James Study - Part 2

"Attitude Determines Altitude"

James 1:9-18 (Message #2 in James Series)

INTRODUCTION:

            I love airplanes. I always have. They fascinate me. That something made from steel and aluminium and other heavy materials can get off the ground and soar through the air like a bird absolutely amazes me.

            For many years I wanted to be a pilot. Even after hearing God’s call to missionary service I assumed for a long time that I would end up being a missionary pilot, because of my love for airplanes. However, God had a different plan for me, and my dreams of flying have never yet come true. I am still hoping that when I get to Heaven, I will be able to fly, one way or another. We’ll see.

            Like with any specialized field, aeronautics has its own vocabulary. A word you will hear pilots use is “attitude.” However, when they use that word, they mean it in a sense different from its common usage. They are not talking about pilots being grouchy in the cockpit. The dictionary defines “attitude” as:

1.       The position or posture assumed by the body in connection with an action, feeling, mood, etc. [e.g. to kneel in an attitude of prayer]

2.      A manner of acting, feeling, or thinking that shows one’s disposition, opinion, etc. [e.g. a friendly attitude]

3.      One’s disposition, opinion, mental set, etc.

4.      In aeronautics, the position of an aircraft or spacecraft in relation to a given line or plane, as the horizon.  

It is in this last sense this I want to use the word today, to explain how “attitude determines altitude.”

TRANSITION:

            Today we are in our second study of the Book of James. Last Sunday we looked at verses 1-8 of chapter 1 and I also gave some background information about who James was and why he wrote this book. For those of you who were not here last Sunday I would encourage you to go to my website (www.mikesteachingnotes.blogspot.com) and get the notes from the first study. That will help bring you up to speed.

MAIN BODY:

            Today we are starting at verse 9 but you will remember that James has already been talking about how Christians should respond when they find themselves going through times of trial and testing. We are to look at it positively, “considering it all joy,” knowing that God will use it to build our character and strengthen our faith. He says that trials build endurance. But the fact is a lot of people do not see it that way. When trials come, they look around for someone to blame. They fail to see the trial from God’s perspective so rather than letting it run its course and “have its perfect result” as stated up in verse 4, they handle it all wrong and fail to get out of the experience what God had intended. That is because “attitude determines altitude.”  They get their eyes off the Lord and start looking around them at the circumstances, and in no time, they are in a fast glide path downward. That is because for an airplane to go up its nose must be pointed up.

• To borrow the story of Peter walking on the water, a lot of Christians are looking at the waves swirling down below instead of at the Lord out there on the horizon.
•  In trials we lose sight of the horizon and become easily disoriented. For that reason, we must keep our eyes on Him.
• A temptation overload is like an onboard systems failure. At that point you cannot believe anything your instruments tell you. You must keep your eyes on those things that never change to keep your bearings. Otherwise you will end up crashing and burning.

            Now in this next section James gets specific about one specific kind of trial—poverty.  Many of the Jewish Christians to whom he was writing lost nearly everything when they fled from Jerusalem and Judea to get away from the persecution that started with the death of Stephen. Many of them left with just the clothes on their backs and the coins in their pockets. Now they were scattered all over the Middle East just trying to survive. With that in mind, let’s read starting at verse 9.

Verses 9-10: But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; ¹⁰ and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.  

• “The brother of humble circumstances.” Who is he? What is he like? What does he face each day? First, he is a Christian, a child of God. James calls him a “brother.” By the fact that his life is being compared to that of a rich man, we can conclude that he is poor by comparison. By “humble circumstances” I believe James is talking about a person who has little money and possesses few of this world’s goods. He scrimps by and ekes out his existence day by day, never sure if he will be able to bring in enough to feed and clothe his family. But James encourages this man to “glory in his high position.” What an odd statement! We can only assume that he is talking about this poor Christian brother’s high standing with God. But be careful here! He does not have a high standing with God because of his poverty, but because of sonship through the finished work of Christ.  James is saying, “In spite of the fact that you do not have much here and now, you are still a child of the King, a crown prince who will one day rule alongside Christ, you are a joint-heir with Prince Jesus. The Father loves you and has already prepared a mansion for you in Heaven where you will be with Him forever.”
• But how about the “rich man”? James has a word for wealthy Christians as well. He says, “Rich man, you need to beware of becoming attached to your riches so that they do not become the driving force and focus of your life.” For you see, that is always the temptation for rich folks.
• The NASV says that the rich man is to “glory in his humiliation.” That is awkward and hard to understand. In plain English it means that a rich Christian ought to rejoice that in Christ he has been brought down to a level where the “deceitfulness of riches” (Mark 4:19) and the obsession to amass and hold on to them are no longer primary or even relevant considerations. Moreover, he needs to recognize that riches are temporary.  They will burn up one day. Material wealth will not go with us into eternity. As someone wisely observed, “A shroud has no pockets.”

