Wednesday in the Word

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Parable of the Sower & the Seed

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Sower & the Seed - Bible Study | WednesdayintheWord.com

The Parable of the Sower & the Seed (Matthew 13:1-23) is probably the first parable Jesus delivered in his public ministry.  The parable is found in the “Sermon on the Sea” — one of three great sermons Jesus gave which are recorded in the Gospel of Matthew (The Sermon on the Mount, Chapters 5-7; the Sermon on the Sea, Chapter 13; and the Olivet Discourse, Chapters 24-25).

Unlike the other parables of Jesus, this parable does not contain a twist or surprise in the story.  The parable and its interpretation have become so familiar to us that we may overlook the fact that it must have sounded pointless to those who heard it without any explanation.

Just what you’d expect to happen in the story happens. There is no puzzle, no contradiction, no one violates cultural norms, and there’s no explanation given to the multitudes. They must have thought, so what?  Why would Jesus tell this story?

The people of the day had expectations about what the Messiah would do when he came and Jesus wasn’t meeting their expectations.  The Jews believed that the Messiah would establish the kingdom of God over the whole world.  They were disappointed that nothing seemed to be happening, not even the overthrow of Roman rule and the religious leaders of the day  were increasingly antagonistic toward Jesus.

The disciples must have wondered why.  Since Jesus’ teaching was so profound and He was being confirmed as the Messiah, why did his ministry have apparently so little effect?

The parable of the sower & the seed is the answer.

For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.

Next: The Wheat & Weeds, Matthew 13:24-43

Previous: Understanding Parables

Series: The Parables of Jesus: Pictures of the Kingdom

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07 James 2:21-26 Do James and Paul agree, Part 2

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07 James 2:21-26 Do James and Paul agree, Part 2 - Bible Study | WednesdayintheWord.com

James 2:21-26 is the second half of the “problem” passage where it appears that the Apostles James and Paul disagree about how we are justified.  The key to resolving the apparent contradiction is context.  James and Paul are addressing two different questions.

In Galatians, Paul addressed the question raised by the theology of the Judaizers: Must I keep the law in order to be saved? Paul strongly asserts that our “works” have no value in bringing us into a right relationship with God. Our outward acts of obedience can not earn us salvation.

James is answering a different question:  Once that right relationship with God is established, will “works” will necessarily follow?  He answers yes,  because genuine saving faith changes us. To answer that question, James gives 4 illustrations:

Review

James gives 4 illustrations of genuine saving faith, both positive (what saving faith is) and negative (what saving faith is not), concluding each with a summary statement. In each pair, one shows how faith acts horizontally (toward others) and one shows how faith acts vertically (toward God). 

PassageIllustrationTypeTowardSummary Statement
James 2:14-17poorly dressed, hungry ChristiannegativeothersJames 2:17
James 2:18-20demons with correct theologynegativeGodJames 2:20
James 2:21-24AbrahampositiveGodJames 2:24
James 2:25-26RahabpositiveothersJames 2:26
  • The first example is invisible faith — where I fail to respond to a reasonable request and obvious need from a fellow believer who is perhaps even my friend, my actions deny what I claim to believe.  That is an invisible faith.  I don’t really believe something if I live as if it were not true.  That is no faith at all.
  • The second example is a barren orthodoxy.  I have the right beliefs, but I fail to respond to them.  Faith is more than knowing the right answers on theology quiz.  Faith submits to those beliefs as true.
  • Justification is the forgiveness of our debt to justice which qualifies us to receive Life and God’s blessings.  To be justified is to be in a position where God’s justice is satisfied.
  • If we summarize Paul’s question as “how do become justified”, we could summarize James’ question as “how do I know that I have been justified”.

Third Illustration

21Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”–and he was called a friend of God. 24You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. – James 2:21-24

