James 1

The book of James is a very profitable book for the Christian who is seeking to develop his life into what God wants him to become. This letter was written by the brother of Jesus to the Christian Jews who had been scattered because of persecution that had come to them in claiming Christ Jesus as their Savior. This letter then became a class book to us on how to face trials and problems.

• We accept trials joyfully (James 1:2-4)
  • The power of praise
  • The purpose of trials
  • The result of trials
• We look to the Lord for all our needs (James 1:5-8)
  • God’s willingness to supply
    • He gives to all men generously
  • The key ingredient
    • Undoubting faith
• We see the fruits of trials (James 1:12)
  • Endurance
    • Philippians 3:14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
  • The crown of life
• We see also the work of temptation (James 1:13-18)
  • God is not the source of temptation
    • God is neither tempted nor the temptor
    • Everything that is good comes from God
    • He wills us to have His very best
  • The source of our temptation
    • Things that cause us to be tempted
      • Lust
      • Selfishness
      • Greed
      • Pride
  • The result of unconquered temptation

Thus, when we see the fruits of trials, God allows them to help us grow spiritually and produce the crown of life by viewing their result against temptation and what it will do for us; we recognize how important it is to continue faithfully in the ways of the Lord.

• We see the grace of God at work on behalf of His children (James 1:17-18)
  • The negative things come from within
    • Proverbs 13:7 “There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.”
  • The positive things come from God
    • He is unchanging
• We can face our trials by carefully guarding our attitude (James 1:19-21)
  • Eager to learn the truth
  • Slow to speak a word about another
  • Slow to get angry about what another says
    • Man’s anger and God’s righteousness are not compatible
      • Ephesians 4:26 “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.”
• We look upon the importance of doing God’s will (James 1:22-26)
  • Guard against the deception of being a hearer only
    • Some may think that this is all that God requires
  • The effects of such behavior
    • Turning away from the mirror we forget what we actually are and do not try to correct flaws
  • God’s work reveals what we need to do
    • It not only shows our flaws; it challenges us to work on them; therein we are blessed.