Studies in James

1. Studies in James Presentation 02

2. The Structure of the Book Introduction and Trials in the Christian Life (1: 1-8) Happiness in our Circumstances(1: 9-11) Trial, Temptation and Gift (1: 12-18) Hindrances to Fruitfulness(1: 19-21) Doers and Hearers (1: 22-25) True Religion (1: 26-27) Favouritism (2: 1-7) The Royal Law (2: 8-12a) Showing Mercy (2.12b-13] Faith and Works (2:14-26) Teachers and the Tongue (3: 1-12) True and False Wisdom, (3: 13-17) Peacemakers (3: 18) Defeat Through Lack of Submission(4: 1-6) Victory Through Submission(4: 7—10) Judging One Another (4: 11-12) Boasting of Tomorrow (4: 13-17) The Misuse of Wealth(5: 1-6) The Need of Patience (5: 7-12) Appropriate Responses (5:13-16) Restoring the Wanderer (5:17-20) Presentation 02

3. Happiness in our Circumstances Chap 1v 9-11 Presentation 02

4. Introduction The living standards of many people in some parts of the world have improved over the years! There was a time when refrigerators and T.V.s were only found in the homes of the wealthy. There was a time when it was a great novelty if someone in your street owned a motor car. Today the problem, in these same streets, is finding a parking space. We may enjoy a higher standard of living today but not necessarily a better quality of life. There is something missing from contemporary society CONTENTMENT. We may have much more of this world's goods but where has the grace of contentment gone? It is a great mistake to try and link contentment to ones wealth and possessions. James’ treatment of both wealth and poverty in v9-11, indicates that he sees them as belonging to the many kinds of trials mentioned in v2 and used by God to test our faith. Presentation 02

5. The Man in Poverty Poverty is a trial that God allows to touch many lives. This circumstance can make some resentful, bitter and jealous. The spirit of materialism can infect the poorest household. What does James say to the poor Christian? First he encourages him to take pride in his ‘high position’. But how will that help unemployed Christians, or third world Christians who struggle to survive? It makes no sense if we use the measurement of today's consumer society. But James is not speaking in material terms. When he talks about the ‘high position’ he is unfolding the spiritual outlook of Jesus who taught, "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven". [Matt 5.3] Who is Jesus describing? The man who has seen his spiritual bankruptcy and his need of salvation, that man is the truly happy man. His material position may never change but in spiritual terms salvation raises him to a high position. This high position is marked in a number of ways. Presentation 02

6. The Man in Poverty He has a New Status: The Christian has an amazing dignity conferred upon him. “Let him remember that he is a prince, and glory in it. He is a prince on his way to his kingdom, travelling by Rough roads, enduring many hardships, suffering from hunger, cold and weariness, and the people among whom he is travelling do not know anything about his greatness, but he knows; let him glory in his high estate”. R.W.Dale If we have been adopted into the family of God, there is no need to feel inferior. “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,”. Phil 4.11-13 Paul unpacks the real dignity of his position. Whether in a palace or a prison his status as a child of God was not altered. His happiness did not depend upon external circumstances and when they were bad, he reminded himself that he was a prince being prepared by a loving Father to enter his kingdom. Presentation 02

7. The Man in Poverty He has a New Wealth. One occasionally hears of people from poor backgrounds becoming millionaires. A rich relative has died and they enter into the benefits of someone else's death. Similarly, a result of Christ's death the Christian enters into an inheritance that makes a Gulf Sheikh look like a pauper. The poorest Christian has awaiting him an inheritance that defies description. “ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you” 1Pet.1.3-4 In contrast to the Christian, the wealthiest unbeliever is spiritually bankrupt; all his material wealth can never purchase his salvation. Presentation 02

