JAMES: Faith Proven by Behavior; "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!"

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)

During the time that the apostle Paul wrote his letters to the churches in Ephesus, Philippi, Colosse and to Philemon, James wrote his letter to Jews living among Gentiles, around A.D. 62.  James was the oldest half-brother of Jesus (Matthew 13:55). After Christ's resurrection and ascension back to heaven, both of which he witnessed (I Corinthians 15:7; Acts 1:9), he became a Christian and a leader of the believers in Jerusalem, while also helping the Gentile converts to Christianity (Acts 15:13-19).*

The book of James is believed to be the first New Testament book written, sometime between 46 A.D. and 62 A.D., before he was martyred. God, through James, focuses more on the ethical aspect of the Christian life.  He appeals to believers that it is necessary to put outward actions with inward faith, or else the opposite kind of faith will accomplish nothing.* (*Notes from Srong's Key Word Study Bible)

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:

Greetings. (James 1:1) 

The main lessons James taught in this first chapter are:

- understand the purpose of trials in our lives; My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 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. (James 1:1-5) Just as Paul told the church in Rome, ...knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:3-5) "We want the testimony with out the 'test', but that's not going to happen.  

One of the hardest scriptures to swallow is: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (James 1:2-3)  It's very difficult when going through a tempting or trial situation to see the "joy" in it, but God instructs us to see it that way.  Wiser adults have said that "if you're not being tempted or tried, the Devil's not bothering you because he knows he already has you."  Christ taught us to have this same attitude, when people treat us who are Christians in a way we don't deserve: “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12)

We all have to go through, and we all will overcome trials through faith in Christ Jesus, even if our overcoming doesn't come until this life is over and we enter into eternity. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:... But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:35,39) For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21) No matter what we go through on this side, what's coming is better, For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (II Corinthians 2:17-18)

- pray in faith, believing Go will answer if we pray according to His Will and live according to His Word; 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. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:6-8) The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but He loves him who follows righteousness. (Proverbs 15:8-9) Our prayers have to be more than just lip-service.  We have to be Christians, children of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for Him to hear us an then answer us, according to His Will.

Oftentimes it's hard for us to pray because we don't have faith that our prayers will be answered: 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. 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. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5-7) It's amazing we who are Christians don't believe we will have our prayers answered.  Could it be because most times we know we are not praying according to the will of God? Jesus taught us how to pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)

Prayer is not supposed to be "God, do this for me" focused, but it's supposed to be focused on God and then asking Him to do for us what He already knows we need.  Jesus warns before He teaches this prayer to not pray simply going through the motions and saying a whole bunch of words that don't mean anything: And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. (Matthew 6:7) But when we pray, ...whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:22) Why? Because ...If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. (John 15:7) If God's Word is in us, we will pray as we ought because we will desire what God desires for us, and therefore Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

- don't think of ourselves more highly than we should; 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) Surely men of low degree are a vapor, men of high degree are a lie; if they are weighed on the scales, they are altogether lighter than vapor. Do not trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them. (Psalm 62:9-10)  For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not tothink of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)

- don't give into temptation, because God does not tempt; 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)  

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being. (I Corinthians 10:23-24) We all want to do what we want to do, but not everything we want to do we should do.  Anything we want to do that God has said in His Word is a sin or unlawful or an abomination or some other phrase He may use to say it's wrong, those things are temptations, and 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)

- new life comes through the Word of God; 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) He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:10-13)  

- obey the Word of God, not just listen to it; 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. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 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 1:19-25) 

God does not want to punish us, but to save us, for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God!  We have to get that Truth in our spirit.  ...God our Savior,... desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (I Timothy 2:3-4) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (II Peter 3:9)  For those of us who have accepted God's free gift of salvation, we must not be a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, who hopefully help to lead as many as we can to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

- and check our behavior, if it is pleasing to 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)  Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. (Psalm 141:3) We must be mindful of what we say and how we treat others, especially those who have legitimate needs, orphans and widows.  Words are powerful, but actions speak louder than words!

We've only gotten through the first chapter, and there's so much more to learn...