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.
Chapter 1:
« 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).
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Chapter 2:
We must not treat with partiality the rich and the poor: « My brothers, you are not holding to the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ while showing favoritism, are you? 2For if a man with gold rings on his fingers and in splendid clothing comes into your meeting, but a poor man in filthy clothing also enters, 3do you look with favor on the one wearing the splendid clothing and say, “You take this seat here in a fine place,” and do you say to the poor one, “You keep standing” or, “Take that seat there under my footstool”? 4If so, do you not have class distinctions among yourselves, and have you not become judges rendering wicked decisions? 5Listen, my beloved brothers. Did not God choose those who are poor from the world’s standpoint to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom, which he promised to those who love him? 6But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you and drag you before law courts? 7Do they not blaspheme the fine name by which you were called? 8If, now, you carry out the royal law according to the scripture, “You must love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing quite well. 9But if you continue showing favoritism, you are committing sin, and you are convicted by the law as transgressors » (verses 1-9).
We must practice the whole Christian law and not forget to be merciful: « For if anyone obeys all the Law but makes a false step in one point, he has become an offender against all of it. 11For the one who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.” If, now, you do not commit adultery but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of law. 12Keep on speaking and behaving in such a way as those do who are going to be judged by the law of a free people. 13For the one who does not practice mercy will have his judgment without mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment » (verses 10-13).
Regarding mercy, Jesus Christ says in the Sermon on the Mount, that it will be shown mercy to the merciful and God will forgive those who forgive their neighbor (Matthew 5:7 and 6:14,15).
The living faith is authenticated by Christian works, but a faith without works is dead: « Of what benefit is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but he does not have works? That faith cannot save him, can it? 15If a brother or a sister is lacking clothing and enough food for the day, 16yet one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but you do not give them what they need for their body, of what benefit is it? 17So, too, faith by itself, without works, is dead. 18Nevertheless, someone will say: “You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19You believe that there is one God, do you? You are doing quite well. And yet the demons believe and shudder. 20But do you care to know, O empty man, that faith without works is useless? 21Was not Abraham our father declared righteous by works after he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22You see that his faith was active along with his works and his faith was perfected by his works, 23and the scripture was fulfilled that says: “Abraham put faith in Jehovah, and it was counted to him as righteousness,” and he came to be called Jehovah’s friend. 24You see that a man is to be declared righteous by works and not by faith alone. 25In the same manner, was not Rahab the prostitute also declared righteous by works after she received the messengers hospitably and sent them out by another way? 26Indeed, just as the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead » (verses 14-26).
The works mentioned by the disciple James, according to the context, are works of mercy and not the works of the Mosaic Law (see verses 15,16,25).
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Chapter 3:
The advice of the disciple James on the use of the tongue: « Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment. 2For we all stumble many times. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able to bridle also his whole body. 3If we put bridles in the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide also their whole body. 4Look also at ships: Although they are so big and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the man at the helm is inclined to go. 5So, too, the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it makes great brags. See how small a fire it takes to set a great forest ablaze! 6The tongue is also a fire. The tongue represents a world of unrighteousness among our body members, for it defiles all the body and sets the whole course of life on fire, and it is set on fire by Gehenna. 7For every kind of wild animal and bird and reptile and sea creature is to be tamed and has been tamed by humans. 8But no human can tame the tongue. It is unruly and injurious, full of deadly poison. 9With it we praise Jehovah, the Father, and yet with it we curse men who have come into existence “in the likeness of God.” 10Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, it is not right for things to happen this way. 11A spring does not cause the fresh water and the bitter water to bubble out of the same opening, does it? 12My brothers, a fig tree cannot produce olives, or a grapevine figs, can it? Neither can salt water produce fresh water » (verses 1-12).
