James by Dennis McCallum (2009)

Are we willing to turn to God to seek wisdom in the midst of suffering? James talks about perseverance through trials and, with wisdom from God, to consider trials an opportunity for joy. We can turn to God who will give us the strength to make it through trials and shape us in our broken state to be used in His plans. God is going to provide for us if we are sold out for Him in our hearts and minds. When we are provided for through Him we are able to become grateful and able to give out to others who are also going through trials.

James warns on the temptations of the world and how we view them over God. Legitimate desires become lust when we look to them for meaning and happiness rather than God. When we view desires as solutions to our problems they become lusts and displace God. We have the option to admit our problems without blame-shifting, and to cling to God's Truth.

When we are not taking our identity from God we create an arbitrary identity through distinctions and setting our identity based on that. James implores us to love others as ourselves, and not show partiality based on distinctions we make in our minds. Being a doer of the Word means going out of our way to love those different than ourselves.

James' passage here can be easily misinterpreted to say that, we are justified by works and not by faith. But his usage of the word "justified" is referring to being justified, or being seen as righteous, by people - not justified by God. James is asking who should be considered righteous - one who says he believes in God? Or one who lives a life based on God? Justification before God is faith, apart from works, and justification before people is through godly works.

James talks about the power of our words and how they can bring real good in the lives of others or when handled poorly can tear others down and cause discord. How often do we think of what we are going to say before we say it? When it comes speaking a timely word in a fellow Christians life, or speaking the Gospel to a friend for the first time, we should be in prayer with God so that he may direct our words. Doing this regularly and being immersed in scripture will prepare us to be ready with the Word of God at hand.

We all have some tendencies to act in the wisdom of the world; as we grow with God, He is going to correct our hearts and minds as to how we act and react to the people around us. God is gracious and will reveal aspects of ourselves to us as we sit under Him in His word. Ultimately God is going to provide the change in our thinking, but it all starts with a saving relationship with God through His son's death on the cross for our sins.

James teaches on the world system that his audience have given themselves to as a metaphor of adultery towards God. For us and for them, the kosmos is not designed to make us deny God, it is designed to replace God in our affections. When we try to move physical enjoyments from something to enjoy in life to something that's the basis for our lives it becomes distorted and can't deliver what we want it to. Ultimately we end up with an inner hunger for more and we become enslaved. God calls us to view the things of His kingdom as the focus of our hearts, and to hold little value in trying to fill ourselves with things of the world.

The Chrisitan worldview is one of the few worldviews that elevates the poor out of a social structure that says they are a burden or unwanted. We all are fellow heirs to the kingdom with equal status in our standing with God to those who have redemption in Christ. Are we grateful to God to be in the position to have a positive impact and meet the needs of the poor in the world? Or do we go through our busy lives of excess and forget about the great commission?

What can we do when the face of poverty is visible all around us? There are many people who barely have enough to eat and little means to turn their lives around. Giving 5 dollars to the person with a sign on the corner is just hardening our heart to the poor so we don't have to think deeper on why they are there. Jesus encourages us to treat our neighbors as the Good Samaritan does; give from the heart and from what we have. We can also financially support the initiatives of groups trying to defeat the causes of poverty.

There is a vast inequality between the poor and wealthy in the world today. Looking at other countries it's easy to see how we in the United States live in a state of surplus and luxury. God calls on us to support and care for the poor of the world. How often do we simply give out change and think nothing of it a moment later? Jesus calls us to care for those in real need and to give sacrificially so our heart can shift from supplying our needs to the needs of others. \r\n