Verse 11: For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.  

• Things that look good today will not look so good tomorrow, because beauty fades. New cars get old and turn into rust-buckets. Knockout gorgeous models get saggy skin, wrinkles and age spots. Strong virile young men turn into fat old duffers with hair in all the wrong places. Houses go out of style and start to fall apart. You name it and it has a shelf life, a pull-by date. Sooner or later its beauty and attractiveness will fade away.
• James says that wealth is like that too. The rich man looks good today, like he has everything going for him. But none of that stuff lasts. Everything he owns will eventually fall apart. In fact, he too will pass away. The rich man will eventually die and leave everything behind.
• Now this news is not a great comfort for a rich person. James did not intend for it to be.  He was trying to bring comfort to the poor Christians and a reality check to those who have been trusting in their riches rather than in God.

Verse 12: Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.  

• James says that there are both present and future blessings for those believers who persevere under trials. He speaks of the “crown of life” that is reserved for them. He claims that Christ himself has promised this. But what does this really mean? Is he talking about an actual crown that will be passed out to certain people in Heaven? No, I do not think so. The phrase, “the crown of life” is what is called an “appositional genitive construction.” Put simply, James is saying that the crown consists of life itself, a gift that God has promised to all those who love Him. The Bible states repeatedly that God has abundant blessings in store for those who love Him, who keep His commandments, and serve Him faithfully whatever the cost may be.

Verse 13: Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.  

• I mentioned last Sunday that in these verses James deals with two different types of trials: First, those that come from without in the form of difficult circumstances beyond our control; and Secondly, trials from within that result from temptations that we face because of our sin natures and our acquired taste for sin.
• He makes a clear distinction between “trials,” which can come from God in order to refine us and make us more Christlike, and “temptations,” which never come from God but from the devil, and are always intended by the enemy to cause us to fall and flail and fear and fail. “Trials” are designed by God to make us stronger, but “temptations” are concocted by the devil in cahoots with our flesh, to bring about our spiritual ruin and to embarrass God.
• So here in verse 13 James makes the transition from the one kind of trial to the other. The word “temptation” always carries the idea of luring a person into sin. James probably had in mind here the Jewish doctrine of “yetzer hara,” which literally means evil impulse or evil inclination. Some Jews reasoned that since God created everything, He must have also created the evil impulse. And since it is this evil impulse that tempts man to sin, ultimately God, who created it, is responsible for evil. But James shoots that idea down in flames. He says categorically that God is not the source of evil. Being perfectly holy He himself cannot be tempted to do evil. Moreover, being holy He does not tempt anyone to try and get them to do evil things. No, but in the next verse he explains how evil happens. He lays out the downward staircase leading a person toward sin.

Verse 14: But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.  

• He says that “each one” who sins follows this same pattern. So, this is true for believers and unbelievers alike.
• A “trial” instantly becomes a “temptation” when our “lust” gets involved. Now when we hear the word lust, we instantly think of sexual temptations, but the concept is much broader than that. Lust just means a strong desire that is not bridled by higher motives.  A person can have a lust for fame, or money, or power, or sex, or possessions. The sinful tastes of humans are varied so lust comes in a lot of different colours and models, but it is all really the same thing—uncontrolled desire for things that we do not have.
• Let me try to illustrate this using something that I am personally familiar with. Let’s imagine that one day I have some time on my hands and am just hanging out (First problem = idleness), so I decide to take a run up to the Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealership to look at their new models. Sounds innocent enough so far. As I am walking around drooling on the new motorcycles (Second problem = the lust of the eye) I spot my good friend, Rick, talking with the salesman (Not a problem). Soon I learn that Rick is buying a brand-new full-dressed bright red 2020 Harley Road King with all the bells and whistles. My mind begins to work, and the wheels begin to turn. I think to myself, “I deserve a new motorcycle as much as he does (Third problem = jealousy/covetousness). My old bike is a 2007 model. Let’s see, that’s 13 years old, soon to be 14. Also, I need a new bike because my old one does not have the kind of comfy rear seat with back support and arm rests that I would like so that Ramel will be more comfortable when we go on long trips (Fourth problem = selfish rationalization). Besides, I would look really good riding on that deep purple model with the metallic-fleck paint job and the 200 lbs. of chrome.” (Fifth problem = vanity). Now we have a serious problem here, Houston! At this point I am being carried away and enticed by my own lust for big beautiful motorcycles coupled with my lust for impressing other people. My self-talk is leading me right down the path toward sin. I am being motivated by pride, covetousness, and a few other sins and am justifying everything by my “need” for a new motorcycle. Do you see how it works?

