James 1:1-27
James is a name derived from the name Jacobus, or Jacob, in Hebrew. Jacob from Genesis was the father of the twelve tribes. James was likely the biological son of Mary (through whom Jesus came).
1:1 James introduces himself as a servant of God. This is reminiscent of Paul's introductions, in which he consistently began his epistles with the proud and faithful declaration of being God's fellow-worker. Both considered the purpose of their lives to be a blessed opportunity.
The Twelve Tribes: the twelve tribes are established in Genesis 49 and they are: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Joseph and Benjamin. The twelve tribes, now scattered throughout the world, are the ancestors whom we descended from on earth.
1:2-3 Consider and appreciate every moment as an opportunity for growth. No human escapes tribulation. Accepting that throughout life there will be various trials, consider and appreciate them as opportunities for refinement of soul, a growth of character. Our ability to remain focused, hopeful and productive during tribulation produces within us a patience. A patience which enables us to become more nimble in our ability to navigate the world.
1:4 When, during tribulation, we are calm and organized, observant and hopeful, we are able to contemplate and analyze the situation separate from the chaos. We journey toward refinement, the process of the perfection of soul. What is perfection of soul? Perfection of soul is the achievement of created a joyful and compassionate soul, a soul invulnerable to fear, anger and anxiety.
To perceive life as a series of opportunities (even the tribulations) is to grow in strength of soul: it is the first step we take up toward loosening the tethers that control us. For if we are unable to work through our tribulations, we fester and diminish within them.
1:5 The strength required to accept and even appreciate tribulation can be derived through God. If ever you lack the wisdom, the clarity or ability to rise above a situation, ask God: "who gives to all liberally and without reproach..." for it will be given to you. God is invested in your life, in your health and happiness and purpose here. He understands your weaknesses and without judgement, helps you to work through them. (It is summarily important to remember that this is a mutual effort between you and God). You must be a participant in your own growth.
1:6 Consider your faith as the tunnel through which spirituality can reach you. The wider and more sturdy your tunnel (the stronger and steadier your faith) the more that can pass through it. If you are constantly putting your faith in different things, you move your tunnel... you dislodge it from God's abundant warehouse. How can you receive blessings if you remove the avenue through which they come?
Firmly, permanently align your tunnel, your faith with God... with His truth and wisdom. If you do so, you will at all times have access to its power and guidance.
1:7 A soul cannot connect with God if that soul destroyed or neglected the connection. To have faith in God is to understand and agree that this universe was created with compassion and wisdom. To remain with that truth, that all life deserves justice and joy, is to have faith.
1:8 Yet to go back and forth between commitment to God's truth and commitment to the world's truth is to lose the benefits of faith in the right thing. Because commitment to the world is a commitment to rampant consumerism and social hierarchy, the endless, vicious quest for power and material wealth (on both small and large scales). You must adopt humility and compassion in order to receive it from God... you must adapt to His philosophy of life.
As we learned in verse five, God gives to all liberally. You establish your connection, your tunnel of faith, with Him and you receive it. If you constantly bounce to different ideologies, your connection is weak at best and entirely deconstructed at worse.
1:9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation... this is where we continue our conversation about choosing the way of the world versus choosing the way of God. Without faith, people tend to believe that the world cannot be survived without some measure of selfishness. People procure endlessly, often crossing the line between right and wrong to gain something (a position at work, the upper-hand in an argument, vengeance or money...). Without faith, people neglect to realize that that method of living (even after a lifetime of experience) never leads to joy. Or even contentment.
The selfish lifestyle cannot sustain itself, it exhausts itself with its own negative energy.
1:10 ... but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. To create and retain joy and contentment, faith teaches, one must commit to humility and compassion. For they abound and rebound, coming back to the giver. To commit to faith is to allow God to adopt your tribulation, and handle it as His own. To commit to faith is to allow God to provide for you, to nourish your body and soul and create opportunities in your life. The more we give, the more is given to us. Through selfless living we acquire so much, first among much: joy and contentment.
The selfless lifestyle is sustained by God, never experiencing exhaustion because its source of energy is life manifested as power and light and wisdom.