  • When God promises to make Abraham a great nation through his descendants (Genesis 12:1-7), Abraham and his wife Sarah are childless.
  • God promises Abraham that he will have a son from his own body (Genesis 15:1-6).
  • Paul references this part of the story: God has made a promise to Abraham that requires a biological descendant.  Abraham has no such child.  It is physically impossible for him to have a biological child.  But God tells him it will be so and Abraham believes Him.
  • Abraham has a son by his wife’s slave, Hagar (Genesis 16:15-17:21). God tells Abraham the son he will have by Sarah is the one who will inherit the promises.
  • God is very specific about the child of promise. He tells Abraham the child’s mother (Sarah), the child’s name (Isaac) and the year in which the child will be born. The promise will not be fulfilled through any physical descendant of Abraham.  It will be fulfilled through one particular descendant of Abraham. Ishmael is not “a spare.”
  • After Isaac is born, God asks Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice (Genesis 22:1-3).
  • The question now confronting Abraham is: do I still believe the promises of God when it looks impossible? 
  • Hebrews 11:17-19 tells us Abraham believed God would raise Isaac from the dead.
  • James says, we know that Abraham had genuine saving faith because his actions prove it. The actions he took in being willing to offer up Isaac prove that he believed the promises of God. 

Fourth Illustration

25And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. – James 2:25-26

  • Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho when Joshua is leading the conquest of the promised land (Joshua 2:1-11)
  • Joshua sends two spies to assess the situation in Jericho.  When strangers enter the city where else would they stay but with the local harlot?  The king finds out the spies are in town, and questions Rahab about their whereabouts.  She lies to save them.
  • Rahab makes a deal with the Israelites that they will spare her household when they take the city.  Her house is on the city wall. She lets the men climb out the window on a rope.  In a scene symbolically reminiscent of the Passover, Rahab ties a scarlet thread in her window and the Israelites spare her and her household when they take the city.
  • See Hebrews 11:31.
  • In Joshua 2:11 Rahab says: for the LORD your God, He is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.” Her actions demonstrated that she believed that the LORD was God. 
  • A claim to faith without letting it change your life is like the dead body. The live body is shown to be alive through its actions and movements. Similarly saving faith is shown to be genuine by its actions and movements.

Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation.

Next: 08 James 3:1-12 Warnings to Teachers

Previous: 06 James 2:14-20 Do James and Paul agree Part 1?

Series: James: The Gospel in Shoe Leather

Study: James Resources

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06 James 2:14-20 Do James and Paul agree?

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06 James 2:14-20 Do James and Paul agree? - Bible Study | WednesdayintheWord.com

James 2:14-26 is the “problem” passage of the book of James where it looks like James and Paul disagree.

Review

  • In chapter 1, James said to consider it joy when we face trials because trials test our faith. The process of testing our faith brings us to maturity and makes us into the kind of people we should be.
  • So far in chapter 2, he has argued that if we really believe the gospel we would show no partiality based on external factors. I should show no partiality based on external factors because we all need the same savior, the same Lord and the same grace and mercy.

Context

James and Paul appear to contradict each other because they use the same vocabulary.  They both talk about faith, works and justification, and they both appeal to Abraham to support their claim.

But they use the same language in very different contexts.  They are addressing different problems and answering different questions.

In Galatians, Paul addressed the question raised by the theology of the Judaizers. Must I keep the law in order to be saved?  Do my outward acts of obedience gain me any favor with God?  Paul strongly asserts that our works have no value in bringing us into a right relationship with God.  Our outward acts of obedience can not earn us salvation.

In James, the apostle answers a different question.  James asserts that after establishing a right relationship with God, works will necessarily follow because genuine saving faith changes both what we believe and how we act. James is focusing on the question:  “What does real saving faith look like?”  Essentially, he’s saying, I agree we are saved by faith alone.  But let’s make sure you understand what faith alone really means.  Let’s make sure you know the difference between pseudo-faith and genuine saving faith.

He is NOT asking the question what use is it if a person claims to have faith and still sins on occasion.  The question is NOT will I ever sin again after believing the gospel?  IF that’s the question, all of us are in trouble.

The question is what if I claim to have faith and nothing in my life, nothing in my attitudes, nothing in my values, nothing in the way I speak or the way I treat people or the way I respond to trials changes?  What then, is that faith?  James says no, that is not faith.

Structure

James gives 4 illustrations of genuine saving faith, both positive (what saving faith is) and negative (what saving faith is not), concluding each with a summary statement.

PassageIllustrationTypeTowardSummary Statement
James 2:14-17poorly dressed, hungry ChristiannegativeothersJames 2:17
James 2:18-20demons with correct theologynegativeGodJames 2:20
James 2:21-24AbrahampositiveGodJames 2:24
James 2:25-26RahabpositiveothersJames 2:26
  • The far context is trials the test the genuineness of our faith. 
  • The immediate context (2:12-13) is mercy triumphs over judgment. 
  • The gospel sets me free from guilt and the tyranny of sin.  But it is also a kind of “law” in that if I believe it I am obligated to change.
  • That raises the question in James 2:14.
  • James is NOT asking the question: What use is it if a person says he has faith and he still sins on occasion? 
  • The question these illustrations answer is: What if I claim to have faith and the overall pattern, character and direction of my life contradicts the gospel? 