Verses 15-16: Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. ¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.  

• James uses reproductive language here. He likens the conception of sin to the conception of a child. The seed is fertilized, implanted, and begins to grow. It gets nurtured and grows some more. It gets bigger and stronger. Finally, the day comes when the birth happens. But what pops out?  Surprise! A fully-grown, fully developed big ugly hairy sin. It jumps down off the birthing table, struts around the room and proudly says, “Here I am!”
• When a healthy new baby is born it is a joyful occasion for everyone. We rejoice in that new life. Everyone is smiling. Everyone is happy. The birth has brought forth new life and all kinds of potential for good and for greatness. We say, “Maybe he will grow up to be a great doctor and discover the cure for cancer.” Or, “Maybe she will grow up to become President or a great ambassador.” However, when sin is born, things quickly start to look like a bad horror movie. The ugly monster strutting around the room suddenly pounces on the nurse and strangles her. Then he leaps on the mother and crushes her throat. Then he tears through the hospital slaughtering everyone in his path. Now that is an ugly scene, but it portrays what James is saying: “When lust gives birth to sin, and sin is accomplished, SIN BRINGS FORTH DEATH.”
• Verse 16 is a warning to not misread the signs. He says: “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.” That is because the devil’s deception plays into this story. We certainly can be carried away by our own lusts, but we can also be deceived by Satan. The enemy will try to place things in your path, knowing that you are a sucker for that kind of temptation. He will form-fit the temptation to fit your weaknesses. So, if you are not careful and vigilant, you will step right into his tailor-made trap. Going back to my story about motorcycles, knowing myself like I do, I am better off just not going into those kinds of places, in the same way that a person who struggles with alcoholism should stay out of pubs and taverns, and a person who struggles with sexual temptation should stay off the Internet when he/she is alone. There are things we can do to help keep ourselves out of trouble and we should take every precaution.

Verse 17: Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.  

• Here James is reminding us that God only gives us good gifts. He never gives us cheap, counterfeit stuff. This is to drive home his statement that God does not tempt us to do evil. That is not the kind of present He gives to His children. James here uses a word picture to say that God never changes (there is no variation in His light), and there is no sin mixed in with His goodness (no shifting shadow). The Bible says He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. Man changes, but God does not. Man’s love grows cold, but God’s does not.  Man’s commitment to God tends to wane over time, but God’s love for us only grows stronger. 

Verse 18: In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.  

• This is just James’ way of reminding us that salvation is all of God’s doing, and not of our doing. We are saved because of the working of His sovereign will, not because of any participation on our part. James here uses language pulled right out of Genesis 1 and the Creation account. God brought forth life out of nothing, “ex nihilo.” He spoke everything into existence and then pronounced it all “good.” So also, it is with our spiritual life, our rebirth. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says that “if any man is in Christ, he is a NEW CREATION.” In other words, we are saved through the sovereign creative work of God.
• James points out to his Christian readers that God had saved them so that they would be the first wave of many more to come. Look how many millions down through the centuries have come to believe in Christ as their Saviour. But those early Jewish believers, scattered abroad were the “first fruits” of what will one day be a great harvest.

CONCLUSION:

            I suppose there are lots of things in this world that you can blame God for: typhoons, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc., even though the Bible says that all these things are really the result of the fact that nature is all fouled up because of man’s fall into sin. In other word, we are really the cause. We might call them the “fruits of the Fall,” which are unlike the “fall fruits” of apples and pears. When sin and death came onto the scene, death and destruction reverberated throughout all of God’s creation. The Bible says that the whole world now groans in pain, looking forward to the day when the Lord will bring about a new heaven and a new earth.

