James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
As we should well know all things come from God because God owns all things and He gives all good and perfect gifts to anyone who believes and ask of Him. God is the same, today, yesterday, and forever. God does not change. God is the source of all Light. Jesus called Himself the Light of the world. The Light is so bright there is no shadow where God is. God of His own will created us to be like Him in truth and in deed. All the redeemed are God’s first fruits in that they are the first step in God’s redemption of all creation. James says, listen and don’t talk too much. Usually if we listen carefully to what someone is saying, before we speak, we will not get angry. We can use the word anger or wrath cause we know anger is not good and we usually are not on our best behavior which means we are not Godly or righteous. We are to put away those things that could lead us away from God. It is the Word of God, Jesus Christ, who saves our soul. This is speaking of being so full of Jesus and His Word that we will have His Word implanted in our inner-most being. Our heart will be stayed upon God and His Word, and that will cause us to live the way we should.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
In this life we have temptations, trials, and tribulation. It is not the temptation that ruins the man, but his attitude toward the temptation. We should willingly endure whatever temptation comes our way. Those who live and overcome the temptations they suffer, have awaiting them a crown of life. Temptations come to make us strong in the Lord. God allows the devil to tempt us. He does not bring the temptation Himself. It is actually the lust of the flesh which tempts mankind. We know this to be true, with the example of Adam and Eve. The first mistake she made was to listen to that old deceiver Satan. Then she looked upon that which was forbidden. The lust of mankind has always been the thing that causes man to sin. The wages of sin is death. The only reason Christians do not have to pay those wages, is because Jesus paid it for us. Verse 16 simply says walk in the salvation you have received.
James 1:9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways
We are to rejoice for we are all the same in the eyes of God, it does not matter if we are at the bottom of the totem pole or at the top we are all the same to God. But how we look at what we have by what we gain from God or from man is what determines where our treasure lies, and will it be an eternal treasure or one that passes away. Verse 11 goes on say that as trouble comes if you are not putting up treasures in Heaven the your treasures will pass away. This is not speaking of the Godly rich, but of those who have ways that cause them to be rich. This is speaking of those who are thinking, not of life eternal, but life in the here and now. The rich, who put their trust in their wealth, have no future with God.
James 1:5 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.
6 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.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
James now says if you would like to wisdom ask God for it. Why does he say to ask for wisdom? Because wisdom is what is needed to be able to begin to understand God and what He has for you. He says God will give it to you as long as you ask in faith, not wavering. It is useless to pray and ask for something, if you do not believe you will get an answer to that prayer. Faith is what causes the prayer to be answered. When Jesus healed the sick, He said, your faith has made you whole. If there is any doubt then God is not going to grant what we ask for. In Mark 9 a man of faith ask Jesus to help him with his unbelief because he wanted more and God here us when we sincere with our faith in asking for what we need. Verse 8 is speaking of an unstable person, who cannot make up his mind. He really does not truly believe anything. His heart is not right with God.
James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
The book of James starts with James saying he is a servant of Jesus Christ and addressing the twelve scattered tribes of the Jews, this would be the ones that are followers of Jesus that have been scattered because of persecution. As he addresses them he is in essence addressing all Christians, even present day. He say to that when we are faced with challenges of any kind that we should count it with joy. most of the time we want to go the opposite direction but we should count it joyful to be tempted to show the control Christ has in our life. Also this where patience is born because it tries your faith. And as patience works it helps us to become more like Christ living more like a christian should live each day wanting nothing because we have everything with Christ
"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." I John 5:7
