The Simple Life

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! James 2:19 (ESV)   We often attempt to convince others of what we believe through our talk, rather than living our beliefs making the conversation unnecessary. I have asked many young people if they were "Christian" who have responded with "Yes, I am because I believe in God." However, as I quote this verse to them, their eyes widen, and they wonder if I am calling them Satan or denying their belief in God.   The principle is simple. Belief in God may be a good start, but our faith in Christ's finished work allows us to be justified and enter the presence of God.   Belief is an interesting word/concept in that we can believe something that is not true, yet if we believe it, we think it is true. Belief by itself makes nothing true, and God is God, and His payment for sin is death regardless of what we believe. If we want to believe the truth, we must align ourselves with God's word...

But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. James 2:18 (ESV)   James is practical and simple in his assessment of life. You can say you trust God with your words, yet deny His ability to care for you by how you live in fear and anxiety.   Those who know God and love Him live as if they know God and love Him. Those who know God trust Him and live as if they trust Him. If I am not living as if I trust God, I either do not know Him or refuse to trust what I know.   Noah trusted God and built a boat in a mountain. Daniel trusted God and refused the food of the king. Knowing God and the plan He is implementing affects our behavior.   What is my behavior showing? What needs to be confirmed or changed?   https://www.podbean.com/relate365

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James  2:15-17  (ESV)   Talk is cheap. It is easy to pray for the needy and never lift a finger to help them. We can organize meeting after meeting to talk about how we can help those less fortunate, or we can go and help them.   Prayer is powerful and a vital part of our daily life, and as the Spirit lays burdens on our hearts about which to speak to God, perhaps we can also search for ways to make a physical difference in the concerning situation.   Throughout the many years God has allowed me to serve, I have often been told of things we should do by those who will have no involvement in that about which they are speaking. They may have great ideas in which for others to involve themselves, and mak...

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? James 2:14 (ESV)   What good is it…? The King James Version reads, "What doth it profit?" So what James is saying is, what good is it, or what does it "profit," meaning "to heap up, that is, accumulate or benefit; gain: advantageth, profit."   What good is it to focus on something that will one day be worthless? The value in assets is how they are used to love God and others. All believers will one day stand before God and give an account for the stewardship they demonstrated. All will stand on equal grounds, and the amount you were entrusted with will be irrelevant, for the issue at hand will be your faithful with what you have been or with what you were entrusted.   In essence, all people are the same in that we are all sinners who need God's mercy and grace, and we are all entrusted with some assets/resources that we will be held accountable ...

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. James  2:10-13  (ESV)   We often have our "acceptable sins" and seem to enjoy pointing out the "unacceptable sins" of others. All people are sinners. Nobody thinks what they do is wrong or should be unacceptable to anyone. Any sin we commit is against God, and sin is defined by God, not by committee. Therefore, we are all guilty before God. Those who lie and those who murder have sinned against God. Those who use what they should love and love what they should use are guilty before God.   To stand guiltless before God, we need to be covered ...

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. James 2:8-10 (ESV)   James is plain and straightforward with his words. If I show partiality, I am sinning. We hear much about racism and equality issues today. These problems exist because we have treated people differently. We need to see all people as those God created and loves; all are the same, lost in sin and need of a Savior.   When we see people through the lens of Scripture, we treat all people the same. God's love for all is the same. God's plans are available to all; one day, all His children will dwell with Him for eternity. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "You sit here in a good place," while you say to the poor man, "You stand over there," or, "Sit down at my feet," have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? James 2:1-5 (ESV)   It is wrong to show partiality to anyone because of what you gain from such action. It is easy to lose focus and think that those who have resources are the ones who supply our needs, when it is God who uses those who have resources to supply our needs.   God needs nobody, bu...

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27 (ESV)   If we are followers of Jesus, we serve those around us. We serve those who have authority over us, and we serve those over whom we have authority. We serve friends, family, neighbors, and strangers.   Jesus came to serve, not to be served.  If we serve, we do so in a way that helps the one we serve. The Scriptures teach us that we do not serve others to enable but to empower. This verse talks about the most vulnerable of their day, the orphans and widows, and reminds us that those who genuinely love God will care for their needs.   The second thought in this verse is that those in an honest relationship with God will also keep themselves "unstained" from the world. True believers care for the needy and ignore their day's Godless philosophies and propaganda.   A statement like this hel...

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. James 1:26 (ESV)   The world is strange and unique, where bits and pieces of information seem to dominate the national discussion. As a result, it is easy to talk too much about many things for which we have limited information. If we talk about something in the presence of one who knows the subject matter, we easily prove ourselves foolish.   I often wonder what God thinks when he hears me speaking of something I think I understand, knowing that I have no idea what He was doing and, therefore, speak in ignorance.   If we think our viewpoints need to be heard and considered regardless of their validity or, if we think any opinion on any subject should be considered equally, we are in trouble. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. James 1:23-25 (ESV)   It's easy to get used to what you see in the mirror, and accommodate for what you see, rather than challenge reality. For various reasons, some have removed all mirrors from their homes while others put mirrors whoever they have space.   This speaks of one who intently looks at a mirror to see what is reality. Once we know what is there, we have a choice to ignore it or deal with it. Those who refuse to look in a mirror will never know what reality is. Likewise, those who ignore mirrors will never know what it's like to adjust to reality.   Believers have the Holy Spirit, who will instruct us thr...

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21 (ESV)   James sounds a bit legalistic. Has he instructed us to put away all filthiness and wickedness? Is this difficult to understand, or does this fall in the category of carelessly defined Bible terms that we can ignore?   James was speaking of something here, and if our definition does not match his, then we have no way to apply what he said. The word filthiness means dirtiness in superabundance. He is not speaking of actual dirt on our bodies, but all the contributors to our depravity.   The Bible has both negative and positive regarding teaching behavior. James, in this passage, tells us not to do something, which is a good start. In the next verse, he tells us what we should be doing. "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22) If we want to follow Jesus and live the way we are i...