            But if it makes you feel better, go ahead and blame God for all the rotten stuff that He allows to happen in this world. It is true, He is sovereign and powerful, and He could stop it if He wanted to. But leaving that issue aside, DO NOT EVER BLAME HIM FOR YOUR SINS. He does not cause anyone to sin. He does not set you up so that your only option is to sin. He will never tempt you or try to entrap you. No, that is all the work of the enemy, Satan, and his little buddies, working in conjunction with your already rotten flesh and sin nature.

            Jesus came to save us from our sins and to set us free from the power and dominion of sin. He came to make us new and to destroy the old sin nature in us with its propensity to choose sin over holiness. In this passage James tells us, “Don’t you dare try to lay the guilt of your sin on God’s doorstep.” We are responsible for our own sin.

FEEDBACK:

            So, what do we take home with us today from this passage? What do you find here to meditate on in the days ahead? Is there a life lesson or is this just a mental exercise with no real relevance to our lives? What do you think?

James Study - Part 1

"Seeing Double"

James 1:1-8 (Message #1 in James Series)

INTRODUCTION:

            Today we are beginning a brand-new teaching series on the Book of James. I am excited because this has long been one of my favourite books of the Bible and I am hoping it will become a favourite of yours as well. James is a very practical book, filled with “how-tos” for living the Christian life, which is one of the reasons it appeals to me. James does not beat around the bush; he gets right to the point and tells it like it is without sugar coating the truth.

            But before we get into the text itself, we need to answer some background questions to help us get more out of our study—questions like…

• WHO was the author?
• WHEN and WHERE was this book written?
• TO WHOM was it written?
• What was the author’s PURPOSE in writing?
• What RELEVANCE does it have to us today?

TRANSITION:

            These sorts of questions fall under the category of Bible Survey, and many of your study Bibles will have helpful information about these subjects in the introductory pages to the Book of James. But to save us a little time, let me walk us quickly through some of these questions and answers.

#1. WHO was the AUTHOR?

            The author does not leave us guessing. He says right at the beginning that he is “James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” But which James is he? The NT mentions four different ones including (1) James the son of Zebedee and brother of John (cf. Matt. 4:21), (2) James the son of Alphaeus, called “James the Less” or “little/younger” (cf. Matt. 10:3), (3) James, the father of the apostle Thaddeus/Judas (cf. Luke 6:16), and (4) James, one of the four half-brothers of Jesus. So, which of those four wrote the Book of James? A lot of people think it was James, the son of Zebedee (brother of John) because he is the James they have heard the most about. However, that James was martyred in Acts 12 (±A.D. 44), the first of the 12 apostles to be killed. He did not live long enough to write anything.

            No, the answer is James #4, the half-brother of Jesus, son of Joseph and Mary. He was probably next to Jesus in age since his name always heads the list of Jesus’ siblings (cf. Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3 – James, Joseph, Simon, Jude, and sisters). We also know that he along with all of Jesus’ other brothers and sisters rejected Jesus’ early ministry (John 7:2-5). It was only after the resurrection that they came to believe fully in Him. In fact, at one point Jesus’ family tried to get Him to quit preaching and apparently even thought He was a bit insane.

            Some other facts about James… 1 Cor. 15:7 records that he was one of the people to whom Jesus appeared personally after the Resurrection. On Paul’s first visit to Jerusalem after he got saved, he visited James (Gal. 1:19). In fact, Paul referred to James as one of the “pillars” of the Church (Gal. 2:9). Because of his holiness and integrity his nickname was “James, the Just”. In Acts 12:17 after Peter was released from jail by the angel, he told the disciples to go and report to James what had happened. At the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:13) James was presiding over the proceedings as they debated about what to do with the influx of non-Jewish converts. James was so well known and highly respected in the Early Church that his younger brother, Jude, only needed to identify himself as “a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and the brother of James” and that was all the credentials he needed (cf. Jude 1:1). From a comment made by Paul in 1 Cor. 9:5 we believe that James was married and probably had children. Though we do not know a lot of details, Josephus and Hegesippus, ancient Roman historians, tell us that James was executed by fanatical Jewish leaders near the time of the revolt and siege of Jerusalem (A.D. 62).