The Gehenna is the symbol of death without resurrection, everlasting death. In verse 6, James shows that it is with the tongue that we can do the sins that can lead to the Gehenna, the everlasting death. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says the same: « However, I say to you that everyone who continues wrathful with his brother will be accountable to the court of justice; and whoever addresses his brother with an unspeakable word of contempt will be accountable to the Supreme Court; whereas whoever says, ‘You despicable fool!’ will be liable to the fiery Gehenna » (Matthew 5:22). And then, a little later, Jesus Christ says that a man can sin against the Holy Spirit with his mouth. The sin against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable, it is an everlasting sin: « For this reason I say to you, every sort of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven. For example, whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the holy spirit, it will not be forgiven him, no, not in this system of things nor in that to come. (…) I tell you that men will render an account on Judgment Day for every unprofitable saying that they speak; for by your words you will be declared righteous, and by your words you will be condemned » (Matthew 12:31,32,36,37).
Let us reject the earthly and animalistic wisdom, but let us practice the wisdom from above: « Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him by his fine conduct demonstrate works performed with a mildness that comes from wisdom. 14But if you have bitter jealousy and contentiousness in your hearts, do not be bragging and lying against the truth. 15This is not the wisdom that comes down from above; it is earthly, animalistic, demonic. 16For wherever there are jealousy and contentiousness, there will also be disorder and every vile thing. 17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, reasonable, ready to obey, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, not hypocritical. 18Moreover, the fruit of righteousness is sown in peaceful conditions for those who are making peace » (verses 13-18).
There is the same kind of contrasting description between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the spirit, written by the apostle Paul: « Now the works of the flesh are plainly seen, and they are sexual immorality, uncleanness, brazen conduct, idolatry, spiritism, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, dissensions, divisions, sects, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and things like these. I am forewarning you about these things, the same way I already warned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom. On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law » (Galatians 5:19-23).
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Chapter 4:
We must avoid having bad intentions: « What is the source of the wars and fights among you? Do they not originate from your fleshly desires that carry on a conflict within you? 2You desire, and yet you do not have. You go on murdering and coveting, and yet you are not able to obtain. You go on fighting and waging war. You do not have because of your not asking. 3When you do ask, you do not receive because you are asking for a wrong purpose, so that you may spend it on your fleshly desires » (verses 1-3).
We must avoid spiritual adultery, that is to say friendship with the world: « Adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is making himself an enemy of God. 5Or do you think that for no reason the scripture says: “The spirit that has taken up residence within us keeps enviously longing”? 6However, the undeserved kindness that He gives is greater. So it says: “God opposes the haughty ones, but he gives undeserved kindness to the humble ones » (verses 4-6).
Adultery represents the breaking of a promise of the permanent loyalty between a man and a woman, the two being married. Spiritual adultery is the breaking of a promise of the permanent loyalty made to God and Christ, with the Christian baptism (Matthew 28:19). Friendship with the world is defined more precisely by the apostle John: « Do not love either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; because everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world. Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever » (1 John 2:15-17).
We must subject ourselves to God and oppose the devil: « Therefore, subject yourselves to God; but oppose the Devil, and he will flee from you. 8Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you indecisive ones. 9Give way to misery and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into despair. 10Humble yourselves in the eyes of Jehovah, and he will exalt you » (Verses 7-10).
Who is Satan the devil?
Jesus Christ described the devil very concisely: “That one was a murderer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks according to his own disposition, because he is a liar and the father of the lie » (John 8:44). Satan the devil is not the abstraction of evil, but a real spiritual person (Matthew 4:1-11). Likewise, the demons are also angels who have become rebels who have followed the example of the devil (Genesis 6:1-3, to compare with the letter of Jude verse 6: « And the angels who did not keep their original position but forsook their own proper dwelling place, he has reserved with eternal bonds in dense darkness for the judgment of the great day »).
