Being a disciple of Jesus in a fallen world is no new thing. What do we do? How should we respond? Is there a good place to find these answers? Yes. The book of James. When studying a book of the Bible I like to ask the question: Why this book, in particular? Why would the Holy Spirit move on this person, through inspiration, to write this book?
Why is there a book of James?
It is an appeal to live what you profess to believe. Warren Wiersbe said: “Not all who grow old grow up.” Thus the letter begs the questions: What do you believe? and Are you living it?
Apparently in many churches then: The tongue was a serious problem – causing divisions and hard feelings; Worldliness was a problem; Some were ignoring their personal time in the scriptures; and Others were not faithful to the House of God. Sound familiar? CS Lewis once wrote: “Too many churches are playpens for babies instead of workshops for adults.”
This book begins with— “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.” (James 1.1)
James opens the letter with not much mention of greeting; instead goes right to his first point of practical help. This entire letter is built on a practical help and answer format— from a no-nonsense guy. This man can relate to what we are all going through. In this letter we will find how to:
- Turn trials into triumphs
- Handle temptations
- Work your Bible
- Have Real Faith
- Handle Favoritism
- Conquer dead faith
- Have a dynamic family
- Tame the tongue
- Stop fighting and bickering
- Experience amazing grace again
- Stop things you shouldn’t do— for good.
- Avoid unspiritual risks
- Have patience that works
- Have complete joy in good and bad times.
So in short— this book is about REAL FAITH.
The first phrase we need to uncover is— “…to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad…”
James is a general epistle— meaning it isn’t addressed to a particular church or person. He says “12 tribes” indicating the Jewish population in the churches. All over the world and through most of time they have been hated by most gentiles. Since salvation came to the Jews in Jesus’ day and multiplied in the book of Acts, they are now Christians, scattered abroad (Acts 8.1,4), so now they are hated by most Jews as well.
Being both Jew and Christian, James can relate. He is a brother in both senses, so… he uses the words “brethern”, “my brethren”, or “my beloved brethren” 15 times in 5 chapters. Have you ever heard the statement ‘we be brethren’. In fact, this letter is also about that.
We also see in verse 1— “James a servant of God”. Which James? 2 of the Apostles were named James: James the son of Zebedee (one of the sons of thunder). And James the son of Alpheaus (also known as James Thaddeus). The one who wrote this book was James the son of Jospeh and Mary (Jesus’s half-brother). Joseph and Mary had other children: Mark 6.3 says— “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.” There was a period of time when they didn’t believe according to John 7.1,5— “After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. 5. For neither did his brethren believe in him.” Later, Jesus even tells his own family that his new family are his disciples because of his earthly family’s unbelief. We find this in Mark 3.31,35— “There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. 35. For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.” The resurrection changed their minds, specifically James. Paul records this in 1 Corinthians 15.7— “After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.” Luke also mentions it historically in Acts 1.14— “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.” In Acts and Galatians he was mentioned with the Apostles, as many presume, as one of the Pastors of the Church in Jerusalem. As Pastor he preceded over counsels such as in Acts 15. He had the respect of Peter and Paul, and the rest of the Apostles followed his leadership.
We need to note the phrase verse 1— “a servant of God”. He was a faithful, zealous, follower. He was a good Jew, out of the tribe of Benjamin, from the lineage of King David, just as his half-brother. Many people love God— at least their version of God. They love the idea of God. They even see Him as the son of God, BUT NOT GOD. They love their pedigree with God, even their previous connections with ‘godly’ folks… but do they count themselves as “a servant of God”? Before his salvation James was known by his friends (the Bible tells us) as ‘James the Just’. Meaning, this guy was serious about following his Judistic beliefs. James practiced and promoted a legalistic view of Judiasm. Paul and James didn’t see eye to eye at first. Paul was a threat to their lives before he was saved and a threat to their legalism after his salvation. Being a good Jew is probably why he didn’t come to salvation until later. Religion and legalism blinds you and binds you!
It’s amazing to me that someone could be housed in the same place as God Himself and not believe. The same happens today — many ‘christians’ around the world go to church yet are not truly saved. Peter said of Christ that “He went about doing good” (Acts 10.38). James must have seen this. People may see how good you are or how good God is to you— but that doesn’t replace the Gospel! James had to come to a place where he was no longer just a religious man, self-justified. He had to come to grips with who Jesus really was and what He was to him, personally.
In verse 1 James self-identifies as not only “a servant of God” but goes further and says— “and of the Lord Jesus Christ”. This is the point of the entire book. He not only was a zealous follower of God, but also a zealous follower of Jesus, who is God! He had to come to a place of reality. He had to face the reality of his own brother and that He was in fact— the Messiah. He converted late, so this made him a no-nonsense kind of guy, much like Paul. He didn’t see the point in wasting anymore time fooling around. He lived the life that every 21st century believer should want to live. I don’t want to be good at something that doesn’t matter for eternity.
To be a “servant of the Lord Jesus” means what it says… a servant. The word is ‘doulos’. It means a bond servant. A slave, literally in every sense of the word. One who is bound to another willfully. One who does not rest in their own will, but is willingly surrendered to another.
Humbling to think that your brother is not just your leader, but your master! James took Jesus as his all-sufficient Savior. In so doing, recognized that he now had a life-debt to the One who died in his place. A servant to the King.
Have you made Him your Master in all areas of your life? Are you His doulos?
James changed direction and lived a life of service to his Master. I want to also come before God one day and hear: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25.21). How about you?