Read the passage here.
James is pretty straight talking. There's a lot in this passage and it doesn't appear to have a strong theme through it (or maybe I'm missing it). But in these verses James tells a few home truths.
Hey poor person - be glad that you are relying on God.
Hey rich guy - be glad that your God is so much bigger, better and stronger than you.
Hey person who's under trial and persevering - you are blessed and will receive the crown of life.
Hey sinning person - that's your fault, stop blaming God or others.
Hey saved person - God chose you for Him and not the other way round.
Something for everyone you might say but through all this advice the passage is saying that God is in control here, He is good and everything that comes from Him is good. I find this both challenging and reassuring (especially vv13-15).
Possible areas of discussion
Which of these areas are you most challenged by?
Do you see a theme in the passage?
How does this passage point to Jesus?
Is James saying that the rich are less loved than the poor?
Feel free to discuss anything else you like.
Is the theme possibly God's sovereignty through trials and suffering?
ReplyDeleteIn light of it being Easter, the verses about humility seem all the more sombre. What right has anyone to boast about their wealth or beauty or achievements when we consider that the King of the world hung on that cross for us. Truly humbling.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet even the most insignificant of us, if we are in Christ, can acknowledge that we are worth so much to Christ that He would go through all that horror simply so He could spend eternity with us. That makes me feel amazingly loved.
What a Saviour!