player and teacher. I have heard from a side room as she has taken students from mashing the piano keys to playing music! While listening, I thought it would be great to just sit down to the piano and just play a song that was on my heart, so I asked her to teach me. I’ve heard her teach children and adults of all ages, so certainly I could learn with my “musical background.” Well, we tried. She began teaching me the basics, and I said, “I know this stuff; this is too easy. Try teaching me something harder.” So, she jumped ahead a few lessons. “Hold on, now you’ve gone too far. What are you talking about?” Needless to say, after yo-yoing her around for a while, she informed me that this wasn’t going to work. I have to admit, she was (and still is) right.

Here's what happens: we ask God for wisdom, and it is wise to do so, but when the lesson comes, we waver. Perhaps the problem is that we want God to give wisdom in the same way we wanted to learn in school, by osmosis. (Osmosis is one-way diffusion through a semipermeable membrane—the one thing I remember from biology. Thank you, Mrs. Crawford, and sorry I don’t remember more!) We want God to just stick wisdom in our minds in the same way we wanted the information in our Biology text books to just sink in as we slept with it under our head, but God gives wisdom the same way our teachers taught us, through lessons, testings, and trials. So the trial comes, we don’t like the trial, and our faith wavers. “I want wisdom, but I don’t want it the way you want to give it to me.” But it doesn’t work that way. We don’t get to set the terms of our own growth; we just need to trust God to see Him grow us. Growth is a painful process. Muscle growth relies on the micro-tearing of muscle tissue which heals to be stronger than it was. (Maybe I remember two things from biology.) We are sore but stronger.

If we are going to let patience have her perfect work, we need to have faith in God’s work through the trials and that without wavering. “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24) “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13b) If you are saved, you have already trusted God for that. If we can trust God for salvation, and certainly we can, then we need to trust Him as He gives us wisdom as He sees fit.

James 1:3-4, What's So Great About Patience

James 1:3-4, “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

“Worketh patience.”

And what’s so great about patience? I’ve always heard the half-joke growing up, “Don’t pray for patience because the Lord will send it. Be careful what you ask for!” The response is generally a mild laugh with a nod of recognition that you really don’t want the thing in your life that works patience. But truthfully, we need patience!

Patience is well-defined as steadfastness, constancy, and endurance. 1 Corinthians 15:58 teaches, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Being so resolute that we are unmovable and always abound in God’s work is not a natural quality—we must learn it. God must use trials in our life to teach it to us. We have to learn the qualities that aid to staying constantly in Jesus—in abiding in Him. We have to learn what we must lay aside as Hebrews 12:1 reminds us to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us.” We must endure; we need patience.

“But let patience have her perfect work.”

It should be obvious by now that if God is allowing a trial that He has a purpose behind it. Why can’t we learn to trust Him more? Patience is working toward that end. These trials are developing patience in us that allows us to wait for God to deliver and provide. We get beyond our ability and can do nothing but wait for God. This is the perfect work of patience. Anything God is working is perfect, for God is perfect—He makes no mistakes. And the work that patience is doing is a perfecting work. God allows trials which teaches patience and helps bring us to be complete, wanting (or lacking) nothing.

Did you notice that we are to “let” patience have her perfect work? We need to allow God’s work in our lives. We need to not only accept it but also look to God and humbly let Him work. We can refuse to learn what we need, but then we have not grown. Will the trials just make us bitter? Will we patiently wait for God as He works and learn the endurance? What is your heart toward God’s work through trials? When God allows you to suffer a trial and He brings you through it, you become that much more enduring. An athlete improves by pushing the boundaries of his body to exhaustion so that the next time he can endure more. Over much time, he finds that he can accomplish more as he pushes more. God allows trials to push our boundaries so that we learn that we are able to endure more for the cause of Christ. Thank you, Lord, for working in our lives so that we “may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

James 1:2-3, The Trial of your Faith

James 1:2-3, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

The joy of a trial is not the trial itself, but it is God working in our lives.

“Count it all joy.”

The Christians to whom this letter was directly written were familiar with trials. We notice in verse 1 that this letter is to “the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad.” Not all Jews were scattered, just those that followed Christ. Acts 1:8 describes the time: “And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.” We learn also in verse 4, “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” Praise the Lord that while being persecuted and driven from their homes they could preach God’s Word. But these were people who understood diverse temptations. They were driven from their homes, separated from their culture, separated sometimes from their family, imprisoned, tortured, seeing friends martyred, and more than we can only imagine. Yet here, James tells them to “count it all joy.” I believe the only way you can continue God’s work in the middle of a trial is to count the trial as joy, knowing that God is working.

“The trying of your faith.”

But joy in a trial? Rejoice over some difficulty for which I never asked but I fell into it? How is this possible? Understanding that God is working all things together for good is easy when life feels good, but our faith in God’s promise is tested when we cannot see the good in a situation. A loved one passes away, a job falls through, an expected and oversized bill shows up, a frightening medical condition is discovered—the diverse temptations really put our faith to the test. But it is when our faith survives these trials that the reality of what we believe becomes even more clear.

When I lost my best friend, knowing he was with our Savior made Heaven that much more real. I already knew by faith the reality of eternal life in Heaven with Jesus, but knowing my best friend was right there was a glimpse of when faith becomes sight! My faith was tried and strengthened, not because I am strong but because God is good and faithful. He used a trial to do a work in me. We can count the trials all joy because we can trust our loving God.

