PATIENCE IN SUFFERING JAMES 5: 7-12

PATIENCE IN SUFFERING

  Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming.  See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.  You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.  Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged.  The Judge is standing at the door!


   Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered.  You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.  The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

   Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by Heaven or by earth or by anything else.  Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No" no, or you will be condemned.   James 5:  7-12  (NIV)

LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE COMMENTARY

   The farmer must wait patiently for his crops to grow;  he cannot hurry the process.  But he does not take the summer off and hope that all goes well in the fields.  There is much work to do to ensure a good harvest.  In the same way, we must wait patiently for Christ's return.  We cannot make Him come back any sooner.  But while we wait, there is much work that we can do to advance God's kingdom.  Both the farmer and the Christian must live by faith, looking toward the future reward for their labors.  Don't live as if Christ will never come.  Work faithfully to build His Kingdom--The King will come when the time is right.

   When things go wrong, we tend to grumble against and blame others for our miseries .  Blaming others is easier than owning our share of the responsibility, but it can be both destructive and sinful.  Before you judge others for their shortcomings, remember that Christ the Judge will come to evaluate each of us.  He will not let us get away with shifting the blame to others.

   Many prophets suffered and were persecuted, such as Moses, Elijah, and Jeremiah.

   A person with a reputation for exaggeration or lying often can't get anyone to believe him on his word alone.  Christians should never become like that.  Always be honest so that others will believe your simple yes or no.  By avoiding lies, half-truths, and omissions of the truth, you will become known as a trustworthy person.

MY THOUGHTS

   As we read in this text, the Day of The Lord is at hand.  We must work while there is still daylight.  What are you doing to promote God's Kingdom?  Reading His Word is a good thing, as is sharing it.

  If you have never accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, please go to the "Salvation page" (just click here:    https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html).   Jesus loves you and so do I.

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WARNING TO RICH OPPRESSORS JAMES 5: 1-6

WARNING TO RICH OPRESSORS

   Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.  Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.  Your gold and silver are corroded.  Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire.  You have hoarded wealth in the last days.  Look!  The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you.  The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.  You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence.  You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.  You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.   James 5:  1-6  (NIV)

LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE COMMENTARY



   James proclaims the worthlessness of riches, not the worthlessness of the rich.  Today's money will be worthless when Christ returns, so we should spend our time accumulating the kind of treasures that will be worthwhile in God's eternal kingdom.  Money is not the problem.  Christian leaders need money to live and to support their families;  missionaries need money to help them spread the Gospel;  churches need money to do their work effectively.  It is the love of money that leads to evil and causes some people to oppress others in order to get more.  This is a warning to all Christians who are tempted to adopt worldly standards rather than God's standards as well as an encouragement to all those who are oppressed by the rich. 

  (At the time of James' writing), poor people who could not pay their debts were thrown in prison or forced to sell all their possessions.  At times, they were even forced to sell their family members into slavery.  With no opportunity to work off their debts, poor people often died of starvation.  God calls this murder.  Hoarding money, exploiting employees, and living self-indulgently will not escape God's notice.

Matthew 6:  19-21

   Jesus said, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  (NIV)

  I am working on a way where you can contribute to this ministry if you are not already in the habit of supporting your local church.  In the Book of Malachi, God says, ..."Return to me, and I will return to you."  

"But you ask, 'How are we to return?'

"Will a man rob God?  Yet you rob me.

"But you ask, How do we rob you?'

"In tithes and offerings.  You are under a curse---the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me.  Bring the whole tithe" (tenth of your net earnings) "into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  TEST ME IN THIS", SAYS THE LORD ALMIGHTY, "AND SEE IF I WILL NOT THROW OPEN THE FLOODGATES OF HEAVEN AND POUR OUT SO MUCH BLESSINGS THAT YOU WILL NOT HAVE ROOM ENOUGH FOR IT.  I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the Lord Almighty.  "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the Lord Almighty.