First Illustration

14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16and 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? 17So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. – James 2:14-17

  • James’ argument is more complex than what use is a faith that doesn’t feed the poor? If only faith were that easy! 
  • “Brother or sister” (2:15) implies a fellow believer.
  • James establishes a situation where you have the knowledge and the means to help a fellow believer, someone you know.
  • The point of his analogy is not about how believers should respond to poverty in their midst.  The point of his analogy is the disconnect between what I say and what I do.
  • He concludes, not only does this kind of “faith” make no difference on the outside, on the inside it is dead. It makes no difference inside either.
  • My words say, I want you to be warmed and filled, but what I actually do is leave you cold and hungry.  Just as you would look at this example and say my words were meaningless, so we would look at a claim to faith that doesn’t change your life as useless. The point is what good is what I say if my actions deny that I believe it is true.

Second Illustration

18But 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. 19You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe–and shudder! 20Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? – James 2:18-20

  • James is answering an objection: But someone will say, ‘We express our faith differently.  If my faith looks different than yours, how can you say I don’t have it?’
  • James responds faith and works are not independent things, which could exist separately. 
  • A person with genuine saving faith will not continue to pursue a sinful, rebellious lifestyle.
  • Believing that God is one and He exists is not enough.  It’s possible to fill our heads with a knowledge of the Bible without bowing in humble submission to what it says. 
  • Consider the demons: Knowledge for knowledge sake is worthless. 
  • Faith that is invisible — faith that changes nothing about me — is a useless faith because it is in fact no faith at all.

Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation.

Next: 07 James 2:21-26 Do James and Paul agree, Part 2

Previous: 05 James 2:1-13 What is on the inside counts

Series: James: The Gospel in Shoe Leather

Study: James Resources

Photo by Elisei Abiculesei on Unsplash

04 James 1:19-27 How to respond to the gospel

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04 James 1:19-27 How to respond to the gospel - Bible Study | WednesdayintheWord.com

God has identified our real problem: our sinful, rebellious hearts. God has also identified the only solution: trusting that Jesus Christ died in our place to pay the penalty for our sins.  The real issue is how are you going to respond to this message?  Are you willing to hear God out?

Review

  • James 1:1-8:  James encourages his readers to consider it joy when they go through trials because of the purpose trials serve. 
  • Trials test our faith and the process of proving our faith results in persevering in faith. Persevering in faith is the most valuable thing in this life.
  • What should you do if you realize you lack wisdom and maturity in your life? Ask God.  He is generous and will not hold your foolishness against you.  He can and will bring you to wisdom and maturity. 
  • James 1:9-18: Here is one of those situations where they are acting foolishly and lack wisdom. If you’re poor, what perspective should you have on wealth?  You have no reason to envy the rich unbeliever because you stand to inherit the kingdom of God.
  • If you realize, that’s not your perspective on trials, what’s wrong with you understanding? 
  • James gave two answers. James 1:13-15: you don’t understand yourself rightly; or James 1: 16-18; you don’t understand God rightly.

Passage

19Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;  20for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.  21Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.  – James 1:19-21

  • The interpretative question is: how does this fit in the context? Has James truly switched topics?
  • In James 1:18, James talked about the word of truth (gospel).
  • James 1:21 talks about the word (gospel) again. That suggests continuity.
  • When presented with the word of truth (the gospel message), how are you going to respond?
  • Here’s how: you should be quick (eager) to hear the gospel, slow to talk back to God as if you know a better way, and especially slow to be hostile or angry toward God.
  • Taking these verses as our response to God (rather than each other) also fits the flow of thought with James 1:20.  Getting angry with God will not produce right-standing with God.
  • The only hope for righteousness is found by humbly listening to the gospel message.
  • Strip all that attitude, cast off pride and anger at God, remove the excuses and the back talk just like you would shed filthy clothes. Instead humbly receive the word which will take root in your heart and grow to maturity. 