When it is written, « he did not stand fast in the truth », it shows that God created this angel without sin and without any trace of wickedness in his heart. This angel, at the beginning of his life had a « beautiful name » (Ecclesiastes 7:1a). However, « he did not stand fast » in his integrity, he cultivated pride in his heart, and over time he became « devil », which means slanderer, and Satan, opponent; his old beautiful name, his good reputation, has been replaced by one of the everlasting disgraces. In the prophecy of Ezekiel (chapter 28), against the proud king of Tyre, it is clearly alluded to the pride of the angel who became « devil » and « Satan »: « This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: “You were the model of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eʹden, the garden of God. You were adorned with every precious stone —Ruby, topaz, and jasper; chrysʹo·lite, onyx, and jade; sapphire, turquoise, and emerald; And their settings and mountings were made of gold. They were prepared on the day you were created. I assigned you as the anointed covering cherub. You were on the holy mountain of God, and you walked about among fiery stones. You were faultless in your ways from the day you were created Until unrighteousness was found in you » (Ezekiel 28:12-15). Through his act of unrighteousness in Eden, he became a « liar » who caused the death of all of Adam’s offspring (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12). Currently, it is Satan the devil who rules the world: « Now there is a judging of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out » (John 12:31; Ephesians 2:2; 1 John 5:19) .
Satan the devil will be permanently destroyed: « For his part, the God who gives peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly » (Genesis 3:15; Romans 16:20).
We must not judge our neighbor: « Stop speaking against one another, brothers. Whoever speaks against a brother or judges his brother speaks against law and judges law. Now if you judge law, you are not a doer of law but a judge. 12There is only one who is Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and to destroy. But you, who are you to be judging your neighbor? » (Verses 11,12).
There is the same exhortation in the Sermon on the Mount: « Stop judging that you may not be judged; for with the judgment you are judging, you will be judged, and with the measure that you are measuring out, they will measure out to you. Why, then, do you look at the straw in your brother’s eye but do not notice the rafter in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Allow me to remove the straw from your eye,’ when look! a rafter is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the rafter from your own eye, and then you will see clearly how to remove the straw from your brother’s eye » (Matthew 7:1-5).
This exhortation not to judge is to be put in the context of the general human relationship and not in the normal framework of a court which requires the intervention of a judge to rule on the guilt or not of a person.
Jesus Christ says that the human who tends to systematically judge his neighbour, often forgets that he is in very exactly the same situation as the person he is judging: a sinner like all the other descendants of Adam: « For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Jesus Christ adds a second point showing that the person who is judging, puts himself in a very delicate situation from the point of view of the one who will exercise judgment, King Jesus Christ, especially shortly before the great tribulation: he will be judged in the same way how he judges others. So non-judgment, seen from this perspective, is a way of being careful. However, Jesus Christ said before, in his sermon, that we must be merciful and thus, it will be shown mercy to us. We must forgive, so God will forgive us our faults (Matthew 5:7; 6:14,15).
However, Jesus Christ goes much further concerning the person who tends to judge his neighbor, he says without hesitation, that he is a hypocrite. Indeed, he judges his neighbor by ignoring that he has faults, even much more serious; Jesus Christ says that the person judged has a straw in his eye while, by optical effect, the other, has a rafter in his eye. The expression used by Christ is completely in keeping with the person who regularly judges his neighbour: « Physician, cure yourself » (Luke 4:23).
We must avoid presumption and arrogance: « Come, now, you who say: “Today or tomorrow we will travel to this city and will spend a year there, and we will do business and make some profit,” 14whereas you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then disappears. 15Instead, you should say: “If Jehovah wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16But now you take pride in your arrogant boasting. All such boasting is wicked. 17Therefore, if someone knows how to do what is right and yet does not do it, it is a sin for him » (verses 13-17).
The comment of the disciple James on the fragility of human life, leads us to ask existential questions about its meaning. The biblical book of the Ecclesiastes is very exactly in the theme of the existential reflection of the meaning of life with some questions linked to death and hope. The Ecclesiastes puts them in two important perspectives: the description of the life which would be stripped of all spirituality, and on the other hand, which would be in a spiritual way of life.
The central theme is: « The greatest vanity!” the congregator has said, “the greatest vanity! Everything is vanity! » (Ecclesiastes 1:2). The theme of the absurdity of the current human condition is illustrated by many examples. The human condition that leads him inexorably to death, so what he will undertake, in the end, this will be useless.
