Our study of the book of James has already been a lot of benefit to me. I hope it has been to you, too. James isn't a warm and cuddly type of apostle who is going to pat us on the back and tell us we're fine just as we are, but that's because he's writing to people who are already Christians and who should be growing and maturing in the faith every day. He's not going to coddle us. That's okay, because being coddled isn't always what's best for us. There are times when all we need is comfort in the faith and there are times when we need someone to tell us to get on with the business of being ambassadors of the Lord.
James begins today by cautioning us not to take pride in worldly achievements, then he reminds us that we can't blame the Lord when we give in to temptation, then he speaks beautiful words about the good and perfect gifts our Father bestows on us.
"Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation---since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business." (James 1:9-11) Well, that sounds grim, doesn't it? There is debate among scholars as to whether James is referring to rich believers or to rich unbelievers, but I tend to side with those who think he's speaking to believers. In the church we are always going to have those who are poor, those who are middle class, and those who are very well off. I think what he may be saying here is something like this, "Those of you who are poor financially are still wealthy spiritually if you are in Christ. There is no wealth that can be compared to the riches of Christ. Your low estate in this life causes you to have to bring your needs to Him, and this draws you closer to Him, and this in turn heaps even more spiritual blessings on you. Those of you who are rich are in danger of not going to the Lord often enough in prayer. You don't have financial needs that you have to lay before Him every day. So when troubles come into your lives you ought to rejoice because they will draw you closer to the Lord. Everyone needs something that pulls them to their knees before Him. This is the grace of God."
We can't trust in riches or in our own efforts or in our own accomplishments. The things of this world are going to pass away, so we have to place our trust in something eternal. This is why James compares our short lives to the lives of flowers in the field. They are here today and gone tomorrow. Seeing that life is so fleeting, the only things that matter are things of eternal significance. In other words, we have to take whatever happens to us in this life and make it count. Whether our circumstances are good or bad, James assures us there is a blessing in standing firm in the faith. "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:12) James doesn't promise us we will never be tempted to sin; that would be a lie. He doesn't promise us we will never feel discouraged about our troubles; he knows better than that. But what he does promise is a blessing for loving our Lord enough to stand firm and resist temptation. There's no reward for giving in to temptation, but there is a reward for refusing to give in to it.
Lest anyone say, "My temptation was too difficult to bear! Nobody could have stood against it! Why did the Lord tempt me like this? He knows I can't resist it.", James sternly reminds us that we have no one to blame but ourselves. "When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." (James 1:13-15) James says, "Don't blame God for your sin! You gave in to it because you wanted to. Don't blame God for the consequences of your sin either, because you know sin never brings about anything good." He compares the fruit of sin to something that is stillborn. The last thing any woman in labor wants is to give birth to a stillborn child, so James uses a heartbreaking situation as a metaphor for the results of sin. It's heartbreaking when we realize we have labored at things that will never be of any benefit. When we indulge ourselves in sinful thoughts, those thoughts soon lead to sinful actions, and the next thing we know we are having to face the fact that we've spent our energy on things that have brought sorrow to us instead of blessing.
We all want lives full of blessings, and now James tells us to be thankful for our blessings. All the good and perfect things in our lives come from God. "Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created." (James 1:16-18) We were given new birth by the word of God and we will only be fruitful if we remain in His word. He has blessed us beyond measure. He has given us good things because it pleases Him to do so. We owe Him our allegiance. We owe Him our obedience. Let's stand firm on the word of truth and serve the God who has so graciously blessed us with eternal life in Christ.
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