#2. WHEN and WHERE was this book written?

            The author does not mention any specific historical events that we can use to fix the exact date of the writing. Nor does he tell us where he was when he wrote it. However, the letter is very Jewish in nature. The language, the references all suggest an early date for the writing, back when the church was still in its infancy before the Jerusalem Controversy about what to do with the Gentile converts. We also know that James rose to a place of leadership in the Early Church in A.D. 44, replacing Peter after he got out of jail, which was also the same year in which King Herod Agrippa I died (cf. Acts 12:5-23). All things considered, a date of A.D. 46 for the writing is a good estimation and it was almost certainly written from Jerusalem where James lived. By the way, most conservative Bible scholars believe that this was the first NT book ever written! Galatians probably came next, several years later. One more titbit: the book of James is a literary masterpiece, written in beautiful Greek by someone with a broad vocabulary and a sharp mind. History tells us that James was such a man.

#3. To WHOM was the letter written?

            As I mentioned a moment ago, the content of this letter is distinctively Jewish in nature. For example, a very Hebrew title for God is used in 5:4— “Lord of Sabaoth,” Lord of Hosts (kyrios sabaoth). This was not a term used by Gentiles but almost exclusively by Jewish Christians.

            Also, the greeting of the letter starts out, “…to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad…” (NASV). Or as it is in the NIV, “…to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations…” The literal phrase that James uses is, “…to the 12 tribes who are in the dispersion (Diaspora)…” This clearly refers to Jews.

            However, at the same time, the letter is also clearly Christian (cf. 2:1, 7; 5:7-8; etc.). The best explanation for this Jewish/Christian combination is seen in the Acts chronology. After Stephen’s martyrdom in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1-4) those Jewish believers took off in every direction, heading for Cyprus, Phoenicia, and Antioch (cf. 11:19), or anyplace else where they could find a haven from persecution.

            James wrote this letter to those Jewish Christians who had fled “in the Diaspora” after Stephen’s death. This is one of the so-called, “General Epistles” because it was written to be copied and shared with lots of people in lots of places. It was not sent to one church or one individual, but to a whole class of people, those Jewish converts to Christianity who had fled their homeland to avoid being killed for their newfound faith in Jesus, their Messiah.

            This brings us to the next question…

#4. What was the writer’s PURPOSE for writing?

            James was seeking to encourage and fortify those baby Christians who were now scattered and far away from regular instruction in the teachings of Christ. He speaks of trials and oppression and how Christians should respond. Knowing that these new converts would struggle with temptations of every sort he tells them how to deal with the devil and with the temptations of life. He wrote from a pastor’s heart, instructing and encouraging by long distance.

#5. What RELEVANCE does it have for us today?

            I will just say again that this is a very practical book and deals with the issues that you and I face every day in our Christian lives. It deals with the role of good deeds in religion. It takes on the question of faith versus works. It warns us about how much damage our mouths can do if we do not control them. It tells us how to endure trials and go through suffering without losing our faith and getting mad at God. It also takes on the question of how to get our daily life to come into alignment with what we claim to believe. Like I said… very practical stuff! So, without further ado, let’s get into the text itself.  Turn to James 1:1. 

MAIN BODY:

Verse 1: James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.

• Nowadays when we write letters, we sign them at the bottom. You either must read the whole letter or glance at the end before you start to know who is writing to you. In the old days, they put that information right in the salutation. I think it was a better system.
• I have heard that Eskimos have many different words for snow. It makes sense because living where they do, they have become snow experts. In Greek there are a variety of words that mean “servant” or “slave.” That is because slavery was such a part of normal life in those days and there were different kinds of slaves. An oiketês was a “household servant.” A místhios was a “hired servant.” A pais was a “boy servant.” A paidíske was a “young female slave.” A huperétes was an “under-rower” or galley slave on a ship. A diákonos was a “ministering servant.” However, here in James 1:1 James identifies himself as “the doulos of God and of Christ.” A “doulos” was a bondservant, and the word was at the same time the most common term for a slave and the most menial. It was Paul’s favourite word to describe himself in relation to Christ (cf. Rom. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Titus 1:1), and James uses it here in the same way, with the idea in mind that he had been formerly a “bond-slave” of Satan, and that, having been bought by Christ, he is now a willing slave, bound to his new Master with bonds of love and gratitude. And it is important to remember that with a doulos there were no limitations, either in the kind or the time of service. In the same way, the life of the believer is to be lived in continuous lifelong obedience and service to God. That is important!