  If you don't already tithe, God is looking for obedience, not sacrifice.  Sometimes just starting, even if it is just with a little, is enough to establish a great habit.

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BOASTING ABOUT TOMORROW JAMES 4:13-17

BOASTING ABOUT TOMORROW

   Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."  As it is, you boast and brag.  All such boasting is evil.  Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.  James 4: 13-17  (NIV)

LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE COMMENTARY  NIV

   It is good to have goals, but goals will disappoint us if we leave God out of them.  There is no point in making plans as though God does not exist, because the future is in His hands.  What would you like to be doing ten years from now?  One year from now?  Tomorrow?  How will you react if God steps in and rearranges your plans?  Plan ahead, but hold your plans loosely.  Put God's desires at the center of your planning; He will never disappoint you.

   Life is short no matter how many years we live.  Don't be deceived into thinking that you have lots of remaining time to live for Christ, to enjoy your loved ones, or to do what you know you should.  Live for God today!  Then, no matter when your life ends, you will have fulfilled God's plan for you.

MY THOUGHTS

  We are not guaranteed tomorrow.  If we live as though this is the last week of our lives, we will have fewer regrets when our time is finally up.  Praise God daily, for He is worthy.  Pray for peace in Jerusalem and for God's abundant blessings upon His chosen people, because God will bless those who bless them, and curse those who curse them.

SUBMIT YOURSELVES TO GOD JAMES 4:1-12

SUBMIT YOURSELVES TO GOD

   What causes fights and quarrels among you?  Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?  You want something but don't get it.  You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want.  You quarrel and fight.  You do not have, because you do not ask God.  When you ask, you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

   You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?  Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.  Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to live in us envies intensely?  But He gives us more grace.

   That is why Scripture says:

           God opposes the proud

                     but gives grace to the humble.

   Submit yourselves, then, to God,  resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.  Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify hour hearts, you double-minded.  Grieve, mourn and wail.  Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.

   Brothers, do not slander one another.  Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it.  When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.  There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy.  But you--who are you to judge your neighbor?   James 4: 1-12  (NIV)

COMMENTARY FROM LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE NIV:

   Conflicts and disputes among Believers are always harmful.  James explains that these quarrels result from evil desires battling within us--we want more possessions, more money, higher status, more recognition.  When we want badly enough to fulfill these desires, we fight in order to do so.  Instead of aggressively grabbing what we want, we should submit ourselves to God, ask God to help us get rid of our selfish desires, and trust Him to give us what we really need.

   James mentions the most common problems in prayer:  not asking, asking for the wrong things, asking for the wrong reasons.  Do you talk to God at all?  When you do, what do you talk about?  Do you ask only to satisfy your desires?  Do you seek God's approval for what you already plan to do?  Your prayers will become powerful when you allow God to change your desires so that they perfectly correspond to His will for you.

SUMMING IT UP

   It sounds to me like this is describing the difference between asking God for a Mercedes Benz versus asking Him to take away lustful desires for someone who is not your spouse.  It sounds like we are to focus on what is important to God and advancing His Kingdom rather than on what is favored in this world.  After all, we are just passing through.

TWO KINDS OF WISDOM JAMES 3: 13-18

TWO KINDS OF WISDOM

  Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.  But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from Heaven, but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.  For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

   But the wisdom that comes from Heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.  James 3:  13-18   (NIV)

LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE   NIV

   Notes from the Life Application Study Bible reads as follows:  "Have you ever know anyone who claimed to be wise but who acted foolishly?  True wisdom can be measured by the depth of a person's character.  Just as you can identify a tree by the type of fruit it produces, you can evaluate your wisdom by the way you act.  Foolishness leads to disorder, but wisdom leads to peace and goodness.  Are you tempted to escalate the conflict, pass on the gossip, or fan the fire of discord?  Careful, winsome speech and wise, loving words are the seeds of peace.  God loves peacemakers.  Matthew 5:9

   "Bitter envy and selfish ambition" are inspired by the Devil.  It is easy for us to be drawn into wrong desires by the pressures of society and sometimes even by well-meaning Christians.  By listening to the advice:  "Assert yourself," "Go for it," Set high goals,"  we can be drawn into greed and destructive competitiveness.  Seeking God's wisdom delivers us from the need to compare ourselves to others and to want what they have."

