Reading and meditation on Chapter 1 of the Letter of James:
The disciple James is the younger brother of Jesus Christ, mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew: « Where did this man get this wisdom and these powerful works? Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary, and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? » (Matthew 13:54,55). Consequently, it is not to be confused with the apostle James, who is the brother of the apostle John (Matthew 10:2,3 (James the son of Zebedee and John his brother). In 1 Corinthians 15:7, it is written that Jesus Christ resurrected appeared to his younger brother James. It was probably from this apparition that he began to exercise faith in him, because it is written in the Gospel of John, that during the Ministry of Jesus Christ, his brothers did not exercise faith in him (John 7:5). A few years later, it was the disciple James who presided over the Council of Jerusalem to take a decision regarding the circumcision (Acts 15:12, it could not be the apostle James, because king Herod had killed him before this Council (acts 12:2)).
When we read the Letter of James, it is surprising to see the likeness of his way of teaching, with that of his older brother Jesus. He uses many illustrations as Jesus did. For indication, while reading meditation on the Letter of James, you can compare with the Sermon on the Mount pronounced by his brother Jesus in Matthew chapters 5 to 7. This letter is very easy to understand, that is why before each biblical quotes, there will be a simple introduction indicating the theme of the exhortation. When necessary, there will be a comment in order to specify the meaning of some expressions or comparisons.
« James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the 12 tribes that are scattered about: Greetings! » (verse 1). The twelve tribes seem to be the Israel of God, the spiritual Israel that represents the whole of the Christian Congregation (Galatians 6:16).
We must consider the trials allowed by God, as « testing quality of faith » in the ability to endure: « Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you meet with various trials, 3knowing as you do that this tested quality of your faith produces endurance. 4But let endurance complete its work, so that you may be complete and sound in all respects, not lacking in anything. (…) Happy is the man who keeps on enduring trial, because on becoming approved he will receive the crown of life, which Jehovah promised to those who continue loving Him. 13When under trial, let no one say: “I am being tried by God.” For with evil things God cannot be tried, nor does he himself try anyone. 14But each one is tried by being drawn out and enticed by his own desire. 15Then the desire, when it has become fertile, gives birth to sin; in turn sin, when it has been carried out, brings forth death » (verses 2-4,12-15).
James explains that God is not the initiator of the trials because He does not create the problems in which his servants are. God only allows the trials. These problems or trials are the result of temptations. James gives the example of temptations aroused by bad thoughts. He explains the simple process that can lead to sin. Jesus Christ, in the Sermon on the Mount, showed how fertilized desire, gives birth to sin in the heart regarding adultery: « But I say to you that everyone who keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart » (Matthew 5:28). Jesus Christ gives an example of bad desire in the heart which gives birth to sin without necessarily being an action. The two teachings are complementary because James writes that it is the fulfilled sin that leads to death, while Jesus Christ says that the bad intention in the heart, is a sin in itself. The apostle John has also shown that bad intentions fed in the heart constitute a serious sin, concerning hatred which could lead to murder: « Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has everlasting life remaining in him » (1 John 3:15).
We must ask with perseverance and faith, the wisdom of God: « So if any one of you is lacking in wisdom, let him keep asking God, for he gives generously to all and without reproaching, and it will be given him. 6But let him keep asking in faith, not doubting at all, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and blown about. 7In fact, that man should not expect to receive anything from Jehovah; 8he is an indecisive man, unsteady in all his ways. (…) Do not be misled, my beloved brothers. 17Every good gift and every perfect present is from above, coming down from the Father of the celestial lights, who does not vary or change like the shifting shadows. 18It was his will to bring us forth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of firstfruits of his creatures » (verses 5-8,16-18).
The doubt is a lack of faith, which is considered, from the point of view of God, as a sin: « Moreover, without faith it is impossible to please God well, for whoever approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him » (Hebrews 11:6).
Regarding insistence in the requests made to God, Jesus illustrates it in the Sermon on the Mount: « Keep on asking, and it will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you; 8for everyone asking receives, and everyone seeking finds, and to everyone knocking, it will be opened. 9Indeed, which one of you, if his son asks for bread, will hand him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, he will not hand him a serpent, will he? 11Therefore, if you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will your Father who is in the heavens give good things to those asking him! » (Matthew 7:7-11).
When James writes that God « does not vary or change like the shifting shadows », that means when He gives to his servants, He is always at the zenith, when He makes gifts, He gives the best for his servant.
The firstfruits of his creatures could refer to Christians who would be heavenly heirs with Christ, according to the apostle Paul. In 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, he exclusively applies the expression « firstfruits » to Jesus Christ resuscitated and in Romans 8:23, he applies it to Christians heirs with Christ.
The poor man will be exalted, while the rich will be humiliated: « But let the lowly brother rejoice over his exaltation, 10and the rich one over his humiliation, because like a flower of the field he will pass away. 11For just as the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the plant, and its flower falls off and its outward beauty perishes, so too the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits » (verses 9-11).
The poor man will be exalted, while the rich will be humiliated: « But let the lowly brother rejoice over his exaltation, 10and the rich one over his humiliation, because like a flower of the field he will pass away. 11For just as the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the plant, and its flower falls off and its outward beauty perishes, so too the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits » (verses 9-11).
We must be careful with the use of the tongue: « Know this, my beloved brothers: Everyone must be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger, 20for man’s anger does not bring about God’s righteousness. 21Therefore, put away all filthiness and every trace of badness, and accept with mildness the implanting of the word that is able to save you. (…) If any man thinks he is a worshipper of God but does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he is deceiving his own heart, and his worship is futile. 27The form of worship that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation, and to keep oneself without spot from the world » (verses 19-21,26,27, see also chapter 3).
We must put into practice the biblical teaching in our life: « However, become doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves with false reasoning. 23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, this one is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror. 24For he looks at himself, and he goes away and immediately forgets what sort of person he is. 25But the one who peers into the perfect law that belongs to freedom and continues in it has become, not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work; and he will be happy in what he does » (verses 22-25).
***
Meditation on the Letter of James leading to Christian maturity
When we read the Letter of James, it is surprising to see the likeness of his way of teaching, with that of his older brother Jesus. He uses many illustrations as Jesus did…
***
Achieving Spiritual Maturity (Hebrews 6:1)
Table of contents of the http://yomelyah.fr/ website
Reading the Bible daily, this table of contents contains informative Bible articles (Please click on the link above to view it)…
Table of languages of more than seventy languages, with six important biblical articles, written in each of these languages…
***