Verses 2-3: Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.   

• The word “trials” here implies testings from an external source. Later, down in verses 13-14 James will discuss testings that come from within, temptations to commit evil. But here in verse 2 he is talking about circumstances that come along out of the blue and whack us up alongside the head.
• “Consider it all joy…” He does not say that these trials are joyful events. He does not say they are fun or something we are to seek after. No, he just says that we are to “consider them, reckon them, think of them” in positive terms because of the ultimate good that they will work in us. Most medicine and nearly all vitamins taste nasty, but we take them because of the benefit we know they are going produce in us.
• Trials in the life of the Christian function in the same way. They have a nasty taste for the moment but if we will work with God rather than against Him the trials will ultimately strengthen our faith and produce godly character in us.
• The phrase here translated as “the testing of your faith” employs a technical word that refers to the refining and purging process of producing genuine coins. The goal of testing is not to destroy but to verify and prove the quality of the material being tested. Through trials we grow spiritual muscles and develop our spiritual lung capacity so that when we come up against a really steep hill we have strength and endurance not only live through the experience but to come out as victors, standing at the top of the mountain shouting, “Woo-hoo! Yes, I made it!”
• By the way, joy is a choice. We can choose to be joyful in the midst of difficult circumstances or we can choose to give way to anger, depression, despair, and vindictiveness against God and everyone in the room with us. James says, “Choose joy.” Paul had the same thing in mind when he wrote Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, REJOICE!” We can choose to be joyful, no matter what.

Verse 4: And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

• This verse is a model of redundancy, but it is not accidental. James is trying to make a point. The word here used twice and translated as “perfect” means complete in the sense of having reached the goal, the finish line. In common speech we use the word perfect to mean, one who is “without sin or flaw of any kind.” That is impossible for humans, so it is ridiculous to think that James is commanding us to become perfect in the sense of sinless and without flaws.
• No, he is talking about letting the trials and tribulations process continue to its desired end, where we have those needed spiritual muscles. 

Verse 5: But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

• Christians use this verse as a carte blanche promise from God, but we should not remove it from its context and expect it to work. Here James is talking about God-given insight while we are going through trials, wisdom into what God is doing and what He is trying to produce in us. Sometimes Christians say, “I just can’t see any point to this. Why is God putting us through this? Have we sinned? Have we ticked Him off somehow? I just can’t see how any good could ever come from this mess, this tragedy, this trial.” But James says that if we ask Him, God will reveal it to us. Job is a good example. When Job cried out to God, the Lord revealed to him what was taking place and that knowledge sustained him through his trials to the very end.

Verse 6: But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

• Doubting, that is our enemy in this process. The Greek word is used twice here: diakrinómenos. The word is sometimes translated as debating, contending, or disputing. Here it means doing those things with God, maybe in the hopes that He will stop the trial or the tribulation. In context James is not talking so much about weak faith, as lack of faith in God, and therefore contending with Him.
• But James points out that a person without faith in God is at the mercy and whim of the storm and the waves. He has no anchor, no refuge, no rock of safety, no island where he can beach his boat and seek shelter. God is all those things to us when we go through trials. Without Him, where can a person turn to for help?

Verses 7-8: For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, ⁸ being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

• James here speaks of a “double-minded” person. This does not mean thinking twice. The Greek work literally means a person with “two-souls” – dípsuchos (dis = twice + psuche = mind or soul). James uses this same word in 4:8, “Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” It refers to a person of divided allegiance. In this context I believe it is about the man who has doubts and mental reservations both about prayer itself and about the requests he is making of God.
• James says that this kind of double mindedness causes instability in every area of that man’s life and robs him of getting answers from God.

CONCLUSION:

            So, what have we learned today?  Let’s review:

• Who was James?  Tell me all you know.
• Who did he write this letter to, and why?
• Why does God allow us to go through trials and tribulations?
• Why is James so adamant about us not being “double-minded”?
• What do you hope to gain personally from this study of James?