22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  23For 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.  24For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.  25But 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.  26If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.  27Religion 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 1:22-27

  • Having discussed how we should receive the word, James says we need to do more than hear the word, we have to do it. This is one of the major themes of his letter.
  • What does James think it means to be a doer of the gospel? 
  • James is saying something about the nature of belief itself: namely that belief in the gospel changes the way we live. 
  • Saving faith is not a theological aptitude test that you forget once you turn in your test paper.  We don’t study the Bible just to acquire data. 
  • Saving faith is embracing a certain truths that change your life.  Saving faith has implications. 
  • James is not saying that our works earn our acceptance before God. James is saying that belief makes a difference. 
  • If I really embrace the gospel as true, then it will change my entire life and being.  I will act is if the gospel is true. 
  • The point of  the metaphor in this context is about what happens after we look.  Do we remember or forget?  We are not meant to forget the gospel the way we forget our image in the mirror. 
  • There are many ways belief can be expressed.  We saw one example in in our attitude toward the rich. James gives many more throughout the letter. 
  • James 1:26-27 is another example. If you claim to have faith and embrace the gospel, it should affect your speech. Don’t tell me you consider yourself a Christian when everything that comes out of your mouth contradicts that.  That kind of belief is worthless. 
  • In James’ culture, women and children derived status from the household they belonged to, from the patriarch of the house.  Widows and orphans had the lowest social status because they lacked a patriarch. 
  • James is saying: Don’t tell me you believe the gospel if you act as if the riches of this world make a difference.  Don’t tell me you believe the gospel and talk like those who blaspheme God. Don’t tell me you believe the gospel and live like social status matters.
  • True religion is not concerned with the social status of the people who are in trouble.  True religion is concerned with the fact that these people are in trouble, whoever they are. 

Essentially James says there are 2 responses to the gospel:

  1. James 1:19-21 – humble yourself before God
  2. James 1:22-27 – let the gospel change you from the inside out

Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation.

Next: 05 James 2:1-13 What is on the inside counts

Previous: 03 James 1:9-18 Who is better off: the rich or the poor?

Series: James: The Gospel in Shoe Leather

Study: James Resources

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03 James 1:9-18 Who is better off: the rich or the poor?

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03 James 1:9-18 Who is better off: the rich or the poor? - Bible Study | WednesdayintheWord.com

The futility of putting your hopes and dreams in something that will not last — counting on the temporal rather than the eternal — is the theme of James 1:9-18.

Review

Paraphrase of James 1:1-8

“I know that you have been going through many hardships. I urge you to remember that these hardships test your faith, which is something to value and rejoice in, because the process of proving your faith results in persevering in faith. Persevering in faith is the most valuable thing in this life. This process of persevering in faith under trial has a maturing result in your life so that your faith might be strong and complete, lacking in nothing that a mature believer should have.

“What should you do if you realize you lack the wisdom that comes with mature faith? You should ask God.  He is generous and will not hold your foolishness against you.  He can and will bring you to wisdom and maturity.  Do not be deceived. You must commit yourself to believing in God and that He will answer your prayer.  If your foolishness comes from a lack of belief, do not expect to receive anything from God.”

Now, James raises a new question, as an example of how understanding the gospel changes your perspective: Who is really better off: the rich unbeliever or the poor unbeliever?

9Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,  10and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.  11For 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.  12Blessed 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 1:9-12

  • James 1:12 bookends the theme he began earlier of remaining steadfast through trials.
  • Interpretative question: Are both the rich and the poor in this section believers?
  • If both are believers, one plausible interpretation is: Whether you have wealth or you lack wealth, you should see your life circumstances in view of the gospel.  The goal of life is maturity, not financial wealth.  Whether you are rich or poor, you should boast in the gospel. 
  • If he’s talking poor believers and rich non-believers, James brings up wealth because it is one of the trials his readers are facing.
  • When we see the rich and poor later in the book, the rich are clearly non-believers (James 2:5-7; James 5:1-6). We can see from these passages that rich unbelievers are oppressing the believers. 
  • In context: Here is one of those situations where you are acting foolishly and lack wisdom.
  • The poor believer will be exalted even though he seems lowly now.  The rich unbeliever who seems high and mighty now will be humiliated.
  • The rich unbeliever has thrown away that which will last for something that will pass away.  He will be reduced to humiliation on the day of judgment. 
  • In contrast, those who persevere in faith — who remain steadfast under trial — will inherit everything. 
  • This understanding changes the perspective we have on trials.  Instead of asking, when will this end, we ought to focus on where is this taking me? 
  • Trials confront us with the question: where is true blessing to be found? 