 

MY THOUGHTS

   This is consistent with all we have already studied.  This passage does not imply that we are to be lazy, but it cautions us on "selfish" ambition.  We are not to step on others or abuse others on our way to where we want to be.  We are to work for our own success rather than coveting the success from others.
The Devil wants to stir up greed and covetousness.  We need to test the spirits.  Job attained his wealth by obeying God, not by bitter envy and selfish ambition. 

TAMING THE TONGUE JAMES 3:1-12

TAMING THE TONGUE
JAMES 3: 1 - 12

photo courtesy of Wikipedia

   1) Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.  2) We all stumble in many ways.  If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

   3) When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.  4) Or take ships as an example.  Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.  5) Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.  Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.  6) The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.  It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

   7) All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8) but no man can tame the tongue.  It is a  restless evil, full of deadly poison.

   9) With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.  10) Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.  My brothers, this should not be. 11)  Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12)  My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?  Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.  James 3: 1-12  (NIV)

LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE NOTES

   What you say and what you don't say are both important.  Proper speech is not only saying the right words at the right time, but it is also controlling your desire to say what you shouldn't. 

Examples of an untamed tongue include gossiping, putting others down, bragging, manipulating, false teaching, exaggerating, complaining, flattering, and lying.  Before you speak, ask,"Is what I want to say true?  Is it necessary?  Is it kind?

   James compares the damage the tongue can do to a raging fire--the tongue's wickedness has its source in hell itself.  The uncontrolled tongue can do terrible damage.  Satan uses the tongue to divide people and pit them against one another.  Idle and hateful words are damaging because they spread destruction quickly, and no one can stop the results once they are spoken.  We dare not be careless with what we say, thinking we can apologize later, because even if we do, the scars remain.  A few words spoken in anger can destroy a relationship that took years to build.  Before you speak, remember that words are like fire---you can neither control nor reverse the damage they can do.

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FAITH AND DEEDS JAMES 2:14-26

JAMES 2:  14 - 26

FAITH AND DEEDS

   What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?  Can such faith save him?  Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well;  keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

   "But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."

   Show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith by what I do.  You believe that there is one God.  Good!  Even the demons believe that---and shudder.

  You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?  Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?  You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.  And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God's friend.  You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

   In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?  As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.   James 2: 14-26 (NIV)

MY COMMENTARY

   I really think these verses are self explanatory.   James means only that righteous action is evidence of genuine faith---not that it gives eternal life.    Only faith in Jesus Christ saves your eternal soul.

LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE COMMENTARY

   At first glance, James 2:18 seems to contradict Romans 3:28, "man is justified by faith apart from observing the law."  Deeper investigation, however, shows that the teachings of James and Paul are not at odds.  While it is true that our good deeds can never earn salvation, true faith always result in a changed life and good deeds.  Paul speaks against those who try to be saved by deeds instead of true faith;  James speaks against those who confuse mere intellectual assent with true faith.  After all, even demons know who Jesus is, but they don't obey Him.  True faith involves a commitment of your whole self to God.


What about you?  Have you accepted the gift that Jesus so freely gave of salvation?  The dispensation of grace is about to close, and then the tribulation will occur.  If you want to know more about salvation, click this link to our "Pathway to Salvation" page:  (click here:  https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html).  There are so many blessings when you are in God's will.  Thank you so much for allowing us to share this post with you.

FAVORITISM FORBIDDEN JAMES 2: 1-13

FAVORITISM FORBIDDEN

   My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus, don't show favoritism.  Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.  If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

  Listen, my dear brothers:  Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?  But you have insulted the poor.  Is it not the rich who are exploiting you?  Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?  Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of Him to whom you belong?

