Week 1 - James 1:1-11
The Point: Trials in our life reveal God’s kindness to us.
James 1:1-11
James, a servant of
God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve
tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings.
2 Count it all joy,
my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the
testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its
full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 If any of you
lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach,
and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the
one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9 Let the lowly
brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because
like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its
scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty
perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
The Holy Bible:
English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), James 1:1–11.
Study
Notes
This week we begin
our study in the book of James. The book of James is a practical and concise
letter written by James, the half-brother of Jesus. Once a skeptic, James was
transformed when he encountered the risen Savior.
As the leader of the
first-century church found in Jerusalem, he writes to the dispersed Jewish
believers, offering them heartfelt greetings and encouragement. You can almost
feel the emotion of a pastor writing to those who were at one time members of
his local church. They were dispersed, or “scattered among the nations,”
because of the persecution of the Christians in Jerusalem.
James immediately
sets the tone for his readers in their walk of faith, urging them to view
trials as opportunities for growth. Our journey in this life isn’t promised to
be smooth but paved with potholes and detours that test our faith. James
reminds us that the trials we encounter can develop perseverance, character,
and spiritual maturity if we approach them with the right attitude.
Trials Grow Our Faith
Trials are like the
crucible in which our faith is tested and refined. They challenge the core of
our beliefs, pushing us to confront our doubts and fears. Yet, it’s within the
depths of these trials that our faith finds fertile ground to grow. As we navigate
hard seasons, difficult circumstances, and maybe even question what God is
doing, we come to a place where our faith can grow. Each trial we face becomes
another opportunity to deepen our dependence on God. Through
trials, our faith transcends from mere belief to a living, breathing
relationship with the Divine. We find ourselves grounded in trust and
anchored in the assurance that, no matter the circumstances, God is with us,
leading us ever closer to His heart.
Trials
Show Us Who God is.
Trials serve as a
lens through which we witness the goodness of God amidst adversity. In the
middle of life’s storms, God’s goodness shines brightest as He provides
comfort, strength, and guidance. Even when circumstances seem bleak, His
presence remains constant, offering hope and assurance. Through trials, we come
to understand that His goodness isn’t contingent on our circumstances, but
rather it’s an intrinsic part of His character, manifested in His unwavering
love and faithfulness towards us. Even when we go through seasons brought on by
our own sin and disobedience, God is there with us and for us. As we walk
through trials, we discover God works all things together for our ultimate
good, demonstrating His goodness in every season of life.
Trials
Remind Us Who We Are
As we go through
the difficulties of life, our limitations and desperate need for God’s presence
and guidance in our lives become evident. In the face of adversity, we often
come face to face with our own inadequacies and weaknesses. Yet, it’s in these
moments of trials we are reminded that we do not have the strength or wisdom to
get through the circumstance on our own. Trials strip away the illusions
of self-sufficiency and reveal the truth of our reliance on Him. These inadequacies should
compel us to turn to God and acknowledge our need for His comfort, provision,
and direction. Trials serve as humbling reminders of who we
are in relation to God and how deeply we need Him in every aspect of our
lives.
Questions
for Discussion
Although it may
sound overly simple to state God is good, why is this specific quality a
necessary truth to embrace when going through a difficult circumstance?
What does this
passage reveal about God’s goodness? How do trials show us who God is?
How would you
describe the difference between trials and temptations? What is the result of
each of these?
In verse 4 James
says, “And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and
complete, lacking in nothing.” Unpack what this means. What does it mean for
steadfastness to have its full effect? What does it mean to make us perfect and
complete, lacking in nothing?
What promises or
benefits did James say result from trials? How do trials provide a pathway to
Christian maturity? How do trials make you aware of your need for God?
Two major struggles
in relation to trials are doubt and comparison. How would you describe the
struggle of doubt? The struggle of comparison? How can each of these struggles
rob us of the joy we’re supposed to have?
What trial or
temptation are you currently facing that you need God’s wisdom for? How will
you seek Him in this?
END
Teacher Notes:
The song Jesus Take
the Wheel resonates with people who have tried to live their life on their own
terms, often with devastating results.
If we travel
through life on our own terms, we will crash either emotionally, physically, or
mentally, but always spiritually.
The Christian life
is one of constant submission of our way to God’s way. It’s a tug-of-war
between letting Jesus take the wheel in our life and wrestling it away from Him
thinking we know better. There can only be one person in the driver’s seat, and
we’re not willing to let that person be Jesus – many times. We are often
backseat drivers trying to argue with Jesus about how we should live, or we
push Him completely out of our life and just take over the wheel ourselves.
This is James’ opening
message to us today!
James
1:1-4
James, a servant of
God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve
tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings.
Count it all joy,
my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the
testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have
its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Steadfastness
·
the quality of being resolute or firm and unwavering.
· the quality of staying the same for a long time and not changing quickly
or unexpectedly.
·
firmness in purpose, resolution, and faith.
James
1:5-8
If any of you lacks
wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it
will be given him. But let him ask in
faith, with no doubting, (steadfast) for the one who
doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will
receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his
ways.
Remember the 6
Steps of the Journey of Faith?
