James 1

James 1:1-8 (NKJV) 1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. This James is the half-brother of Jesus. After the death of James barJonas, James and Peter assumed the headship of the church of Jerusalem as evidenced in James leading the Church Council of AD 48 mentioned in Acts 15. 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. The words in verses 2 and 3 (temptations and trying) are often regarded as virtually synonymous. If this were true, then trials themselves would produce spiritual maturity. But they do not. Often, testings make Christians bitter instead of better, with no spiritual growth occurring. The Greek word for “trying” (dokimion) might be better translated as “approving.” It is not merely one’s presence in such trials but one’s victory over them that brings spiritual growth and maturity. King James Version study Bible count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; not the temptations of Satan, or temptations to sin; for these cannot be matter of joy, but grief; these are fiery darts, and give a great deal of uneasiness and trouble; but afflictions and persecutions for the sake of the Gospel, which are so called here and elsewhere, because they are trials of the faith of God's people, and of other graces of the Spirit of God. Gill G3986 - trials Πειρασμος peirasmos pi-ras-mos' From G3985; a putting to proof (by experiment [of good], experience [of evil], solicitation, discipline or provocation); by implication adversity: - temptation, X try. G1383 - trying Δοκιμιον dokimion dok-im'-ee-on Neuter of a presumed derivative of G1382; a testing; by implication trustworthiness: - trial, trying. G5281 - endurance υπομονη hupomonē hoop-om-on-ay' From G5278; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: - enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting). Perfect (Adjective and Verb), Perfectly signifies "having reached its end" (telos), "finished, complete, perfect." It is used (I) of persons, (a) primarily of physical development, then, with ethical import, "fully grown, mature," 1Co_2:6; 1Co_14:20 ("men;" marg., "of full age"); Eph_4:13; Phi_3:15; Col_1:28; Col_4:12; in Heb_5:14, RV, "fullgrown" (marg., "perfect"), AV, "of full age" (marg., "perfect"); (b) "complete," conveying the idea of goodness without necessary reference to maturity or what is expressed under (a), Mat_5:48; Mat_19:21; Jam_1:4 (2nd part); Jam_3:2. It is used thus of God in Mat_5:48; (II) of

"things, complete, perfect," Rom_12:2; 1Co_13:10 (referring to the complete revelation of God's will and ways, whether in the completed Scriptures or in the hereafter); Jam_1:4 (of the work of patience); Jam_1:25; 1Jo_4:18. Vines It is perhaps unfortunate that in the time of King James the word perfect meant – to reach full age or be mature and that today it means 100% or never using the eraser. The word telios – means mature or ripe and could be used in a sentence like this “the apples are now perfect, let’s go to the orchard today to pick them.” G3648 - complete ολοκληρος holoklē ros Thayer Definition: 1) complete in all its parts, in no part wanting or unsound, complete, entire, whole 1a) of a body without blemish or defect, whether of a priest or of a victim 1b) free from sin, faultless 1c) complete in all respects, consummate Part of Speech: adjective This word is strongly reminiscent of shalom in Hebrew. It is amazing to me how many commentators and study bibles skipped right over this promise of God to make us complete – lacking nothing. God wants us to be complete – lacking nothing!! A test pilot is one of the highest honors in aviation. They take new planes up and prove them by putting them through all sorts of aerobic maneuvers. We would laugh if we heard the plane complain about this process “well I guess the designer is just trying to teach me something”. The testing process is not against you – it’s to prove you – to qualify you. When the designer of a new plane gets everything ready and the plane is rolled out of the hangar for its test flight, it is not a time of sadness – but one of joy – knowing – that the proving of this plane – its testing – will result in acceptance and use in the air force. Whoever taught that these verses mean for us to sit down and cry together over trials was sadly mistaken. We should welcome the proving of our faith for out of it comes endurance which yields completeness and we lack nothing!

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. These verses are some of the most ignored in the bible. We need to get rid of some of the stupid ideas surrounding prayer that have crept into our vocabulary. Prayer is either answered or it is not. If you pray for rain and rain does not appear – guess what – your prayer wasn’t answered. James explains here one reason why prayers go unanswered – double-mindedness. The lazy Christian just throws his hands up in the air and says “well it must be God’s will for there to be no rain”. My personal favorite is “sometimes God says yes and sometimes He says no”. This goes against every teaching of prayer in the bible – every promise that God will answer when we pray correctly.

In black and white – there for every to read and grasp – is the statement - But let him ask in faith, with no doubting… For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. When will we learn to go by what the bible says and not little ditties passed along in “prayer books?” 1 John 5:14-15 ESV (14) And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. (15) And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. How can you even begin to know if you are praying correctly if “sometimes He says yes and sometimes no?” The bible says we can have confidence if we pray according to His will that He hears us and that we will have the request. Perhaps if we found out what God’s will is first – our prayers would be answered more often.

In verses 5–8, the source of wisdom is God; it is obtained by prayer; it is available to everybody; it is given liberally and without reproach; the crucial condition is that we ask in faith, with no doubting. Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments 2. Faith is a grace that one expression supposes and another expressly requires: Knowing this, that the trial of your faith, v. 3; and then in v. 6, Let him ask in faith. There must be a sound believing of the great truths of Christianity, and a resolute cleaving to them, in times of trial. That faith which is spoken of here as tried by afflictions consists in a belief of the power, and word, and promise of God, and in fidelity and constancy to the Lord Jesus. Matthew Henry's commentary : On the whole Bible G1252 - doubting Διακρινω diakrinō Thayer Definition: 1) to separate, make a distinction, discriminate, to prefer 2) to learn by discrimination, to try, decide 2a) to determine, give judgment, decide a dispute 3) to withdraw from one, desert 4) to separate one’s self in a hostile spirit, to oppose, strive with dispute, contend 5) to be at variance with one’s self, hesitate, doubt Part of Speech: verb G1374 - doubleminded διψυχος dipsuchos; from G1364 and G5590; of two minds, wavering: - double-minded (2). G182 - unstable ακαταστατος akatastatos Thayer Definition: 1) unstable, inconstant, restless

Part of Speech: adjective

Jas 1:6 - But let him ask in faith,.... Not only in the faith of the divine Being that God is; but in the faith of the promises he has made; and in the faith of his power and faithfulness to perform them; and in the faith of this, that whatever is asked, according to the will of God, and is for his glory, and his people's good, shall be given. Nothing wavering; about the thing asked for, whether it is right or no to ask for it; for that should be settled before it is asked for; nor about the power of God to do it; nor about his will, in things he has declared he will do; nor about his faithfulness to his promises; nor at all questioning but what is proper, suitable, and convenient, will be given in God's own time and way. Gill Jas 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord - Compare Heb_11:6. A man can hope for favor from God only as he puts confidence in him. He sees the heart; and if he sees that there is no belief in his existence, or his perfections no real trust in him - no reliance on his promises, his wisdom, his grace - it cannot be proper that he should grant an answer to our petitions. That will account sufficiently for the fact that there are so many prayers unanswered; that we so frequently go to the throne of grace, and are sent empty away. A man that goes to God in such a state of mind, should not expect to receive any favor. Barnes Let us get foolish teachings and traditions of men burned out of us. The word of God is full of joy and riches untold if we would just believe what we read. God answers prayers of faith – He gives to all men generously – He wants us to be complete – lacking nothing. What a great God we serve!!