James begins his powerful letter with a brief autobiographical note: “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” James 1:1

He leaves it to others to emphasize his real life transformation from sibling to servant. Once merely a biological brother of our Lord–now his humble servant and a recognized leader and pillar of the church in Jerusalem.

Writing to “the twelve tribes scattered among the nations” he immediately plunges into intensely practical thinking on at least six major areas of focus:

• Faith & perseverance
• Listening & doing
• Loving others
• Faith in action
• True wisdom

Such a wide range of topics encourages us to read carefully and prayerfully. Pray for discernment as you read, watching for the specific word, phrase, or challenge that speaks to your personal experience today.

Faith & Perseverance

James starts with many kinds of difficulties and challenges:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” James 1:2—4

James wanted to see all believers become “mature and complete.” He even encouraged them, and us, to find “pure joy” in their various trials. Do we share his perspective? What would it take for us to be able to agree with James and apply these verse to our personal challenges—a job loss, a painful illness, or the loss of a relative or close friend?

Even if we are not currently experiencing a severe trial, we can prepare for future tests by memorizing James 1:2-4

James 1:5 may be one of the most frequently memorized verses in the New Testament:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

Here James demonstrates his personal wisdom, reminding us to be sure to ask with strong faith whenever we make our requests known to our heavenly Father. He also points out the blessing of perseverance:

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” James 1:12

Listening & Doing

Sometimes the best approach to Scripture is to read it slowly, carefully, and ask– how does this relate to my life today? Take some time to consider James’s teaching on the importance of listening, and make a note of how you can apply his instructions:

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” James 1:19—20

After discussing the importance of listening, James turns to doing:

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do” James 1:22—25

According to James a life of faith must lead to action—doing what is right in God’s sight–including caring for orphans and widows. (James 1:27)

Loving Others

Eugene Peterson helps us visualize how James expected his brothers and sisters to welcome all comers into the Christian community:

“If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him, and you say to the man in the suit, ‘Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!’ and either ignore the street person or say, ‘Better sit in the back row,’ haven’t you segregated God’s children and proved that you are judges who can’t be trusted?” James 2:2—4 The Message.

James compared the all-too-human tendency to discriminate with God’s perspective,

“Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor.” James 2:5–6

James wanted Christians to love others, whether poor or rich, as Christ loves.

“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as law breakers” James 2:8—9

Faith in Action

Perhaps James is best known for his insistence that Christians demonstrate their faith by their actions.

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” James 2:14—17

In his commentary on James, Andrew McNab writes, “Faith, the root, must naturally issue in works, the fruit . . . Genuine faith issues in good works. These do not make our standing before God more secure, but they are evidences to the faith by which we stand.”

As James said, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” James 2:26

Managing the Tongue

A major message that James wanted his listeners or readers to take to heart is the need to control what we say and how we say it.

Horses are guided by a small bit in the horse’s mouth, and large ships are steered by a relatively small rudder.

“Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” James 3:5—6

We can tame all kinds of animals, but no one can tame the tongue according to James. It is restless, evil, and full of deadly poison. We use the tongue to praise God, and we may use the same tongue to curse human beings.

“ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be” James 1:10

True Wisdom

James must have learned so much from observing Jesus while growing up together and when Jesus began his public ministry. During their years together, James saw that Jesus depended upon heavenly wisdom in all areas of his life and ministry.

According to church traditions, James became known as “Camel Knees” because of the calluses built up over the years during his daily prayers seeking God’s will and wisdom.

His experience taught him that wisdom was not just a simple, one-time prayer request. True wisdom translates into ongoing practical actions.

He repeatedly communicated the value of wisdom: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom” James 3:13

Life taught James that the presence of bitter envy and selfish ambition led to disorder and every evil practice.

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness” James 3:17—18.

What lessons from James will you strive to apply today?