13Let 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.  14But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.  15Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.  16Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17Every 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.  18Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. – James 1:13-18

  • God tests us but He does not tempt us.
  • God puts His people in situations where they must choose to obey Him or not, and their willingness to trust and follow Him is displayed. 
  • The inner desire we feel toward sin in the midst of testing is the pull of our own sinful natures. 
  • God is unable to be tempted since He has no desire for evil. He also has no desire to see evil in His creatures.  Moral failure is our own fault.
  • A second act of foolishness (after blaming God) is to imagine we can manage the downward spiral in our own strength.
  • The downward spiral of temptation leading to death is the opposite pattern of trials, building faith resulting in completeness.
  • Do not be deceived.  It’s not just that every gift that God gives is good, but every good gift comes from God. 

Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation.

Next: 04 James 1:19-27 How to respond to the gospel

Previous: 02 James 1:1-8 Why does God test our faith?

Series: James: The Gospel in Shoe Leather

Study: James Resources

Photo by Elisei Abiculesei on Unsplash

All hardship is not harmful

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A few years ago there was an article in Time magazine called “The Growing Backlash Against Overparenting” by Nancy Gibbs. It began like this:

The insanity crept up on us slowly; we just wanted what was best for our kids. We bought macrobiotic cupcakes and hypoallergenic socks, hired tutors to correct a 5-year-old’s “pencil-holding deficiency,” hooked up broadband connections in the tree house but took down the swing set after the second skinned knee. We hovered over every school, playground and practice field—“helicopter parents,” teachers christened us, a phenomenon that spread to parents of all ages, races and regions.

Stores began marketing stove-knob covers and “Kinderkords” (also known as leashes; they allow “three full feet of freedom for both you and your child”) and Baby Kneepads (as if babies don’t come prepadded). The mayor of a Connecticut town agreed to chop down three hickory trees on one block after a woman worried that a stray nut might drop into her new swimming pool, where her nut-allergic grandson occasionally swam. A Texas school required parents wanting to help with the second-grade holiday party to have a background check first. Schools auctioned off the right to cut the carpool line and drop a child directly in front of the building — a spot that in other settings is known as handicapped parking.

We were so obsessed with our kids’ success that parenting turned into a form of product development. Parents demanded that nursery schools offer Mandarin, since it’s never too soon to prepare for the competition of a global economy. High school teachers received irate text messages from parents protesting an exam grade before class was even over; college deans described freshmen as “crispies,” who arrived at college already burned out, and “teacups,” who seemed ready to break at the tiniest stress.

What has turned us into “helicopter parents?” When did we learn that all hardship is harmful, that every unknown is dangerous, and that even the tiniest failure must be avoided?

Perhaps the answer is when we lost our belief in God.  Overparenting is a logical conclusion if we alone are responsible for everything.  Without a God who is in control, I alone am responsible; I alone have to make the world safe for my children;  I alone have to navigate the stormy waters of life and defend myself and my family against every danger.

But the Bible teaches that we are not alone.

Instead, we are cared for by One who intends that we have life “in abundance.” Further, the hardships of life come our way to produce good — not damage — as we grow in faith.

Consider some of the images for trials and suffering we find in the New Testament: a gardener prunes a vine so that it will be fruitful (John 15:1-2); a wise parent disciplines children (Heb. 12:7-9); a fiery crucible purifies gold (1Pet. 1:6-7).  Scripture teaches repeatedly that good comes from hardship.

As James teaches in chapter 1, faith grows when it is tested.  James started his letter with the admonition to rejoice in trials and hardships because they have a purpose.  That purpose is to mature and strengthen our faith.

02 James 1:1-8 Why does God test our faith?

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02 James 1:1-8 Why does God test our faith? - Bible Study | WednesdayintheWord.com

James 1:1-8 is one of the most important passages of the book.  It sets the tone, the theme and the foundation for the rest of the letter.  If we get this passage wrong, it is like grabbing the salt instead of the sugar.  It will change the entire flavor and understanding of the letter.

