From James net Chapter 1:
To WHOM? 1:1 From James, a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the
twelve tribes dispersed abroad. {see v19 too, “brothers & sisters”}
When SUFFERING
1:2-4 Consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, because you
know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its
perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.
When needing WISDOM
1:5-8 If anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously
and without reprimand, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without
doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around
by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the
Lord, since he is a double-minded individual, unstable in all his ways.
When MONEY issues are a struggle
1:9-12 Now the believer of humble means should take pride in his high position. But
the rich person’s pride should be in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a
wildflower in the meadow. For the sun rises with its heat and dries up the meadow;
the petal of the flower falls off and its beauty is lost forever. So also the rich person in
the midst of his pursuits will wither away. Happy is the one who endures testing,
because when he has proven to be genuine, he will receive the crown of life that God
promised to those who love him.
When My FEELINGS & Tongue Get Out of Control
1:19-27 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be
quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. For human anger does not
accomplish God’s righteousness. So put away all filth and evil excess and
humbly welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your
souls. But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and
so deceive yourselves. For if someone merely listens to the message and does
not live it out, he is like someone who gazes at his own face in a mirror. For he
gazes at himself and then goes out and immediately forgetswhat sort of person
he was. But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his
attention there, & does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it
out—he will be blessed in what he does. If someone thinks he is religious yet
does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile. Pure
& undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and
widows in their adversity& to keep oneself unstained by the world.
