Into Thy Word Bible Study in James

Into Thy Word Ministries www.intothyword.org

James 1:1-4 Seeking Jesus to Deal with Problems!

The general idea: James begins his Epistle in a very direct and blunt way. He
tells us that the key to dealing with our problems is to keep our eyes upon Christ,
allowing Him to be not only Savior but also Lord. James is addressing the new
Church that was starting to become complacent when suddenly Steven was
martyred (Acts 7:54-60). A wake up call is being pronounced that Christianity is
dangerous and requires a level of faith that some may not be willing to give.
Hardy anyone in the first century thought that becoming a Christian could bring
loss and suffering, they were only seeing the liberation from the Law. James is
saying that our faith is not to be cheap and he gives us a warning that trials are
coming so we had better be prepared for them!

For us to survive suffering and grow in maturity, we must have a real,

authentic faith. Our eyes must be on Him as well as our trust and faith. God must
have us in Him, all of us—every aspect (Phil. 3)! Why do we need to allow
ourselves to surrender to Him? One of the reasons that James implies is that
problems are not an “if,” they are a “when!” We will face problems; they are
inevitable, unavoidable, and unpredictable, and no one is immune! How we deal
with them is crucial for our contentment and faith. We cannot deal with them
effectively without Christ as Lord! He gives us the attitude of joy and the ability to
persevere! This attitude of joy is also a key attribute for an athlete in order to
excel on the field as well as for a Christian to grow in the Lord. What will you do?
Surrender to Him or live unto yourself (Job 14:1; Psalm 34:14; John 3:30; 2 Cor.
4:7-12; Gal. 2:20-21; 1 Peter 4:12)?

James simply tells us we can actually profit from trials. The key is for us to
look to Christ, not to our situation, and declare our circumstances as joy. We are
to be content and satisfied, to face them, and then learn and grow from them.
This does not mean to give up and do nothing; it means to refocus our energies
into productivity and faith—not questions and bitterness. It is to have our
convictions and fulfillment in Christ, not circumstances. So, when something very
difficult comes upon us, we will have the great comfort that God is in control and
will not allow us to carry more than we can tolerate.

Vs. 1 a: James starts out his book by massive humbleness in confessing who
Jesus is. James is so indebted to his Lord and Savior, that he calls himself a
slave to Jesus. He is not speaking of one who is in forced bondage, rather one
who has been freed and still desires to serve Jesus with all of his life and
strength, to glorify Him. James realized that his life and purpose was all about
who God is, and not who he is (Psalm 15; 101; 2 Thess. 1:12; Titus 2:13; 2 Peter
1:1).
• James is a form of Jacob (Gen. 49) (see introductory article).

• Bondservant, in Greek times, meant the lowest form of a slave, totally at the
master’s disposal and even expendable. They rowed the boats of war with a
whip at their back (Rom. 9:3). This is a profound testimony for James (1 Cor.
15:3-8)! For us, it means total, surrendered devotion to the Lord; our will has
been sacrificed to God's will and thus we are totally at the disposal of our
Lord (Acts 6:1-6; Rom. 12:7; Gal. 1:15; 2:20; Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 2:8-3:13; 4:6)!

Vs. 1b: James desire was to communicate with passion, conviction, clarity, and
truth, the key essential issues facing them as Apostles, as Churches, and as
followers of Christ. These are the same issues we have today.

• Twelve tribes, refers to all those who are Jewish. At this time (and still in ours)
ten out of the twelve tribes are scattered and lost. It can also refer to all
Christians, since, as Christians, we are spiritually grafted in as Jews (Rom.
11:17-21; 1 Peter 1:1).

Vs. 2: We are to look at whatever situation we face and say this is good, this will
better me, or this will help me. I may not understand it, but I can trust God; He is
there and He will carry me through it! We are called to declare our situation,
whatever it may be, as joy! Because, it is not a question of if we have problems
but when, as we all will face them. There is no escape living in our corporeal
bodies and in a sinful world (Gal. 3:26; Col. 3:1-4)!!

• Brethren means “fellow believers,” as a respectful and endearing greeting.

• As Christians, we are all bothers and sisters under God. We are family, and
need to treat others in Him with the same reverence and endearment as
Christ has given us!

• Count it joy refers to declaring our situation as happy and fulfilling. It is to

change our mindset and focus. It is realizing the sovereignty of God and that
He is in control, even when life seems to be turned upside down and inside
out!

• Joy will allow us to enjoy our relationship with Christ, His creation, and others,
regardless of our circumstances, with an expression of delight and real,
authentic happiness that comes from and with harmony with God and others.
(Psalm 32:7-9; Proverbs 15:13; John 15:11; 17:13; 2 Cor. 12:9; 1 Peter 4:13-
19; Heb 10:34)

• Joy helps us understand God’s perspective and gives us the confidence and
patience to endure anything!
• Joy is not happiness, because we may not be content and pleased with it;
rather, joy is hope; it is our hope. It is not a meager wish, rather the
unshakable confidence in our future in Christ. Our pleasure comes from
knowing He is in charge and caring for us (Psalm 34:1-8; 1 Thess. 5:18)!

• Trials refer to persecution, but can also refer to any harsh circumstance that
is not under our control, such as adversity or some temptations like lust and
greed (they creep up, but we can still deal with temptations). It also refers, in
this context, to poverty—oppression that the poor experience, not as any fault
of their own (James 1:9-11; 2:5-6; 5:1-6)!

• Testing refers to the circumstances that God allows so we will learn

perseverance, produce our fruit, and prove and develop our faith further. This
gives us our maturity, our character, and enables our fruit to benefit others.
These are for our direct benefit and growth that He works out for our benefit
and for His glory (Romans 5:3; chap. 8).