Let it be clear, it is our faith that is being tried in these temptations. Faith does not follow understanding; instead, we understand by faith (Hebrews 11:3a, “Through faith we understand…”). Our faith being tried produces patience in us. Our attitude becomes, “Lord, I don’t understand why I am going through this, but I know you are working and I trust that You will are working for good. I will wait for you as you do a work in me.” When we don’t understand and don’t know what to do, we are most ready to learn to wait on the Lord. We have to understand that we are at the end of ourselves before we further learn to trust God. God has used various financial trials in my life to show me time and again that He will always provide. And every time I trusted in the Lord, not only did He provide but also He showed me that I can trust Him more. Now, as a pastor, I am learning to trust Him not just for my own provisions but also for the provisions of an entire church body. Had the Lord not tried my faith, I would not have the patience for this new trial. We need the trials to teach us to trust Him more so that He can use us for even greater things. And through it all, we can do nothing but point to “God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

James 1:2, What Happens When You Fall

James 1:2, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.”

Notice with me two phrases from this verse.

“Count it all joy.”

Wisely, this verse starts with the joy before the temptation. Often, we need to be assured before we understand the difficulty. If God is working—and He is—then there is reason to rejoice. God takes pleasure in working in you both to will and to do, and as we see God uses trials to build us, meaning that we can have joy in difficulties. The joy we can experience is not because we love the temptation or trial, but we rejoice knowing that God is working on us by the trial. I can have joy because I know God is working for good as He already assured us. I can rejoice assuredly because the end result, described in verse 4 of this chapter, will guide me toward being “perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Trials are part of making us fully complete and equipped for a closer walk with God and more dedicated service.

“When ye fall.”

Falling into temptation is inevitable. The Holy Spirit could have just as easily directed this verse to read “if ye fall,” but falling into temptation is a fact of life. Notice, though, the fall is into temptation but not to sin. The reality is that we sin as we are drawn of our own lust and enticed. Our lust brings us to sin; we do not “fall” into sin. When referring to the sin of Adam and Eve that resulted in sin nature being passed down to all mankind, we often use the term “the fall of man.” Probably a more appropriate phrase would be “the jump of man.” Sinful man is guilty not by accident but by the work of the flesh.

But we do fall into temptations as in the sense of trials. Nobody in his right mind seeks out a trial or a difficulty. But trials are necessary in this life to mold us into a Christian that is “perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” In order to be completely equipped as needed, we have to accept that trials are essential. And of course, God does not leave us to ourselves in our trials to fend for ourselves. 1 Corinthians 10:13 reminds us, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” God is faithful always, even during times of temptation when we most realize our need for Him. So, what happens “when ye fall”?

The word translated ye fall here in James 1:2 is used two other times in Scripture. The first is when a man fell among thieves and was stripped of his raiment, wounded, and left for dead. I imagine that this man had a completely different plan for his day; nevertheless, this is what happened. In fact, it pretty well ruined a few days in a row. This man’s account is the one we remember by the “the good Samaritan” who would sacrificially save this man’s life. God used this Samaritan to rescue and care for this total stranger who had fallen into this terrible trial.

The second time we can find this word in Scripture is in Acts 27 when Paul found himself imprisoned on a ship and caught in a great storm. The crew attempted to bring the ship to a safe harbor but fell “into a place where two seas met” causing the ship to run aground on the bow and the stern to be broken into pieces. The soldiers guarding the prisoners wanted to kill all the prisoners, including Paul, to prevent their escape. Verse 43 retells, “But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose.” God used that centurion to save Paul’s life. The common theme in each of these verses of those who fell into a temptation is that God provided a way of escape. For every fall, God is faithful. So “when ye fall,” you know that our faithful God “will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” Look to God for the way of escape. Look to God so that ye can bear it.

Be Strong in the Grace

2 Timothy 2:1-2, “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”

As God allows and directs, my heart is to commit to the faithful what God has taught me. If we will reach the next generation and those to follow with the grace of Christ Jesus, we first must be strong in that grace and commit what we know to the faithful who will teach others also. We can no longer afford generational gaps of teaching Biblical truth! We need to increase in our learning from God’s Word and be faithful to teach others also.

With this blog, I hope to encourage who I can to be strong enough to walk the path of Christ while teaching and strengthening others along the way. As a teacher within a church environment for almost two decades, I have had opportunity to see God work in the lives of those that He has so graciously allowed me to influence. I am humbled now to serve as a pastor and to see God use the preaching of His Word to affect hearts for Him. I pray this to be an avenue that God will use to stir the hearts of His people to follow and be encouraged in Him, and then that God’s people will transmit this knowledge to someone else.

Of course, much of the teaching will not mean a lot to a person who has not accepted Jesus Christ as Savior. You cannot be encouraged in God’s Word if you have not placed your faith in Jesus as the only way of salvation. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” There is no salvation in any other. It is only by the salvation that God freely offers by grace through faith that the wages of sin, which is death, can be satisfied. You will only find peace and purpose in Jesus Christ, who by His death and resurrection offers eternal life to “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord.” The way of salvation is simple: you must realize you are a sinner (“all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”), repent of your sin (turn from the way of your sin to Christ), receive Jesus as your Savior (‘as many as received him, to them gave he power to be the sons of God), and you can rejoice in your new life!

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