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. James  1:19-20  (ESV)   I have learned in life that silence is golden. As I get older, I will listen to someone and ponder,rather than react or respond. I am not sure those who talk to me think I am doing nothing with the information, yet I am pondering. I often need to say nothing because the individual's concern is not Biblical, but it is a lifestyle choice.   Like the rest of the culture, Evangelicals like to prove what they believe is right, and they often begin campaigns to sway others to prove their point. If something is right or wrong, it will be proven over the long run, and constant campaigning is futile. My anger towards someone for whatever reason will never make them right or satisfy God. My anger makes me a miserable person.   If we love God or obey God, we will be persecuted. Yet, those pe...

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will, he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. James  1:16-18  (ESV)   God is the creator and sustainer of all, and all that He has created is done well. He is the source of all right things. Therefore, those who seek truth in any area must start with Him and end with Him or live and die in error.   We can easily be deceived. We can chase wind our entire life and find our hands empty in the end, or we can listen to God.   Everyone's circumstances are different and have yielded different results in the care and comforts of this life. We did not choose our parents, country, health, or sickness. When "good" things happen, it is not because God loves us more than others, and it certainly is not because we deser...

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. James  1:13-15  (ESV)   We seem to struggle with personal responsibility. We do not sin because we are forced to sin. We sin because we choose to sin. We are born into sin and have choices to make in various life contexts. Choice is something God has given all people and no person can make it so I cannot choose.   If someone tells me to give them all my money or take a beating, I should not claim that they gave me no choice. I could give the money, or I could resist and take the beating. I may not enjoy either of the outcomes, but I always had a choice.   Pretending that I have no choices due to circumstances I did not create cultivates a victim mentality a...

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 (ESV)   Steadfast. A quiet confidence that displays itself in confident actions. God is steadfast, and those who know and obey Him are steadfast. Steadfastness is a fruit of the Spirit that is wonderful to watch. Steadfast moments were enjoyed when David defeated Goliath, Noah's family sailed in th ark, and Caleb inhabited the mountain he waited 40 years to enjoy.   Life satisfaction comes after the demonstration of faith that no human can deliver and can only bloom in the fertile soil of adversity.   1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV) Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. James 1:9-11 (ESV)   We are all equal yet different. Uniqueness is a blessing, and those who desire equality often have thoughts fueled by envy, jealousy, and desire.   When we often speak of wanting equality, we often mean we want superiority. This is because we want to be the most important by some measurement. Yet God teaches that we are all unique creations and compares us to various body parts. I do not have a "superior" body part and I function well when they all harmonize with my brain.   Often, those who are poor have less distraction, and those who are wealthy live distracted lives. Both live limited days and will give an honest account of their life to God. If...

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:5-8 (ESV)   If you know God, you act like you know God. If you know God and you ask Him for wisdom, you know He will answer you. If God has revealed something to you, you can move boldly ahead to accomplish His plan.   Noah, Moses, and Daniel knew God and acted like they knew God. When God gave them a direction, they listened. So there is no confusion about who God is when you look at their lives. God speaks to us through His Word and His Spirit, and if you seek Him, honestly seek Him and His wisdom, you will find both.   Then, it is essential to live in the context of absolutes. https://www...

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5 (ESV)   Those who are wise in their own eyes are fools. God is the only one who knows what tomorrow holds. He is the only one that can tell us what is necessary today so we can be successful tomorrow.   He has revealed, in general, terms, what will come to all. We know that all of life is temporal, change is constant, and everything we "own" today will belong to someone else tomorrow. We know that God creates the earth and that one day He will call His children home, and eventually create a new heaven and earth. However, we can't know most of the steps that will be necessary to get to the end; therefore, we rely on God's Holy Spirit to guide us.   Since God does not need us for His ultimate victory, the fact that He wants to include us is a privilege. If we want to know how to join in and be an active part of that winning team, we ask God wher...

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 (ESV)   Steadfastness here means cheerful or hopeful endurance. Those who know and love God live a life of cheerful, hopeful endurance. There are many implications in the definition of those words. Those who live cheerful and hopeful do so because they know that their tough times will yield a worthwhile result. Those who endure do so because they know their situation is temporary. Those who know God, trust God, and the trials of life will prove their love. If our hope is in God, we lack nothing. If our faith is in God, we lack nothing. If we represent God perfectly, we lack nothing.   Steadfastness has a beautiful effect on our lives and is within reach of all who know God. The goal, as always, is to know God and act like we know...

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. James 1:2-3 (ESV)   James restates what the Scriptures have declared. Those who love God and act like they love God will be under attack. So the author of Hebrews states this in Hebrews 11:36-38: Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains and in dens and caves of the earth.   The world was not worthy of those who love and walk with God, yet, often, modern Christians attempt to live in harmony with this world.   Something in modern Christianity does not add up.   https://www.podbean.com/relate365

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. James 1:1 (ESV)   James is a simple, logical book that is easy to understand and apply. Within this book, more than 50 imperatives in 108 verses should cause you to pause and think about how you use the truth you know in your everyday life.   I like asking questions while I read, such as these: “How did they know that?” Or, “How does knowing this change how I live?” Or, “What would it mean if I learned and applied this principle to my life?”   Reading and meditating on the book of James might be a time-consuming task that may end up being one of the most critical investments you would ever make.   One of the first thoughts I have at the beginning of this book is the way James (and other apostles) identify himself as a "servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ." He knew servanthood and considered it a privilege to be in that position.   How do I (you) identify...