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
The Wall represents
the trials, struggles, losses, battles, suffering, and disappointments we will
face on our life’s faith journey.
Welcome to the
journey of faith as described by James.
What are
the lessons we learn at the wall?
1. The Wall Reminds Us Who We Are. What do we learn about ourselves?
·
We begin to see our own inadequacies and weaknesses.
·
We begin to see our desperate need for God’s presence and guidance in our
lives.
· We realize that we don’t have the strength or wisdom to get through the
circumstance on our own.
Trials strip away
the illusions of self-sufficiency and reveal the truth of our reliance on God. These
can be and should be humbling reminders of who we are in relation to God and
how deeply we need Him in every aspect of our lives.
2. The Wall Shows Us Who God is. What do we learn about God?
The wall challenges
the core of our beliefs, pushing us to confront our doubts and fears. Yet, it’s
within the depths of these trials that our faith finds fertile ground to grow.
We rediscover who
God really is in our lives. This is where we surrender our ideas, control, and
ego.
If we can commit to
this process, no matter what, we will not recognize ourselves on the other side
of the Wall.
2 Corinthians 5:17
says, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has
gone, the new is here!
We learn to accept
that deep change is necessary, and God works with us to expose idols and egos
and His Heart in pursuit of our own. We begin to reconstruct our relationship
with God based on intimacy, and a new sense of self-realization leads to more profound
God-realization.
3.
The Wall Will Grow Our Faith
How does the wall
grow our faith?
If you choose to
submit to the work of the wall. God will build you up, so let Him work. The
goal of spiritual endurance is spiritual maturity.
One way is life’s experience: When a person says, ‘I wish I knew then what
I know now’, they mean they have learned during their lifetime, learned from
their mistakes, become wiser and, if in the past, they had had the wisdom and
knowledge they have now, they would have lived their life differently and made
better decisions. They mature in their faith from the trials they experience.
Another way is God’s experience: Each trial we face becomes another
opportunity to deepen our dependence on God. And our faith transcends from mere
belief to a living, breathing relationship with the Divine.
We find ourselves
grounded in trust and anchored in the assurance that, no matter the
circumstances, God is with us, leading us ever closer to His heart. Things
begin to happen that we cannot explain, and we know that this is God.
In the middle of
life’s storms, God’s goodness shines brightest as He provides comfort,
strength, and guidance. Even when circumstances seem bleak, His presence
remains constant, offering hope and assurance.
Even when we go
through seasons brought on by our own sin and disobedience, God is there with
us and for us. As we walk through trials, we discover God works all things
together for our ultimate good, demonstrating His goodness in every season of
life.
James says to count
it all joy when we come to the wall.
Why would he say
that?
Our Lesson Says
The Wall in our
life reveals God’s kindness to us.
How do you see this
as true?
Answer this
question.
What’s more important: The wedding or the marriage that follows?
To have a lasting
marriage the couple will need to do more than celebrate their love, they will
have to live out their love.
Let’s switch the
picture to our faith. A lot of people celebrate they believe in Jesus and
follow that with baptism. But we must do more than express our faith; we must
live our faith.
Knowing what you
believe is one thing.
Living it
is greater.
This will be James’
message throughout his letter.
Did you know that
the book of James almost didn’t make it into the Bible. Why?
Some think that James
was written in response to an overzealous interpretation of Paul’s teaching
regarding faith. This extreme view, called antinomianism, held that through
faith in Christ one is completely free from all Old Testament law, all
legalism, all secular law, and all the morality of a society.
Martin Luther
detested this letter and called it “the epistle of straw.” He failed to
recognize that James’s teaching on works complemented — not contradicted —
Paul’s teaching on faith. Paul’s teachings concentrated on our justification
with God, James’ teachings concentrate on the works that exemplify that
justification. James was writing to Jews to encourage them to continue growing
in this new Christian faith. James emphasizes that good actions will naturally
flow from those who are filled with the Spirit and questions whether someone
may or may not have a saving faith if the fruit of the Spirit cannot be seen,
much as Paul describes in Galatians 5:22-23. So James writes his letter to
expose hypocritical practices and to teach right Christian behavior on our journey
of faith.
Conclusion
What happens in us
is more important than what happens to us.
When you experience
a wall, a hard time, a trial, a struggle in life’s journey – let it go, give it
to God, seek His wisdom, and let Jesus Take the Wheel.
Like the song,
James’ message is one of faith and surrender.
END
Trials are a natural part of life. We all have difficulty. Count it all joy when … If you follow Jesus, you will have trouble…God often uses the bad in our life to make us stronger – God is always working the bad stuff for our good. We are all a work in process – no one has arrived yet. Trials can also be a means of healing – chemo (a poison) is the worst thing for your body if you didn’t have cancer, but it attacks the cancer and provides healing. Recognize that God is working in your life through struggles.
What’s
the difference between godly wisdom and worldly wisdom?
The Bible urges us
often to seek wisdom above all things (e.g., Proverbs 4:7). But there are
different kinds of wisdom. First Corinthians 3:19 says, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness
in God’s sight.” And verse 20 says, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are
futile.” There is obviously a difference between godly wisdom and worldly
wisdom (see James 3:13–17).
