Today we turn to the Book of James. James was the half-brother of Jesus. Many have pointed out James becoming a believer and follower of Jesus is strong evidence for the resurrection. After all, when Jesus was living, James and Jesus’ other brothers didn’t believe He was the Messiah. To be honest, if any of my brothers were ever to convince me they were the Messiah, they would have to rise from the dead, too! Anyway, James wrote his letter to challenge the believers who were scattered because of the persecution of the church in his time. The book is practical and focused on the good works we must do as Jesus’ followers. The heavy emphasis on works, even caused Martin Luther, the great German reformer to call it an epistle of straw. He emphasized the grace of Jesus much more strongly than the works we do, but James offers a helpful reminder: Faith without works is dead. We aren’t saved by our works, but salvation always issues in good works.
In James 1, James reminds us when trials come our way, we ought to consider it “joy,” because the testing of our faith refines it. James also reminds us God is always ready to give us wisdom, and He is the author of every good gift we receive in life. James reminds us how important it is to have faith when we pray and not to be “double-minded.” James concludes the chapter by reminding us true and genuine religion before the Lord consists of caring for widows and orphans in their distress and keeping ourselves unstained from the world.
James 2 offers us two clear admonitions: the first is not to show partiality to believers. James reminds us it is often those who are wealthy who tend to subject us under themselves. The second admonition is to remember faith without works is dead. James reminds us Abraham’s faith was reckoned because he “believed” God, which James saw as an action. He also uses Rahab as an example of righteous action when she saved the Israelite spies during the period of the Judges. We need to remember our faith will issue in action when it is genuine.
James 3 offers an admonition that not many of us ought to be teachers, because we will be held to a higher standard. It also reminds us of the importance of reining in the tongue, which is a difficult challenge for us all. It also reminds us we all need the wisdom from above that is the only solution to all the challenges our sinful natures bring us.
James 4 offers warnings against worldliness, and James acknowledges the challenges of worldliness originate with the devil. He offers us the solution to the devil’s work in our lives: humble ourselves, draw near to the Lord and resist the devil. When we take these actions, the devil will flee from us. Notice, we must humble ourselves. That is key. Humility is not natural to fallen human beings, but when we humble ourselves and draw near to God, when we live in the power of the Holy Spirit, our lives are transformed, and the devil runs away. James also reminds us not to boast about what we are going to do, but when we make our plans to say, “If the Lord wills…” Boasting comes from the devil, but when we start our plans with the Lord’s will, we do well.
James 5 offers admonitions to the rich not to abuse their wealth or how they use it with people. James reminds us all to be patient in suffering, which is such a vital reminder for us, because we live in a world that wants to medicate all suffering out of our lives or avoid it at all costs. Sometimes suffering comes to us when we obey God, because the world isn’t in favor of God’s ways. The chapter and the book close with some powerful reminders about the importance and effectiveness of prayer. James tells us prayer can bring physical healing as well as wholeness from our sins when we confess them to one another. James closes out the book by reminding us Elijah was a man like us, but his prayers changed the world of his day.
As we return to Luke 15, we return to Jesus’ telling of three powerful parables that let the tax collectors and other “sinners” realize how much God loves them and wants them to be “found.” Jesus told parables about a lost sheep, a lost coin, and two lost sons. In each, the point is God is looking for us and waiting for us and won’t stop looking or waiting as long as we have breath. The celebration in heaven is great when we are found. I have always loved these three stories, because of how they demonstrate the depth of God’s love for us and His desire for us to be with Him.