James by Chris Hearty (2020)

James tells us when we endure trials to recognize the reality of the situation; Experiencing trials is inevitable for everyone. Believers, though, can actually respond to trials with a deliberate attitude of joy. We can have this attitude because we know the testing of our faith is not to see if we have any, but to strengthen it as metal-smith refines gold to remove its impurities and to strengthen the gold.

James distinguishes between God who tests us for our good, to strengthen our faith and Satan who tempts us to bring about spiritual death. Satan uses seduction and deception to make us believe the lies behind the temptation and thus, enslaving us to sin. The key to avoiding the deception of temptation is believing and focusing on the truth. Temptation does not come from God, but from the desires in our hearts that Satan uses to entice us to sin. Instead, we must remember God will always show us a way out of any temptation. Victory is only found in the Cross of Christ.

How do we prepare the soil of our heart to welcome the God's message/ Receive the word of God by paying careful attention in order to truly understand it. Be wise listeners, who are slow to speak and slow to anger. And finally, keeping your attention fixed on the perfect law of liberty, be a purposeful doer of the Word; Put into practice what you know to be true.

Contentment is Dynamic, Developed and Divine. Paul spoke of contentment that was not based on circumstances but on something real and solid: God's strength working through him. The good life we all long for begins not when circumstances change but when our attitude toward them changes. The ability to be grateful for what we already have, in spite of our circumstances, is the secret to contentment.

In the previous teaching, James taught that our faith is proven to a watching world by our good deeds. In this teaching, James shows that true faith is demonstrated to the world not just in our deeds but also in our words. There needs to be a compatibility between what we say and what we do.

James is presenting the believer with a fork in the road toward two types of wisdom. The believer must choose between the path that leads to worldly wisdom resulting in bitterness, jealousy or the path leading to heavenly wisdom that results in good behavior and gentle deeds. The unwise choose the worldly wisdom that leads to disorder and every evil. Whereas the wise choose the heavenly wisdom that leads to righteousness and peace. Biblical wisdom is the ability to view life from God's perspective. True wisdom will be shown by how one lives their life.

Are not the sources of quarrels within the church due to believers not recognizing their position of neediness? We do not have because we do not ask. We allow our desires to have mastery over ourselves. This leads to adultery against God; We cheat on God by turning our affections and attention away from God and towards ourselves and the world. \r\nThe solution is to turn to God's grace, and resist the devil. Draw near to God and turn away from from the temptations of the world. And finally, humble yourself before the Lord and He will exalt you.\r\n

James criticizes some of his readers for making plans for their life without consulting God or considering His will. While the Bible is clear that it is wise and good to prepare for the future and make plans, we must take into account our limited knowledge of the future and be sure that we are aligning our plans with God's, always considering what is eternally important.

James warns his readers of the spiritually seductive nature of wealth that can draw our hearts away from God. Not that being wealthy is a sin, but rather it becomes a problem when we have improper attitudes toward it. In order to protect our hearts, we should heed James' warning, be generous, and remember where true riches are found.

Like today, Christians in James' day were living in an in-between period, a sort of intermission between the first and second comings of Jesus. James counsels his readers how to live during this time, being faithfully determined to follow God and waiting expectantly for Christ's return, with an eye to God's promised future.

James urges his readers to turn to God through powerful prayer in all of life's seasons--sickness, happiness and suffering. Christians today are reminded that God hears our prayers and we should praise Him when things are going well and turn to Him in our distress, so that we may receive God's comfort and provision.