These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
Review …
- COUNT it all joy…
- When we FALL into various TRIALS – TEMPTATIONS…
- KNOWING – that the testing of our faith produces patience!
- Testing us so that we know what is inside of us – pull out impurities…
- We talked quite a bit about the word patience –– to abide in Jesus!
- Trials teach us NOT to depend on ourselves – but instead depend on Jesus!
- BUT – we must let patience have its PERFECT work…
- We have a choice when it comes to the TRIALS of life…
- We can get upset – blame others for our problems – try to fix the issues…
- Or we can stop and realize that God has allowed it SO THAT we learn to ABIDE!
- Becoming perfect [spiritually] – complete [practically] – and we will lack NOTHING in life!
Godly Wisdom… [3 points]
- 1st – Wisdom in Trials… vs. 5-8
- 1st – We lack WISDOM… vs. 5
- If any of you lacks [indicative] wisdom – let [imperative] him ask of God…
- There are TWO very different kinds of WISDOM – from ABOVE and from BELOW…
- James 3:15-17 – “This WISDOM does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist – confusion and every evil thing are there. But the WISDOM that is from above is first pure – then peaceable – gentle – willing to yield – full of mercy and good fruits – without partiality and without hypocrisy.”
- There is WISDOM – that comes from this WORLD – from BELOW…
- And there is WISDOM [σοφία] – that comes from God – from ABOVE!
- The WISDOM of God is not the same thing as KNOWLEDGE we learn in the world…
- Because having Godly WISDOM – knowing the best choices to make in life…
- This WISDOM is a gift of the Spirit – I Corinthians 12:8
- Ask God for Wisdom…
- This is NOT a question – it is a statement of FACT [indicative] we DO lack WISDOM!
- Therefore we MUST [imperative] as God who is the ONLY source of true WISDOM!
- When we do the Lord WILL [indicative] – give it liberally / abundantly to us!
- When we are in the midst of a TRIAL – we often have NO idea what to do…
- Because we do NOT know what the outcome will be – we CANNOT see tomorrow!
- We have all felt the helplessness that comes from not being able to see the future…
- Feeling like a lost little child – not knowing what decision to make…
- Looking for someone to guide us – needing WISDOM so we do not make a mistake!
- All we have to do is simply ask – and God is MORE THAN willing to give it to us!
- 2nd – What keeps us from ASKING… vs. 5
- Who gives [indicative] to all liberally and without reproach – and it will be given to him…
- REPROACH – we would simply say to be ASHAMED…
- We think God is going to look down on us when we ask for WISDOM…
- He will be disappointed that we do not KNOW the answer – so we do not ask…
- But how foolish – that we LACK wisdom is a FACT [indicative] God already knows!
- He is not surprised when we come to Him for help – in contrast He is WAITING for us to ask!
- One of the greatest inventions of the past TWENTY years has been Google search…
- Interesting note – Google is named after the numerical notation googol…
- 10^100 – that is TEN with a HUNDRED zeroes after it – more than the atoms in the universe!
- The idea being if we have ANY question – we can ask Google and get an answer!
- We have been given a SUPER powered Google…
- The difference is our search engine is powered by the creator of Heaven and Earth…
- And the answers / WISDOM that He give to us are ABSOLUTE truth!
- The only catch is we have to be willing to ASK – Matthew 7:7
- 3rd – How to ask for WISDOM… vs. 6
- But let [imperative] him ask in faith…
- James does give one condition to obtaining the WISDOM…
- We MUST [imperative] ask in for WISDOM from God in FAITH…
- FAITH – [πίστις] – 244x in NT – to have TRUST or CONFIDENCE…
- Because if we do not TRUST – we are not going to believe the WISDOM Jesus provides!
- With no doubting…
- For he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind!
- No DOUBTING– [διακρίνω] – literally no JUDGING…
- The idea is if we try to inspect / judge the WISDOM of God in the light of this world…
- Then we will DOUBT God – and not TRUST what He has tells us…
- Instead of knowing EXACTLY what we should do – we will be CONFUSED!