There is not only this realistic but also dark observation, there is also the best solution, written in the last words in the chapter 12: « The conclusion of the matter, everything having been heard, is: Fear the [true] God and keep his commandments. For this is the whole obligation of man. 14For the true God himself will bring every sort of work into the judgment in relation to every hidden thing, as to whether it is good or bad » (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14). If this book begins with a very dark aspect of existence, the counterpoint is the solution of the good relationship with God, that can get us out of this absurd cycle, of this existence, by granting us the everlasting life (John 316.36; 17:3). Throughout this observation of absurdity, there is an alternation between the spiritual darkness, our current human condition and the spiritual light, the fact that God can deliver us from this dead end.
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Chapter 5:
There will be a judgment of the rich men who oppress the poor and extort their employees: « Come, now, you rich men, weep and wail over the miseries that are coming upon you. 2Your riches have rotted, and your clothing has become moth-eaten. 3Your gold and silver have rusted away, and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh. What you have stored up will be like a fire in the last days. 4Look! The wages you have withheld from the workers who harvested your fields keep crying out, and the cries for help of the reapers have reached the ears of Jehovah of armies. 5You have lived in luxury and for self-gratification on the earth. You have fattened your hearts on the day of slaughter. 6You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous one. Is he not opposing you? » (verses 1-6).
Jesus Christ says in the Sermon on the Mount that wealth has a temporary value, in a similar way: « Stop storing up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal. Rather, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also » (Matthew 6:19-21).
The apostle Paul writes that the money is not the problem, but the love of money: « But those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge men into destruction and ruin. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things, and by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains » (1 Timothy 6:9,10).
We must be patient in the Christian hope: « Be patient then, brothers, until the presence of the Lord. Look! The farmer keeps waiting for the precious fruit of the earth, exercising patience over it until the early rain and the late rain arrive. 8You too exercise patience; make your hearts firm, because the presence of the Lord has drawn close » (verses 7,8).
In this text, the presence of Jesus Christ is linked with the fulfillment of Christian hope. In this case, just when Jesus Christ will come to judge humanity, shortly before the great tribulation: « When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33And he will put the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left » (Matthew 25:31-33).
After describing dramatic events before the end of this system of things, at a time which should be most distressing and, we are living now, Jesus Christ told his disciples to « erect and lift their heads », because the fulfillment of their hope is drawing near: « But as these things start to occur, raise yourselves erect and lift your heads up, because your deliverance is getting near » (Luke 21:28).
How to find joy in the midst of personal trials? The apostle Paul wrote that we must follow the pattern of Jesus Christ: « So, then, because we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also throw off every weight and the sin that easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,as we look intently at the Chief Agent and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus. For the joy that was set before him he endured a torture stake, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Indeed, consider closely the one who has endured such hostile speech from sinners against their own interests, so that you may not get tired and give up » (Hebrews 12:1-3).
Jesus Christ drew the energy of his endurance in the trials, by the joy of the hope that was set before him. It is important to draw energy to fuel our endurance, through the « joy » of our hope of everlasting life set before us. As for our trials, Jesus Christ said that we must solve them day by day: « On this account I say to you: Stop being anxious about your lives as to what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your bodies as to what you will wear. Does not life* mean more than food and the body than clothing? Observe intently the birds of heaven; they do not sow seed or reap or gather into storehouses, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they are? Who of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his life span? Also, why are you anxious about clothing? Take a lesson from the lilies of the field, how they grow; they do not toil, nor do they spin; but I tell you that not even Solʹo·mon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these. Now if this is how God clothes the vegetation of the field that is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much rather clothe you, you with little faith? So never be anxious and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or, ‘What are we to drink?’ or, ‘What are we to wear?’ For all these are the things the nations are eagerly pursuing. Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things » (Matthew 6:25-32). The principle is simple, we must use the present to solve our problems which arise as they come, trusting in God, to help us find a solution: « Keep on, then, seeking first the Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you. So never be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties. Each day has enough of its own troubles » (Matthew 6:33,34). Applying this principle, will help us to better manage mental or emotional energy to deal with our daily problems. Jesus Christ advises against excessive, even morbid anticipation of the problems or trials, that could clutter our minds and take away all spiritual energy from us (Compare with Mark 4:18,19).