   If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself", you are doing right.  But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.  For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.  For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not commit murder."  If you do not commit adultery but DO commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

   Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.  Mercy triumphs over judgment!  James 2:1-13 (NIV)

COMMENTARY FROM STUDY BIBLE

   The Life Application Study Bible has a lot to say on these verses, including: 

"Why is it wrong to judge a person by his or her economic status?  Wealth may indicate intelligence, wise decisions, and hard work.  On the other hand, it may mean only that a person had the good fortune of being born into a wealthy family.  Or it can even be the sign of greed, dishonesty, and selfishness. 

  We are often partial to the rich because we mistakenly assume that riches are a sign of God's blessing and approval.  But God does not promise us earthly rewards or riches; in fact, Christ calls us to be ready to suffer for him and give up everything in order to hold on to eternal life.

  When James speaks about the poor, he is talking about those who have no money and also about those whose simple values are despised by much of our affluent society.  Perhaps the "poor" people prefer serving to managing, human relationships to financial security, and peace to power.  This does not mean that the poor will automatically go to Heaven and the rich to Hell.  Poor people, however, are usually more aware of their powerlessness.  Thus it is often easier for them to acknowledge their need for salvation."

FAMILY MOTTO

  Years ago, I learned that some folks developed a motto for their lives.  I thought that was a good idea, so I developed one for me and my family:  "People before profit, relationships before possessions."  Rare is the time that  anyone said they needed something that I had and walked away empty handed.

My bank account may not be the fattest in the country, but, looking in the mirror, I sleep very well at night.  Make no mistake, I am not saying I'm perfect.  I make bad choices just like the next guy.  When I do, though, I pick myself up, focus on Jesus, and try again.  You only fail when you quit trying, right?

   How about you?  Would you like the "peace that transcends all understanding"?  Would you like to sleep better at night?  Cast your cares upon Jesus.  He is the Prince of Peace. 

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LISTENING AND DOING JAMES 1: 19-27

LISTENING AND DOING

   My dear brothers, take note of this:  Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.  Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept The Word planted in you, which can save you.

   Do not merely listen to The Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what It says.  Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what It says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.

   If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.  Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:  to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.  James 1: 19-27 (NIV)

LOOK IN THE MIRROR

  "...is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."  I got to thinking about this statement.  We all have to live with ourselves.  Are we living a life that makes it hard for us to face ourselves in the mirror?  I know there is so much I want to improve on.  Now, I don't know if that is what this verse means, but it is so appropriate.

  Looking intently into the perfect law and practicing it to it's full meaning is so hard. The perfect law is not just the 10 commandments.  Listening to Jesus explain the 10 commandments, we realize that there is more to it:  Such as when He compares anger to murder, right?  But just striving to keep the perfect law makes it easier to face myself in the mirror.  The Law was given to convict us, not to discourage us.  Once we are convicted of our sin (through The Law), we can repent and be washed of our sins and our sentence!  Jesus paid our debt for us and He will sanctify us.

LIVE LIKE YOU MEAN IT

  The Life Application Study Bible NIV says it like this, "When we give with no hope of receiving in return, we show what it means to serve others." 

 Of course, this is also when we deposit in our Heavenly account.

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PERSEVERANCE UNDER TRIAL JAMES 1:12-18

PERSEVERANCE UNDER TRIAL
JAMES 1: 12-18

   Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

   When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me."  For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.  Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

   Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  He chose to give us birth through the Word of Truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created.  James 1:12-18

 MY THOUGHTS ON THESE VERSES

      I started to add verse twelve to verses 9-11, which I probably should have done.  It is just as true with verses 12-18 as with 9-11.  Our reward as born again Christians for living as a reflection of God is the crown of life.

