James 1:1-4 AUTHOR: This is James, the brother of Jesus, not James the apostle. “servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” from doulos – “slave” or “servant” He became a leader of the church. LETTER: A letter from a Christian leader to Jewish believers around Roman empire PURPOSE: James writes a very practical letter. It is not a letter full of theology, it is practical application, how to live as a believer Each point is just a few verses, then he jumps to another topic. Difficult to find organization. Written like wisdom literature. His points are concise and uses metaphors and illustrations. Memorable teaching Most teachings correspond to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7) & Lev 19. RECIPIENTS: “12 tribes” - Jewish believers. “In the Dispersion” – from Assyrian defeat and Babylonian captivity, scattered

TRIALS – how is the Christian to respond to trials? v. 2. “Count it all joy” – “consider it”. “All joy” – “pure joy (nothing but joy)” “Trial” – can mean an outward trial, testing, or proving Or an internal tempting. “Various kinds.” James addresses the poverty 4x in this letter. But uses general terms for trials. Can mean sickness, loneliness, loss, poverty

Opposite of how we feel. Why would the Christian be joyful in trials? Romans 5:3-5 – “rejoice” 1 Peter 1:6-7 – “rejoice”

v. 3. Because testing of our faith “produces steadfastness” or “endurance”

v. 4. “Steadfastness perfects and completes.” They are not some random bad luck. They are not meaningless suffering. Trials, testing, proving are all for a purpose, to mature our faith. James holds a conviction that God uses trials to perfect our precious faith. All Joy in Trials of Various Kinds • God’s purpose is to grow our faith to endure (Jas 1:3) • God is our refuge & strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Ps 46:1) • God is my portion and my joy (Ps 16:5, 11) • God is the Father of compassion, the God of all comfort (2 Cor 1:3-4) • God brings times of refreshing in desert places (Ps 84:5) • Count trials as all joy • Ask in faith for wisdom James 1:5-8 Ask God for wisdom, he gives it generously. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding - Prov 2:6

God is portrayed as the source of all wisdom. He is the all-knowing being who gives wisdom to those who ask for it. James recognizes that we need God’s wisdom, we are not sufficiently wise.

v. 6. Ask with the right attitude: have faith in God. Wisdom from God is how to live life as God designed it, for greatest flourishing.

• Count trials as all joy • Ask in faith for wisdom • Comfort for the poor and warning to the rich James 1:9-11 v. 9. What is the boasting of the lowly brother? Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord." – Jeremiah 9:23-24

Who is the rich? 2 thoughts: 1) these are believers whom he is telling not to take pride in wealth, but in his identification with Christ 2) these are non-Christians who, in the end, will end up with only judgment

• Count trials as all joy • Ask in faith for wisdom • Comfort for the poor: knowing God is ultimate • Warning to the rich: riches fade