Coming back to the encouragement written at Hebrews 12:1-3, we need to use our mental capacity to project ourselves into the future through joy in hope, which is part of the fruitage of the Holy Spirit: « On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law » (Galatians 5:22,23). It is written in the Bible that Jehovah is a happy God, and the Christian is preaching the « good news of the happy God » (1 Timothy 1:11). While this system of things has never been so much in spiritual darkness, we must be a source of light by means of the good news that we share, but also by the joy of our hope that we want to radiate to others: « You are the light of the world. A city cannot be hid when located on a mountain. People light a lamp and set it, not under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it shines on all those in the house. Likewise, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your fine works and give glory to your Father who is in the heavens » (Matthew 5:14-16). Let us make the joy of Jehovah our fortress: « Do not feel sad, for the joy of Jehovah is your stronghold” (Nehemiah 8:10).
We must endure the evil and be patient, like Job: « Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you do not get judged. Look! The Judge is standing before the doors. 10Brothers, take as a pattern of the suffering of evil and the exercising of patience the prophets who spoke in the name of Jehovah. 11Look! We consider happy those who have endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome Jehovah gave, that Jehovah is very tender in affection and merciful » (verses 9-11).
After a very severely disciplined against the three Job accusers, Jehovah God delivered Job from his tribulation, created by Satan the devil:
“After Jehovah had spoken these words to Job, Jehovah said to Eliphaz the Temanite:
“My anger burns against you and your two companions, for you have not spoken the truth about me as my servant Job has. 8Now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job, and offer up a burnt sacrifice for yourselves. And my servant Job will pray for you. I will surely accept his request not to deal with you according to your foolishness, for you have not spoken the truth about me as my servant Job has.”
9So Elʹiphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what Jehovah had told them to do. And Jehovah accepted Job’s prayer.
10After Job had prayed for his companions, Jehovah removed Job’s tribulation and restored his prosperity. Jehovah gave him double what he had before. 11All his brothers and sisters and all his former friends came to him and ate a meal with him in his house. They sympathized with him and comforted him over all the calamity that Jehovah had allowed to come upon him. Each of them gave him a piece of money and a gold ring.
12So Jehovah blessed the last part of Job’s life more than the beginning, and Job came to have 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 pairs of cattle, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13He also came to have seven more sons and three more daughters. 14He named the first daughter Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. 15No women in all the land were as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father gave them an inheritance along with their brothers.
16After this Job lived for 140 years, and he saw his children and his grandchildren—four generations. 17Finally Job died, after a long and satisfying life” (Job 42:7-17).
We must respect our word: « Above all, my brothers, stop swearing, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath. But let your “Yes” mean yes and your “No,” no, so that you do not become liable to judgment » (verse 12).
Jesus Christ says exactly the same thing in the sermon on the Mount: « Again you heard that it was said to those of ancient times: ‘You must not swear without performing, but you must pay your vows to Jehovah.’ However, I say to you: Do not swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, since you cannot turn one hair white or black. Just let your word ‘Yes’ mean yes, your ‘No,’ no, for what goes beyond these is from the wicked one » (Matthew 5:33-37).
The blessings of the prayer of the righteous one and his teaching to bring back the sinner from his bad behavior: « Is there anyone suffering hardship among you? Let him carry on prayer. Is there anyone in good spirits? Let him sing psalms. 14Is there anyone sick among you? Let him call the elders of the congregation to him, and let them pray over him, applying oil to him in the name of Jehovah. 15And the prayer of faith will make the sick one well, and Jehovah will raise him up. Also, if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore, openly confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. A righteous man’s supplication has a powerful effect. 17E·liʹjah was a man with feelings like ours, and yet when he prayed earnestly for it not to rain, it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the land produced fruit. 19My brothers, if anyone among you is led astray from the truth and another turns him back, 20know that whoever turns a sinner back from the error of his way will save him from death and will cover a multitude of sins » (verses 13-20).
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Achieving Spiritual Maturity (Hebrews 6:1)
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