Galatians 6:7 teaches us that whatever a human sows, he reaps. This should not be a statement which induces fear. Rather it should inspire joy... for when you put goodness into the world, it is returned to you. If we are giving, if we are planting, we are producing for ourselves and others.
1:11 Life is derived from compassion. Therefore, a human without compassion neglects themselves of life's fuel and they fade away. This flower metaphor: Yes, flowers are impressive... just as a rich human might appear to be... but if that flower loses its source of life, it perishes.
This conversation about wealth is important because wealth declares that there is opportunity for compassion left unused. Hoarded, even. Our purpose here is to inspire, sustain, protect, defend, and create life. With whatever type of wealth we have we must dedicate it to life in order to remain alive (spiritually).
1:12 God understands that we are complex and fallible. Even when the right thing to do is clear, it is not always easy to actually do it. Therefore it is all the more meaningful and productive for our growth when we do right despite the difficulty. Blessed is the human who endures a struggle in order to do the right thing, who chooses the longer or the steeper path because it is the more righteous choice.
1:13 God does not tempt people. Or persuade people with ulterior motives. God offers Himself and all of His love to His children and then gives them (us) the freedom to choose Him or to reject Him.
Take comfort in the fact that God is never tempted. He is unwavering in goodness, in love and compassion, wisdom and truth. He is committed humility and life free of corruption.
1:14-15 The way of the world is to give into the temptation of our desires. To act on our weakest moments of desiring more and better regardless of the consequences. Desire develops into greed and greed is the root of all sins and acts against humanity. Greed eventuates toward death... it removes the humanity from a person, and then the spirit from the soul. It causes people to change their values, and place their reverence in inanimate things like fame, fortune and power at the expense of others' lives.
1:16-17 Never forget that you were created and placed here. The entity who created you established you and equipped you with all of the talents and opportunities you have. You are direct access to the source of creation and joy.
We are urged to never be deceived because some people become corrupt and believe in arrogance that they are the reason for the things in their lives... forgetting that they would not even have lives if the creator had not created them.
Our father of the lights: light, the manifested energy of wisdom, creation and love. 1 Thessalonians 5:5, Ephesians 5:8, and John 12:36 teach us that we are the children of the light. With that wisdom, we should live our lives in HUMBLE, blessed, grateful, mutual service with creation.
1:18 We were given life. The ultimate gift. We were given life out of pure selflessness. We were given live in order that we would be able to receive blessings. Be humbled by that. Receive your blessings with the intention of sharing your gifts with others (just as God freely shared with God).
1:19-20 Let every human "be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath" for wrath is regressive and produces nothing. In other words, be inclined toward observation... always, readily be a focused and attentive listener. Reserve your thoughts until your thoughts evolve into truth and wisdom. Cultivate serenity, it will allow you to work diligently and productively through all of your tribulations.
1:21 Shed any arrogance, divert yourself from a selfish path. Receive with meekness this philosophy of compassion, which saves your soul by nourishing it and prodding it toward eternal life. A faithful person is humbled by the fact that they are entrusted with doing so much important work here.
1:22 Be active participants in faith. Exemplify these words in scripture rather than just recite them.
1:23-24 Do not be a person who forgets the soul within them. We must always be conscious of ourselves as instruments here, as impactful and influential here. We must have the humility perceive ourselves are we truly are... not gods or leaders or business owners... or anything but souls in a vessel. Souls in a vessel travelling through this earth, this classroom, with the responsibility of caring for others.
1:54 Participants, contributors of compassion lived blessed lives because their work is supported and important. Those whose active and productive focus is on liberty and justice can rely on all the blessing their faith provides.
It is vital that we learn the lessons within the next two verses:
1:26 "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." Be able to notice a fraud. Do not let a person's superiority fool you. A showy and arrogant person has no faith, no matter how expertly that person parades their religion. For God's children are quiet listeners... doers rather than celebrated public figures. God's children let their actions do the speaking rather than just their mouths.
1:27 "Pure and undefiled religion before God an the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." Forget about religion, its rules and regulations. Faith is having empathy and compassion. Faith is working humbly, always, for the benefit of others. Faith is working quietly and persistently toward justice for all life... and especially the downtrodden.
