But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:22, 25)
In the previous study, we studied the following: understand the purpose of trials in our lives (James 1:1-5); pray in faith, believing Go will answer if we pray according to His will (James 1:6-8). We need to expound on the remaining lessons in this first chapter of the book of James: don't think of ourselves more highly than we should (James 1:9-11); don't give into temptation, because God does not tempt (James 1:12-16); new life comes through the Word of God (James 1:17-18); obey they Word of God, not just listen to it (James 1:19-25); and check our behavior, if it is pleasing to God (James 1:26-27).
Many people feel if they had more they would be happier, but just as Paul taught us to be content with what we have (Philippians 4:11-13), James also explains to us why we ought not to get caught up feeling bad if we don't have much or in feeling better than others if we have a lot, because neither will last: Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For 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. (James 1:9-11); The LORD makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. (I Samuel 2:7); There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches. (Proverbs 13:7)
How is it the poor can be exalted and the rich humiliated? As Jesus explains: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3) He's speaking of our spiritual condition. When we realize that we are nothing (poor) without God, then we can be lifted up, but if we feel we have all we need without God (rich), then in the end we will discover we have nothing: “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, ... Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. (Deuteronomy 8:18-19) God does not have a problem with us becoming rich because He is the One who blessed those who are to become wealthy. The problem is allowing the wealth to take the place of God in our lives. We must make sure we do not allow that to happen, because For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. (Luke 12:48, 42-48)
As we've studied so far, we will be tempted and tried in our faith of God, we will have doubts in our prayer life, and we will envy those who have more than us; these feelings are natural, but we can overcome them through the power of the Holy Spirit in us, and we can not allow this to cause us to give into various temptations: 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. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. (James 1:12-16)
There is no excuse or moral justification for giving into temptation. We are to obey everything that God commands us because it gives us "life". The end result of disobeying God leads to death, no matter how small we feel the thing is, it grows into something that can get out of control. We've often heard and probably said our selves, "I couldn't help myself." That's a lie, because No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (I Corinthians 10:13) We have the power in us to do the Will of God, His Holy Spirit. He would never ask of us anything that He Himself hasn't equipped us to do. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30) God gives us "life", not just in the physical but the spiritual also.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 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 1:17-18) These verses are so wealthy with information, it's difficult to summarize. John the Baptist reiterated this: John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. (John 3:27)
We receive many gifts from God: As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. (Ecclesiastes 5:19); Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38) But the greatest gift of all is eternal life God has given us through His Son, Christ Jesus: But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! (Acts 8:20); Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” (John 4:10); For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
How do we receive such an awesome gift? Believe the Word of God, the Word of Truth, the Word of Life: “Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe—all the words of this law. For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land... (Deuteronomy 32:46-47); He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, But he who refuses correction goes astray. (Proverbs 10:17); But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ [Deuteronomy 8:3] ” (Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4); As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, [in the wilderness] and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” (John 6:57-58)
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (James 1:19-20) It's so hard to listen attentively, and not speak. In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise. (Proverbs 10:19); Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive. (Proverbs 17:28) The most important thing we can hear is the Word of God: How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent [by God]? (Romans 10:14-15); But He [Jesus] said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28); But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22)
As we proceed to "do" the will of God, we must make sure we behave in such a way that correctly represents God: If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (James 1:26-27); Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For 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. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (I John 2:15-17)
God and Christ Jesus should be first in our lives; studying God's Word daily should be a priority; then we will know how to treat each other, which we will study more in the next chapter...
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