- We will be like a WAVE of the sea – driven and tossed by the wind…
- Like a WAVE that gets battered back and forth by winds coming from all sides…
- We will waffle back and forth between the IDEAS of men and the TRUTH of God!
- The WORLD is almost always the exact opposite of what the WORD says…
- The WORLD says to seek riches – the WORD says to be content – Hebrews 13:5
- The WORLD says to focus on yourself – the WORD says to die to ourselves – Luke 9:23
- The WORLD says to be strong – the WORLD says we need to be weak – II Corinthians 12:9
- If we are listening to the WORLD – we will have a hard time believing the WORD!
- 4th – Not receiving WISDOM… vs. 7-8
- Let not [imperative] that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord…
- He is a double-minded man – unstable in all his ways!
- If we are listening to the WISDOM of the world…
- We MUST not [imperative] assume God will give us ANYTHING!
- Because we are DOUBLE minded – TWO minds – one for God and one for the world…
- The result of having TWO minds – we are unstable in ALL of our ways!
- UNSTABLE– only here NT – meaning we cannot even STAND UP!
- I have met so many believers who are miserable – they are tossed about like waves…
- The problem is they think the WISDOM of the world has something to offer them…
- Therefore they are miserable in the Lord – because they are confused by the world…
- But they are also not happy with the world – because they know too much about the Lord…
- They are miserable wherever they go – they CANNOT stand – because they are divided!
- Luke 16:13 – “No one can serve two masters. You will hate one and love the other…”
- 1st – We lack WISDOM… vs. 5
- 2nd – Resources for Trials… vs. 9-11
- 1st – Poor and helpless… vs. 9
- Let the lowly brother [rejoice] in his [position]…
- LOWLY [ταπεινός] – to not rise far off the ground – we would say POOR…
- Let [imperative] the POOR brother REJOICE [imperative] – DOUBLE command…
- Because a POOR man has NOTHING else but the Lord to put his TRUST in!
- WHY would we want to REJOICE because we are POOR…
- Because we are left with NO other option than to look to Jesus…
- Forcing us to learn the most important lesson – ABIDE – as a result of our TRIALS!
- 2nd – Rich and helpless… vs. 10-11
- But the rich in his humiliation…
- The rich must REJOICE in their HUMILIATION…
- HUMILIATION [ταπείνωσις] – same word used for the POOR…
- Because where the POOR have to DEPEND on the Lord…
- But the RICH also SHOULD depend on the Lord!
- JAMES gives an illustration to show us why…
- As a flower of the field he will pass away…
- No sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass – its flower falls…
- And its beautiful appearance perishes – so the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits!
- If a RICH man is trusting in his WEALTH to save him from his TRIALS…
- He is in a dangerous position – because his wealth can fade like a flower in the noon sun!
- Therefore he SHOULD be putting his TRUST in Jesus – not in his MONEY!
- Therefore we do not REJOICE in riches – because they are NOT certain…
- Instead REJOICE that Jesus is the one who NEVER changes!
- That way we do NOT chase after the empty wealth of this world…
- Instead we will come in HUMBLE daily dependance on Jesus!
- Rich or are we poor…
- POVERTY is an interesting concept – most of us think we are POOR…
- We think that way because we look at those who are RICHER than we are…
- HALF of the world lives on less P150 a day / if we have cash in our pocket – we are RICH!
- But it does NOT matter which label we give ourselves – both are HUMBLED…
- Either now in POVERTY – or at the end of life when all RICHES of this world are lost…
- And the HUMBLE man has every reason to REJOICE – because he also NEEDS GRACE!
- James 4:6 – “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble [same word].”
- 1st – Poor and helpless… vs. 9
- 3rd – Reward from Trials… vs. 12-18
- 1st – Endure TEMPTATION… vs. 12
- Blessed is the man who endures temptation – for when he has been approved…
- He will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him!