Passage

1:1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.  2Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,  3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  – James 1:1-4

  • James uses two phrases in these verses: trials (1:2) and the testing of our faith (1:3).
  • A trial puts our faith under pressure to reveal the nature or quality of it. 
  • The second phrase — “testing of your faith” —  points to the result of the testing; the proving or the result of the trial. 
  • James is talking about any circumstance that tests us and proves the quality of our faith.
  • The trial does not test my worthiness for salvation; it is not a test of my character; or whether or not I’m sinful.
  • The question being tested is: do we have real, genuine, saving faith or not?
  • Perseverance (steadfastness) is to continue, not give up, or endure.
  • We rejoice in trials because we know that the testing process brings about perseverance. Perseverance is so valuable that it is worth going through trials to gain it. 
  • Because of the value of the gospel, we are willing to face whatever life brings and rejoice that we stand to inherit so great a treasure. 
  • To be able to rejoice in my trials is to be in a place where I understand the value of the gospel in a real and practical way.
  • Happiness is the feeling of euphoria that results when good and exciting things happen.  Joy is that sense of satisfaction of knowing good will result. 
  • God loves us too much to change our circumstances without changing our hearts.
  • It is crucially important that we have faith.  Trials are part of the process of maturing and strengthening our faith.  Thus, we consider the result of the trial and rejoice, knowing what we stand to gain is worth the trial now.

4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. – James 1:4-5

  • Something is “perfect” (1:4) when it has arrived at its intended goal. An acorn is perfect when it has grown into an oak tree.
  • 1:4 “full effect”: This is the Greek word for “work.” The basic idea of “work” is an action, something I actually do.  James’ primary concern in this letter is that our actions reflect what we say we believe. 
  • To lack wisdom is to be a fool.  If I lack wisdom, I am immature and foolish.  I do not understand life the way God does. 
  • Perseverance is meant to lead to mature perfect faith, so our faith lacks nothing. What would our immature faith lack?  Wisdom, seeing the world the way God sees it. 
  • If we lack wisdom, we should ask God who gives to all generously without reproach.  God would not reproach me for not knowing which college to attend. But He could reproach me for being a fool.
  • James is not talking about finding God’s will for my life, but rather whether or not I have a wise perspective on life. 
  • Maturity is not perfect obedience.  Nor is maturity being tough.

5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  6But 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.  7For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;  8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.  – James 1:5-8

  • Compare with Mark 11:20-24.
  • Neither James nor Jesus is saying that, if you believe hard enough, you will get what you ask for. 
  • Jesus says (Luke 17:6; Matt 17:20) we only need faith the size of a mustard seed. 
  • The biblical picture of God is as a loving father who like any wise parent says yes and no out of love. 
  • The disciples have seen a miracle.  Jesus called on God to wither the fig tree and it happened.  They are shocked.  Jesus is speaking to that reaction. “I am the Messiah, praying to the Father to do a miracle that attests to my identity and authority and also teaches a lesson through a kind of parable.  Why would that surprise you?”
  • IF I’m asking God to do something and I don’t know whether He promised it or not, it is appropriate to have confidence that He CAN do it, but not appropriate to have confidence that He WILL do it.
  • Doubt is wavering between two options without committing to one or the other. To doubt when it comes to faith is to waver in whether I believe in God or not. 
  • The one who doubts is like the waves driven and tossed by the wind.  He is not like a tree that stands its ground when the wind blows. 
  • Being double-minded is being hypocritical;  what we say we believe is not really what we believe.
  • The person who asks of God and then also has his plan B to take matters into his own hands, that person will not receive anything. 
  • You either trust God or you don’t. 
  • Honest doubt which is confusion or fear is okay.  But doubt that is hostility to God is a problem. 

James is not saying:

  • James is not promising ask God which job you should take but ask without doubt because otherwise he won’t tell you anything. 
  • Neither is James teaching that the reason hardship continues is because you haven’t yet found the right way to ask God, that is you haven’t yet asked with a 100% doubt-free faith.

James is saying: 

  • God puts trials and hardships in your life to grow your weak immature faith into everything it was meant to be. 
  • If you look at your life see immature faith that lacks wisdom, James says, you should call out to God, who is generous and capable and will do what He promises. 
  • God will accept the most immature and foolish person who humbly asks for mercy. 

Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation.

Next: 03 James 1:9-18 Who is better off: the rich or the poor?

Previous: 01 James Who was James?

Series: James: The Gospel in Shoe Leather

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