James 1:1-18
I once heard it said that being the oldest sibling is like being a trailblazer through the jungle – by going first, they blaze a trail through childhood for the other siblings much like one blazes a trail through the jungle. Those who go first certainly have their own set of challenges, but with that comes the opportunity to make a way and be among the first to receive their crown of glory. No, that’s not a joke about old age; it’s the reality of every follower of Jesus.
Talking about older siblings, the baby church that started in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost was fully aware that life is full of struggles and hardships. For years it endured persecution, not only from their Jewish brothers, but also from the larger Roman world. Jews were disliked because of their religious stubbornness, but so populous that the empire tolerated them. This new religious group that was birthed out of the Jews caused new tensions and frustrations for their reliance on the “blood” of Jesus and on their push toward love for others. With these “weird” new practices, they were not tolerated at all. To be a Christian was to step onto the path of risk, of unknown, and of difficulty. Thankfully, God, and ONLY God, is our steady compass through these difficulties of life.
Meant to Be Memorized
Persecution and hardship were not the only troubles compounded on those early believers. As a result of the Diaspora (Great Dispersion) we learn about in Acts 8 (led by a pre-Christian Paul), our much older siblings in Jerusalem were forced out of town and on the run. What this did was begin the work of spreading the gospel outside Jerusalem, though it was a perilous journey for many and multiplied the hardships they were facing. This is the setting and the people to which James wrote his letter. We see this right away in his introduction. His writing style was short and blunt, designed to be easy reading with short bits that could be easily understood, memorized, and practiced. He did this so that while on the run, Jesus’ followers could be prepared and reminded of Jesus’ teaching and life (James is almost a paraphrase of the Sermon on the Mount) and thus be challenged to make sure that in their trials, they don’t run away from their calling to love God and love others.
We Live in a Harsh Reality
And this is where we begin the letter, with a slew of short phrases (almost like Proverbs) designed to be memorable and digestible. These early verses, though, open and explain the theme that starts the letter and highlights its focus throughout: the ability to do what God wants them to do comes only from God. Whether it’s wisdom, humility, steadfastness, temptation, etc. we must lean into God and His wisdom in order to be able to survive and thrive in the world around us. Did you know that everything in Australia (the animals) wants to kill you and the next closest place like it (in the states) is FL? Whether it’s the gators, the snakes, the black widows (and even the brown widows – which technically have even more venom, though smaller teeth) this world is seeking to destroy you. The animals are out to get you and so is everything and everyone else. While it’s nothing compared to Christians trying to survive in China and other places, we face persecution with every step – we are looked down upon, we are assumed to be judgmental and hateful, even our motives are immediately questioned. It’s not easy being a Christian in this world today. Thankfully, we are not alone.
God is Our Compass
If you’ve ever played video games, you know how important it is for that random extra life or fruit that re-energizes your character. God is the giver of all good things; from friends to abilities, to blessings, etc… and we must look to Him as we navigate this world or we will be lost in its temptations and sins. I was rescued when due to fear I never did the work for my speech in my 10th grade English class and came to speech day totally unprepared. God came to my rescue and began to literally give me words and ideas as I started speaking. He was there for me when I needed Him!
Next Steps
God is our compass and will keep us on the path He has for us, filled with challenges, but also with blessings and hope. John 16:33 – “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
- Engage God daily in scripture and prayer – practice listening!
- Ask God to show you the world from His perspective
- Read through the book of James once each week during this series
A machete is very useful for carving your way through the jungle, but as my dad always said, “the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.” For that, you need a compass. Let God be your direction and lead you on the journey.
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