- BLESSED – OH HOW HAPPY – is the man who endures TEMPTATION…
- TEMPTATIONS / TRIALS – as we noted last week these are the SAME word…
- ENDURE [ὑπομένω] to abide in Jesus Christ – John 15:4
- This is the exact same point that JAMES made in – James 1:2-4
- But he adds – we will be BLESSED – because once we are APPROVED…
- APPROVED [δόκιμος] – same root word as TESTED – James 1:3
- We receive THE CROWN – God promised [indicative] to those that LOVE [ἀγαπάω] Him!
- What is the CROWN – TWO possibilities…
- I Corinthians 3:12-14 – “Each ones work will become clear for the Day will declare it – because it will be revealed by fire… If anyones work… endures he will receive a reward.”
- Anything done with a selfish motive – is wood / hay / and stubble – burns up in the fire…
- But anything we do out of a RIGHT heart – will be Gold / silver / and jewels…
- Then at BEMA seat of Christ – II Corinthians 5:10
- We will receive rewards – CROWNS – for the good things done for the Lord…
- We can then throw the Crowns at the feet of Jesus – Revelation 4:10
- The problem with CROWNS as rewards…
- CROWN [στέφανος] is only described FIVE times in the Bible…
- I Corinthians 9:25 / II Timothy 4:8 / James 1:12 / I Peter 5:4 / Revelation 2:10
- CROWN is always singular – not crowns – meaning there is ONLY one!
- Also the description of the CROWN – suggests the one CROWN we receive is ETERNAL LIFE…
- Eternal Crown / Crown of Righteousness / Crown of Life / and Crown of Glory!
- Finally the idea of CROWNS as REWARDS – focuses on the wrong thing…
- We are looking to receive a REWARD from the Lord – as if He owes us!
- Thinking that we earn extra rewards / CROWNS for our works – brings pride…
- We think we are better because of what we have done for the Lord…
- There is a sense of spiritual self-righteousness – spiritual superiority…
- Or a sense of condemnation – because we think we have not done enough!
- Our CROWN is Eternal life…
- Whether we are saved young or old – our reward is Heaven – Matthew 20:1-16
- Whether we were the greatest Apostle – or only saved a day – our CROWN is Heaven…
- In other words it is not about how much work we do for the Lord…
- It is about what HE did for us – the CROWN of life that HE gives to those who LOVE Him…
- Therefore we are wise to endure TRIALS – because they come with an eternal reward!
- 2nd – Origin of TEMPTATIONS… vs. 13-15
- Let no one say [imperative] when he is tempted – I am tempted by God… vs. 13
- For God cannot be tempted by evil – nor does He Himself tempt anyone!
- TEMPTATION [πειράζω] – the word TEMPTATION / TRIAL are the same word…
- A TRIAL – is a TEST from God / a TEMPTATION – is not from God…
- We do go through TEMPTATIONS – but God is NEVER the source!
- Not that we do not still try and BLAME God – just like Adam and Eve – Genesis 3:12
- When God asked Adam what he had done he blamed God – the women YOU gave me…
- When God asked Eve she blamed God – it was the serpent God made!
- But it was NOT God who made Adam and Eve sin – they CHOSE to rebel against God…
- They were deceived by their own LUSTS – their PRIDE – desire to be LIKE God!
- I John 2:16 – “All that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”
- Where do TEMPTATIONS come from… vs. 14
- Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed!
- We are TEMPLATED [passive] when we are DRAW AWAY by our own LUSTS…
- DRAWN AWAY – only here NT – to be LURED out by BAIT!
- A number of times we have gone fishing at MCC after church for lunch…
- You have to feel sorry for those fish – the worm drops in the water…
- And they are LURED out of their safety – because they are ENTICED [deceived] …
- Their DESIRE [lust] for the worm – ends up making them LUNCH!
- No one wakes up one day and says – I think I want to ruin my life today…
- We are TEMPTED by something because we genuinely think it will make us happy…
- If I can only get that perfect figure – then I will be beautiful…
- If I can only get that next promotion – then I will have enough money…
- If only I look at that picture on the internet – then I will be satisfied!
- But we are DECEIVED – these desires are not from the Lord!
