Scripture: James 1: 2-8

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Scripture Commentary:

We can’t really know the depth of our character until we see how we react when we face trials. It’s easy to be kind to others when everything is going well, but can we still be kind when others are treating us unfairly?

God wants to make us mature and complete, not keep us from all pain. Instead of complaining about our struggles, we should see them as opportunities for growth. Thank God for promising to be with us in rough times.

Trials will come. Place the problems in God’s capable hands.

We need to ask God to help us solve our problems or to give us strength to endure them. We need to place the problems in His hands, and then be patient.

Believe in Him. God doesn’t leave us alone with our problems; He stays close to help us grow. To “believe and not doubt” means not only believing in the existence of God, but also believing in His loving care.

God does not grant every thoughtless or selfish request. Remember that!

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

James Chapter 1

Read Other Commentary from the Book of James:

To Know the Gospel is Different from Living It

The Power of the Tongue

Scripture: James 1: 3-6

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Scripture Commentary: Tested Faith Produces Patience and Endurance.

What is your relationship with Jesus Christ? And do you really believe that God listens to your prayers? Do you pray only for the things you think you need? Or do you pray for the patience to wait on God, and the wisdom to obey His Word?

Have faith in God and do not doubt.

At times we expect God’s answer to come right away. God will always give us what we need, when we need it. He does not grant every thoughtless or selfish request. We must have faith and confidence that God will align our desires with His purpose.

Remember that a mind that wavers is not completely convinced that God’s way is best. When you pray and ask God for advice, do not treat it as you would human advice. This would give you the option to disobey.

In asking God for wisdom, you show your faith and trust in Him. And then your decisions are sure and solid.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

James Chapter 1

Other Commentary from the Book of James:

To Know the Gospel is Different From Living It

Be Humble – Do Not Judge

Scripture: James 1: 5-8

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.  But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Scripture Commentary: If any man lack wisdom, let him ask God

Do you ask God for guidance in your life or for things in your life?  Everyone has needs, but what of other people’s needs?

Do you go out and seek to help others?  If you follow Jesus, you know He will take care of you.  By studying the Word, God will give you the wisdom. And wisdom is practical discernment that begins with respect for God which leads to living right.  The result is an increased ability to discern right from wrong.

If your mind wavers between earthly things and God, then you’re on the wrong path.  To stabilize your wavering or doubtful mind, commit yourself wholeheartedly to God.  He will put you on solid ground.

True wealth lies in developing your spiritual life, not your financial assets.  God is interested in what is lasting (your soul), not in what is temporary (money or possessions).

Strive to treat people as God treats you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
James 1

Scripture: James 2: 14-18

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,  And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Scripture Commentary:  True faith always results in a changed life

When someone claims to have faith, what he or she may have is intellectual agreement with a set of christian teachings, and as such, it would be incomplete faith.  True faith transforms our conduct as well as our thoughts.  Faith brings us salvation; active obedience demonstrates that our faith is genuine.  True faith always results in works/deeds but the deeds do not justify us.

While it is true that our good deeds can never earn salvation, true faith always results in a changed life and good deeds.  In your new life you are asking Christ to change your old ways to His ways, and saying I will obey you Lord and live as a christian.

If our lives remain unchanged, then we don’t truly believe the truths we claim to believe.  Have you allowed Christ into your life?  If you have, are you are living as Christ asks?

Read the Entire Chapter:
James Chapter 2

Scripture: James 3: 5-8

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.  For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Scripture Commentary: The uncontrolled tongue does terrible things

We all say and do things we regret. Control your tongue.  Words, once spoken, can never be unsaid.

When Jesus Christ was crucified, immediately following his death the people wished they had not done it. Satan uses the words from our mouth to divide people and pit them against one another.  Our words can wreak horrible results!

You may say we are human, and our flesh is weak, so why bother trying? It’s always worth trying to be better.  Jesus gave us the way of life, the way to treat one another. Even if we may not achieve perfect control, we should always ask Jesus to strengthen us.  We should always strive to reduce the damage our words can do.

Remember that we are not fighting the tongue’s fire in our strength. Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit will give us increasing power to monitor and control what we say and do. Careful, winsome speech and wise, loving words are the seeds of God.

Before you speak, remember that words are like fire. You can neither control nor reverse the damage they can do.

Read the Entire Chapter:
James Chapter 3

Scripture: James 4: 10-12

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

Scripture Commentary:

Can we look in the mirror at ourselves, humbled, and ask God to forgive us for our sins? Can we be honest with ourselves and still judge others? If we ask God to forgive us, we are asking the Almighty to judge us. God is the only judge. He is the one who will make the final judgement.

When we go around judging others we are saying, “God, I have the right to play you, to play god.” There is only one God, the God who made us. He is our judge. Only because of his grace and his mercy are we here.

Examine your attitude and actions toward others. Humble yourself and you will recognize that you are here – we are all here – because God loves us. Humble yourself so God can work through you, guide you, and empower to do His work.

Read the Entire Chapter:
James Chapter 4

Scripture: James 3: 6, 8

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell … But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Scripture Commentary: Ask the Lord for the Strength to Tame Your Tongue

Words are often contradictory and puzzling. At times your words are right and pleasing to God. At other times they are violent and destructive. The tongue exposes aspects of your basic human nature.  It is a powerful weapon.  How hard is it to tame your tongue when irritated or stressed? God made us in his image, but we fell into sin.

Satan uses the tongue to divide people, pitting them against each other. Idle, hateful words can be damaging because they spread destruction quickly. No one can stop the results once they are spoken. We dare not be careless with what we say, thinking we can apologize later. The scars will last longer than any apology. Words spoken in a moment of anger can destroy a relationship that took years to build. It is better to avoid setting a fire than to go around trying to put it out.

Remember that you are not fighting the tongue’s fire in your own strength, for your strength is not your own if you have given yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ. He will increase your power to monitor and control what you say.  Before you speak, ask the Lord to give you the words.  He will.   Otherwise, satan may give you the words if you don’t ask the Lord to help you.

Let the Holy Spirit remind you of God’s love. Let that love prevent you from reacting in a harmful, hateful manner.

Read the Entire Chapter:
James Chapter 3

Scripture: James 3: 1-7

Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.  Consider that a great forest is set on fire by a spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil full of deadly poison.

Scripture Commentary

What you say and what you don’t say are both important. Proper speech is not only saying the right words at the right time. But it is also controlling your desire to say what you shouldn’t. Before you speak, ask, “Is what I want to say true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?”