A Few Thoughts on the Epistle of James—James 1:2-8

James 1:2-8 WEL My brothers, consider it all joy when you find yourself surrounded by various trials. 3 Know this that the testing of your faith brings about endurance. 4 Let endurance have its full, complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, then ask the God, who gives to all profusely and doesn’t rebuke, and it will be given to him. 6 But one must ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 Do not let that person think that he will receive anything from the Lord. 8 A double minded person [is] unstable in every way.

Brothers=

• Can be a flesh brother (Matthew 4:18)
• Can be a flesh sister (feminine case) (Mark 6:3)
• Can be those of the same nationality (Romans 9:3)
• Can be a fellow believer (John 21:23, Hebrews 2:11, Romans 8:29)
• Brothers in our passage are all those who believe and placed their trust into Jesus Christ.

Joy=

• There is a difference between joy and happiness
• Happiness is the Greek word μακάριος makários.
  • It is usually translated blessed, yet sometimes happy. Compare Matthew 5:3 and 1 Corinthians 7:40.
  • Yet, in English, there is a difference between happiness and blessed: As adjectives the difference between blessed and happy is that blessed is having divine aid, or protection, or other blessing while happy is experiencing the effect of favorable fortune; having the feeling arising from the consciousness of well-being or of enjoyment; enjoying good of any kind, as peace, tranquility, comfort; contented; joyous. (Source)
• Joy is the Greek word χαρά chará.
  • It is translated as joy and gladness.
  • Joy is defined as
  • The difference between joy and happiness. A good article is Difference Between Joy and Happiness, which is the source of the quotes below.
    • Both joy and happiness are positive and desirable emotions where a person has a feeling of being satisfied.
    • Joy comes from the inner-self of a person, and is connecting with the source of life within you.
    • Happiness is an emotion experienced when in a state of well-being.
    • Joy is from the inside of a person, while happiness is from an external source.
    • Christian joy is a fruit, not a work, of the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23).
    • What God does is perfect and without error. His joy is much deeper and peaceful than any other.

Trials=

• It is the Greek word πειρασμός peirasmós.
• In various senses
  • A seducing to sin (1 Corinthians 10:13, Luke 4:13)
  • A test of sinners of God’s mercy and patience. (Hebrews 3:18)
  • Trials, troubles, afflictions (Luke 22:28, Acts 20:19)
  • Here it is the troubles of living and being a Christian.
• God has a purpose. God overrides the actions of certain unbelievers. (Romans 5:3-4, 2 Corinthians 1:9)

Testing=

• This word is different than the word trials above. It is the Greek word δοκίμιον dokímion.
• It means to test. Did we learn what we were taught? (This passage and 1 Peter 1:7)

The results of testing=

• God is the perfect teacher
• We learn to a greater and greater understanding of knowing God, His beliefs, and His lifestyle in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds.
• Faith is our commitment and response to what we have been taught.
• Testing of our faith leads to endurance to be steadfast in our faith.
• Endurance leads to maturity and completeness of our faith. Even the Lord Jesus learned obedience through the things He suffered. (Hebrews 5:8)

Wisdom=

• Is it lacking? Do we not understand or know how to respond?
• We are invited to ask Him, who is the perfection of wisdom, for wisdom. In love and wisdom, He is our helper.
• God does not become angry or rebuke us for seeking His wisdom. Even if we ask many times each day, He will not become angry. He loves us.

Faith=

• Believing God.
• Expecting an answer because He has proclaimed it.
• The warning is given us not to doubt to the extend we abandon the faith.
• God is pleased when we believe Him. He believes us when we ask, so let us believe Him that He will answer. He doesn’t say when, but He says that He will answer.

Questions=

• Why does God allow troubles?
• Why do many people not like Christians?
• What is our response to troubles and testing?
• How does God give us help?
• When does His help (grace) come?