- Desire brings death… vs. 15
- Next – when desire has conceived…
- Desire CONCEIVES – speaking of the conception – the beginning of a pregnancy…
- Sin begins as a thought – some idea that comes into our head…
- Often it is provoked by something we see / something we hear – planting a seed!
- TEMPTATION does not become SIN until we DWELL on – keep thinking about…
- Because the battle for our actions begins in our mind…
- If we are THINKING about SINNING – then we can expect we fall into SIN…
- We cannot keep a bird from landing on your head – but do not let him build a nest!
- It gives birth to sin…
- When CONCEIVING – the fun part – is over we move on to the birthing part…
- And perhaps intentionally so – it speaks of a process that is EXTREMELY painful!
- Because once we chose to give in to our DESIRES – we give BIRTH to sin!
- The word CONCEIVE can also be used to describe taken a permanent PRISONER…
- Which is also what our desires to – they lead to sin that makes us a prisoner!
- Romans 6:16 – “[We] become the slave of whatever [we] choose to obey? [We] can be a slave to sin – which leads to death – or [we] can choose to obey God…”
- Sin is like a drug – the most addictive kind of drug – and it will take over our life…
- Sin can seem to be enjoyable – but it sucks us in – and we become PRISONERS…
- In the end we find we are in bondage to sin – morally and spiritually bankrupt!
- And sin – when it is full grown – brings forth death!
- When God told Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil…
- He warned them if they did they would SURELY DIE – Genesis 2:17
- Yet they did NOT die the moment they ate the FRUIT!
- SURELY DIE [מוֹת תָּמֽוּת] – DIE is repeated twice here – DIE [imperfect] / DIE [infinitive] …
- We could translate it – you will start dying [imperfect] physically…
- But you will immediately be a dead man [infinitive] spiritually!
- We likewise – if we give into TEMPTATION – and it brings forth sin…
- The result is we DIE – not immediately – but spiritually we are separated from God…
- And one day if we do NOT repent – we will face the SECOND death – Romans 6:23
- 3rd – Do not be deceived… vs. 16-18
- Do not [imperative] be deceived – my beloved brethren… vs. 16
- DECEIVED – [πλανάω] – where we get the word PLANET – the WORLD…
- We have to be so careful what TEMPTATIONS we allow into our lives…
- If we are constantly pumping social media / Hollywood / advertising into our heads…
- Is it no wonder that we are being DECEIVED by this world!
- Instead of being filled with the wisdom of the WORLD– we need to be filled with the WORD!
- Matthew 18:13 – “Jesus answered and said to them – you are DECEIVED [πλανάω] – not knowing the Scriptures or the power of God.”
- Every good and perfect gift… vs. 17
- Every good gift and perfect gift is from above – and comes down from the Father of lights…
- There are TWO kinds of gifts that come down from our Father!
- Good GIFT – [δόσις] – speaks of a financial GIFT – Philippians 4:15
- Perfect GIFT – [δώρημα] – speaks of spiritual GIFT – our salvation – Romans 5:16
- Both come down from the FATHER OF LIGHTS – a unique title given only here!
- Where sin seeks to DECEIVE us and make us CAPTIVES…
- Our Heavenly Father will light our way to the TRUTH – and set us FREE!
- With whom there is no variation or shadow of turning!
- This is a powerful illustration – contrasting GOD to the SUN…
- The sun is always changing positions causing our shadow to move all over…
- But the light of our Father is ABSOLUTE – it NEVER moves or changes!
- The will of God… vs. 18
- Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth…
- That we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures!
- JAMES concludes with a contrast – desire that conceives sin – sin that brings forth death…
- God brought us forth by the Word of Truth – that we might bear FRUIT!
- The question we are left to ask is which life are we living…
- Are we tossed around by the winds of this world – or are we asking for WISDOM!
- Are we putting out trust in RICHES – or humbled knowing we have GRACE!
- Are we falling into temptation – or are we enduring knowing we have a CROWN!
- TRUSTING in our Father of Lights who wants us to bear good FRUIT!
- 1st – Endure TEMPTATION… vs. 12