Godly
wisdom is,
of course, from God and honors God. Godly wisdom starts with the fear of God
and results in a holy life. Godly wisdom enables us to prepare ourselves for
eternity. With godly wisdom, we trade earthly values for biblical values (1
John 2:15–16). We recognize we are citizens of another kingdom, and we make
choices that reflect that allegiance (Philippians 1:27; 3:20). Having godly
wisdom means we strive to see life from God’s perspective and act accordingly.
Worldly
wisdom,
on the other hand, is not
concerned with honoring God but with pleasing oneself. With worldly
wisdom, we may become educated, street-smart, and have “common sense” that
enables us to play the world’s game successfully.
The book of
Proverbs is part of the Bible known as wisdom literature. Proverbs is full of
practical instructions for life. Many proverbs contrast the wise with the
foolish and warn against repeating foolish actions (e.g., Proverbs 3:35; 14:24;
15:7; 26:11). Everyone makes mistakes, but the wise learn from their mistakes
and take steps to avoid repeating them. The foolish may make the same mistake repeatedly
and never learn their lesson.
Godly
wisdom may look very different from worldly wisdom. Jesus highlighted
these differences in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5—7). For example, He
said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you,
love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be
children of your Father in heaven.” Godly wisdom often requires us to do that
which is opposite our natural inclinations. Godly wisdom goes against the “conventional
wisdom” of the day; it is not focused on self-preservation but on furthering the kingdom of
God. We can only live in godly wisdom when we are committed to crucifying our
flesh and living in the Spirit (see Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 5:16, 25).
The primary way we
gain godly wisdom is by learning God’s Word (Psalm 119:169). “The unfolding of
your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130).
No one is born wise; we must acquire wisdom from God if we are to be truly wise:
“Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. I have
more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more
understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts” (Psalm 119:98–100).
Colossians 3:16
says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one
another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with
thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Immersion in God’s Word produces a heart
of worship and thanksgiving. That heart of worship becomes fertile soil for
seeds of wisdom to grow. Jesus prayed to the Father: “Sanctify them by your
truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). He wants His followers to be set apart
from the world, making godly choices and living godly lives (1 Peter 1:15). We
can only do that when His Word lives in us.
We can
also develop godly wisdom by carefully selecting those who journey through life
with us:
“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will
suffer harm” (Proverbs 13:20). Paul instructed the Corinthians to “imitate me
as I imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 4:16; 11:1). Those who want godly wisdom
will choose for their heroes those who exhibit wisdom in their personal lives.
Scripture
tells us to ask for godly wisdom. God wants us to have His wisdom. He is
delighted to give it to us when our hearts are set to receive it. James goes on to
say, “But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is
like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not
to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man,
unstable in all his ways” (verses 6–8). God knows the position of our hearts. When we
are committed to trusting Him and obeying His Word, He pours out His wisdom on
us. But if we want to retain the right to disobey, we are double-minded and may
not receive the wisdom we ask for.
Solomon received
godly wisdom when he asked the Lord for it (2 Chronicles 1:10–11). He became
known for his great wisdom, yet, in his later years, he turned away from
following the wisdom he’d been given. He disobeyed the Lord and even began to
worship idols (1 Kings 11:1–11). Receiving wisdom did not ensure that Solomon
would follow the path of wisdom. Sadly, he exchanged his godly wisdom for
worldly wisdom, and he suffered for it. The rest of 1 Kings 11 details Solomon’s
downfall as the Lord removed His hand of blessing from a man who was once
great.
The Song
As one of the most
popular country gospel songs, “Jesus, Take the Wheel” by Carrie
Underwood, has touched the hearts of millions of people around the world. The
song was first released in 2005 and became an instant hit. Its inspiring lyrics
and heart-wrenching melody have struck a chord with people of all ages and
backgrounds.
The Lyrics: The
song chronicles the journey of a young woman driving alone late at night, who
suddenly loses control of her vehicle. With no one else around to help her, she
cries out to God for guidance. The chorus of the song goes like this:
“Jesus, take the
wheel
Take it from my
hands
Cause I can’t do
this on my own
I’m letting go
So give me one more
chance
And save me from
this road I’m on
Jesus, take the
wheel”
The
Meaning Behind the Song
The song’s meaning
is clear, and it has its roots in Christianity. It’s all about letting go and trusting God to
guide you through life’s difficult moments. The message is that when things get
tough, we need to look to God for strength and guidance. He will help us
through whatever challenges we face, and we need to let go of our desire to
control everything around us.
The song’s message
of surrendering control is powerful because so many people struggle to let go
of their fears and anxieties. Often, when people face challenges in their
personal or professional lives, they want to seize control of the situation,
and it’s not always possible. “Jesus, Take the Wheel” is a reminder that we
need to have faith in God and trust that He has a better plan for us.
“Jesus, Take the Wheel” is an enduring classic that continues to inspire people today. Its message of faith and surrender is timeless, and it remains a beacon of hope for those who are struggling. The song is a reminder that we can all call out to God when we need help, and that He will be there to guide us.