We need to realize that we have no control over what happens to us at times,

whether it be trials, suffering, setbacks, injury, sickness, or death of a loved one.
We only have control of our attitude and response. We are called to choose to
declare our situation joy! We cannot change our circumstances; however, we can
accept them by learning and growing from them (Isa. 26:3). It does no good to
complain, to fret, or to be angry or bitter, as these things do neither others nor us
any good. All that complaining just escalates the situation and blinds us to our
ability to be better and not bitter! Real, authentic, Christian maturity will grow as a
result of our problems. They will strengthen us and make us better, stronger, and
able to get over things faster and get on with our lives. Then, we will be able to
be of better use to God and to others.

Vs. 3-4: Our Lord comforts us with the assurance that when we go through tough
stuff, even testing and trials, we will be better for it! Our setbacks and sufferings
will produce greater character and maturity in us; we will gain patience and our
faith will grow and be strengthened. When we see Christ, we have confidence
that we will be complete.

• Patience is “staying power.” It is like perseverance and the endurance to not

give up; it is about actively overcoming our situation—not just sitting,
accepting, and doing nothing (Hos. 2:19-23; Psalm 33:20; Matt. 27:14; Rom.
5:3; 12:12; Gal. 5:1; 6:9; Col. 1:11; James 1:3-4,12; 5:10-11)!

• Stoic philosophy, popular then, states that we can control our responses but
not our fate. Thus, we have no choice but to be content.

• Our faith and learning leads to our growth and development that further leads
to helping others in their situations (Romans 5:3-5; 8:28; James 1:14-15; 1
Peter 1:5-7).
 Patience will help allow us to receive and participate in God’s love
because it builds loyalty and faithfulness, as in the life of Hosea. It will take us
beyond our comfort zone, into an area we do not want to go. Yet, when we do,
we are better and more able to be used by God and to be available for others.
Patience is not an excuse to do nothing, as it requires an action and a response;
so, wait for the right time and in the meanwhile learn and grow! Patience is
looking to hope and a time when there will be no more tears (Rev. 7:17; 21:4),
and when we will fully realize the wondrous purpose for which God created us.
Patience is not a finished product; it is a “beta site.” That means it is in process
and waiting for updated design, refit, and then placement! Patience also needs
persistence, to which this passage testifies (1 John 3:1-3)!

Applying His Precepts to our life!

There are two ways most people deal with trials; the first is to ignore them,
and the second is to panic. The first group can think all they want that, well, that
will never happen to me, but it will. The others can panic all they want, but panic
never solved anything. We have to literally change our mindset and consider the
trials as Joy. We are to take our lead from biblical considerations and the leading
of the Spirit—not the leading of ignorance or panic. This means we will see trials
from God's perspective and not ours or the worlds. Trials do not mean despair;
they mean opportunity and growth. They have a purpose. They are not God’s
original plan, but are, however, the one we have now because of sin. Do not
despair; we have the assurance of God's providential care. We have the
assurance of God's love, and that He is indeed in control!

Why do we struggle? To produce and enhance our faith, character and

excellence! If not, we produce despair from our callousness, carelessness, and
laziness. Just like in building muscles, it takes work. A bodybuilder or an
Olympian needs to work out several hours a day several days a week to compete
and succeed. A Christian needs to do the same in His Word; so, we can choose
to grow deeper in Him or not. Just be aware. If we do not, we will just sit on the
sidelines as the game of life passes us by and the carnal life takes us over (Rom.
8:1-11)! Our working out in our faith through struggle and trials means our
triumph and growth (Rom. 8:31-39). No, we do not like trials; we never need seek
them because they will always seek us. However, for our benefit and others’
encouragement and mentoring, we may as well let them teach and train us for
our Lord’s Glory. Otherwise our impulsiveness and self-interests will distract us
from our Lord and His plan. We may just keep repeating the problem until we
learn what we need to learn! If not, we gain nothing but despair, and how sad
that would be! We do not need material things and our ways fulfilled to make us
complete. Jesus makes us complete. He is perfect and His perfection covers us
and makes us whole!
The Essential Inductive Questions (for more Inductive questions see Inductive
Bible Study):

1. What does this passage say?

2. What does this passage mean?

3. What is God telling me? How am I encouraged and strengthened?

4. Is there a sin in my life that needs to be confessed and repented?

5. How can I be changed so I can learn and grow?

6. What is in the way from these precepts affecting me? What is in the way of
my listening to God?

7. How does this apply to me? What will I do about it?

8. What can I model and teach? What does God want me to share with
someone?

Additional Questions:

1. What do you do when a problem develops? What should you do?

2. What is patience to you? What would your life and relationships look like with
more patience?

3. What is God trying to impress upon you from this passage?

4. What does trusting in God mean to you? What should it mean?

5. Do you depend on yourself or others to solve your problems, or God?

6. What is the balance between the effort you are to put in and your reliance on
Christ to see you through a trial?

7. Read and contrast Psalm 142:1-7 and Romans 8:28.

8. How can problems work for your good?

9. What has happened when you have just looked at your situation and not
Christ?

10. How can declaring your situation as joy be of benefit to you?

11. Read 1 John 3:1-3. How does hope play a significant factor in your trust in
Christ and faith development? How can hope and joy help you more?

12. What is a problem you are going through now? What can you learn? How can
you handle it better? How can you grow from it?

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

The Serenity Prayer

GOD, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage
to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Living ONE
DAY AT A TIME; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardship as the
pathway to peace. Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have
it. Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may
be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with Him forever in the
next. Amen (Reinhold Neibuhr-1926)