There is a reason the book of James is considered a wisdom book in the Bible. He has a unique writing style. He compares the wisdom of God with that of the world in apparent teachings. James also contains prophetic passages. The book of James speaks directly to the life and reflection of a true Christian. Speculation states that James might have been the brother of Jesus. In the passages that I mention, James speaks on religion, faith and listening to God's will. James, chapter 1, acts as a summary of everything that James wants to say. In James 1:2-8, James speaks about faith and being perseverant of tests that come with believing.
What James Meant at That Time
The book of James was written by James when wealthy landowners oppressed Christian Jews. In verse 12 through 16, he focuses on the importance of knowing why we persevere trial and resisting temptation. Christians and the people he wrote the book for face and faced temptations. He talks about being tempted, how God does not tempt, and what to do when faced with temptation.
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The rest of James 1 focuses on the power of listening and acting on what the word of God says. He continues in James 5:14-17 to tell brethren how to deal with any aspect of their Christian faith. He tells us about the importance of trust and fellowship (Godtube). He talks on the benefit of elders in the church and the forgiveness of sins. James shows the significance of Christians, focusing on praying for faith.
Application of James
James calls upon all Christians to avoid deceit and sin (Staff). In James 5: 14-15, James teaches about ignoring desire. James writes that evil desires are enticing but also birth sin. Sin consecutively leads to death. It is not clear what end he speaks about, but it might be both physical and spiritual. In daily life, James is a single guide on exemplary Christian living (Godtube).
Sometimes we are faced with temptations. These temptations test a Christian's patience and cause doubt in Christians. Like with Elijah (James 5:17), it is possible to doubt. When feeling in doubt, it helps to remember Elijah prayed for rain for three years. For example, when praying for a promotion to the workplace, trust God to do it.
Being patient and not doubting leads to a better job or a great promotion. James states that though we are human, the temptation can be fought. When we want to join the world in their idea of fun, James 5:15 dissipates all anxiety. When your work friends invite you to a party that might get a little too crazy, say no. The reward comes later when you do not have to deal with the anxiety of having indulged in ungodly fun. The world's idea of fun can be very tempting.
When faced with trials, they test perseverance. These trials allow growth and James 1:2 shows that overcoming these trials only brings maturity (Staff). However, James 1:13 says that the Lord does not tempt by evil. No Christian should claim that an evil temptation is the work of God (Gilbert).
Conclusion
James, an excellent teacher and full of wisdom is a significant figure (Gilbert). He teaches about the importance of standing firm in the faith. His relevance, even in current times is astonishing. James can be used as a guide to daily living and dealing with difficult questions.
References
Gilbert, Greg. "Why Study the Book of James?" Crossway (2014). <https://www.crossway.org/articles/why-study-the-book-of-james/>.
Godtube. "THE BOOK OF JAMES: WISDOM AND KEY BIBLE VERSES." Godtube (2013): 3. <https://www.godtube.com/news/the-book-of-james-wisdom-and-key-bible-verses.html>.
Staff, LifeWay. "What Can Studying the Book of James Teach Us About Faith?" LifeWay (2018): 3. <https://www.lifeway.com/en/articles/an-overview-of-james-bible-study-chandler>.