8. The Man in Poverty He has a New Wardrobe. Many people judge others by the clothes they wear and whether or not they have designer labels. God is not impressed by our outer clothes. His concern is with the inner dress of our character. Before a person becomes a Christian God describes their inner character as ‘filthy rags’ cf. Is.64.6. In other words, all our best efforts to clothe our lives with goodness are pathetic in God’s sight and fall below God’s standard of goodness. Now the materially poor man who comes to faith can take pride in his high position because God provides him with a new inner wardrobe Christ’s own righteousness a garment that cannot be reproduced by the fashion houses of Paris or Rome. This is the only garment that God can accept in his presence. For these reasons James can tell the materially poor Christian to take pride in his high position! God has given him a new status, a new wealth and a new wardrobe. Presentation 02

9. The Man with Plenty In v10-11 James speaks to the man whose circumstances have made him wealthy. Wealth can be more of a trial than poverty. Riches are more likely to beguile the Christian and draw him away from God than poverty. For this reason the Psalmist asked God to make him ‘neither rich nor poor’. The Bible does not condemn riches, but it points to their danger. It speaks of the ‘deceitfulness of riches’ [Matt.13.22]; it says, ‘Let not..the rich man boast of his riches’ [Jer 9.23]; it warns that, ‘The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil’ [1 Tim.6.10]. It says, that it is ‘hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven’ [Matt.19.23]. Against this biblical background we need to understand what James is saying, namely, that the rich convert should rejoice in the fact that his conversion to Christ has given him an entirely new perspective on life. Presentation 02

10. The Man with Plenty He has a New Value System: Before his conversion the rich man’s life had revolved around things he could, see, feel, touch, count, or take to the bank. But now, he realises the foolishness of that kind of thinking. He has been brought to 'a low position', where he realised that despite the great reputation his wealth gave him in society, his greatest need was for something that his money could not buy. He has begun to think in spiritual categories and knows he needs to be forgiven. He realises God cannot be bought or bribed. Many wealthy people never arrive at this point, they boast about all things they have done for or given to the church, or the good they have done for their neighbour. Nb. the Pharisee in the temple who did not allow himself to be brought to a low position. CfLk. 18.12-14 Presentation 02

11. The Man with Plenty A New Attitude to his Possessions: When a London newspaper offered a prize for the best definition of money, the winning entrant's definition was, "Money is an article which may be used as a universal passport to everywhere except heaven and as a universal provider for everything except happiness". This, says James, is what the rich convert ought to realise. And he uses an illustration of a beautiful bright desert flower which for a brief time attracts attention but which the sun soon scorches and destroys. In the same way the rich man will fade away as he goes about his business. Riches cannot keep at bay, grief, sorrow, sickness or death. And when these circumstances touch our lives then it becomes clear whether we are rich or poor in God’s definition. For these things lay bear our hearts so that our true relationship to God is revealed. Presentation 02

12. Enduring the Trial The poor Christian is under certain pressures because of his poverty but so too is the rich man because of his wealth. They are both under trial. One is tempted to doubt God because he has so little, and the other to desert God because he has so much. The truly happy man is one who comes through these trials, reacting positively to them. He knows his thinking and behaviour hasn’t been moulded by consumerism and materialism. In every circumstance of life his trust is in God. That knowledge opens the door to the grace of contentment. And to him is promised the Crown of Life and he can say with Paul. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the lord, the Righteous Judge, will award me on that day and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Tim 4.7-8 Presentation 02

13. Enduring the Trial This crown is mentioned in v12. To the man or woman who endures the testings of life, something is added. They become increasingly the people that God intends them to be. They grow in stature and their life develops a deeper dimension. They are truly crowned with riches and glory. Is this what the Psalmist means when he talks about, "the beauty of the Lord", resting upon his people? The crown of life also has a future dimension associated with it – ‘eternal life’ which is gifted to all whose faith in Christ has been tested and shown to be genuine. Few enjoy the actual process of being tested but when the test is over and they discover they have passed then an indescribable gratitude and joy wells up in their heart. We marvel at the riches that are ours in Christ. Presentation 02