   However, we are all tempted.  Whether we see Satan tempting us as Satan did to Jesus when He was fasting in the dessert, or if we see Satan tempting us as a television show, or as a friend trying to get us to do wrong, or as our own thoughts because we are in a place where we know we should not be, we are all tempted.

   One of the biggest no-no's I have seen that we don't seem to identify is that "thou shalt not covet".  We all know not to lie, murder, commit adultery, but most of us don't give a second thought to coveting.  Television and radio commercials have a knack of telling us that we "deserve" this or that.  Well, we don't deserve ANYTHING.  God has given us life, mercy, and grace.  We don't deserve it.  We deserve death, as we were born into sin due to our ancestry of Adam and Eve.
   Let me say it another way:  we are born black, in the flesh, if our ancestors are black; we are born oriental, in the flesh, if our ancestors are oriental.  We are born sinners, in the spirit, since our ancestors are sinners.  People are both flesh and spirit.

BIBLE COMMENTARY

   "Temptation comes from evil desires inside us, not from God." (The spirit inside the flesh.)  "It begins with an evil thought and becomes sin when we dwell on the thought and allow it to become an action.  Like a snowball rolling downhill, sin grows more destructive the more we let it have its way.  The best time to stop a temptation is before it is too strong or moving too fast to control.
   People who live for God often wonder why they still have temptations.  Does God tempt them?  God tests people, but He does not tempt them by trying to seduce them into sin.  God allows Satan to tempt people, however, in order to refine their faith and to help them grow in their dependence of Christ.  We can resist the temptation to sin by turning to God for strength and choosing to obey His Word.

   Do you know Jesus, The only Way to salvation?  Click here for more information:    https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

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JAMES 1-8 TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS

JAMES 1: 1 - 8

TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS


      2) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3) because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  4) Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5) If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  6) But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt" (not only believing in the existence of God, but also believing in His loving care),"because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  7) That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8) he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.  

JOYFULLY ENDURING TRIALS

   Those words don't sound right when said together:  joyfully enduring trials.  The news reports are always revealing someone's trials:  the husband, whose wife drowned their five children; the mothers, whose sons were tortured and murdered; the father who lost his job and his family was evicted from their home; the families of the 911 killings; etc.  Then, there is the story that isn't reported in the news.  MY daughter has cancer, MY husband was in a car accident, I lost MY job.  Joyfully enduring trials--what in the world could James possibly be thinking?!?

   But there it is.  The Life Application Study Bible explains in their commentary.  I will start with 1:2-4.  "We can't really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure.  It is easy to be kind to others when everything is going well, but can we still be kind when others are treating us unfairly?  God wants to make us mature and complete, not to keep us from all pain.  Instead of complaining about our struggles, we should see them as opportunities for growth.  Thank God for promising to be with you in rough times.  Ask Him to help you solve your problems or to give you the strength to endure them.  Then be patient.  God will not leave you alone with your problems; He will stay close and help you grow."

   "Wisdom means practical discernment, it begins with respect for God, leads to right living, and results in increased ability to tell right from wrong.  God is willing to give us this wisdom, but we will be unable to receive it if our goals are self-centered instead of God-centered.  To learn God's will, we need to read His Word and ask Him to show us how to obey it.  Then we must do what He tells us."  Life Application Study Bible James 1:5

MY COMMENTS

   The ability to tell right from wrong:  that means there are absolutes!  In the present age, many believe that everything is relevant.  God says there are absolutes and He wants us to know what they are.  How can we have the courage of Rachael Scott if we aren't in His Word constantly?  (She was the first victim of the Columbine Massacre on April 20, 1999.  She was killed for her faith in Jesus.)  We are living in the last days, and we really need to be prepared.  We need to focus on the spiritual because that is the only thing we will leave this world with.

   Now is the time to accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for your sins and be assured that your name is written in The Lamb's Book of Life. Click this link:   http://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html).

   What are your thoughts?  How have you endured through trials and temptations?  We welcome your comments. Let us know if you do NOT want your comments published.

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