I always have mixed feelings when I am about to teach the Book of James. It seems as though James and I go into a room . . . and only one of us comes out . . . and it\u2019s not me. And if you look in the room after James exits you will see me in a crumpled-up pile on the floor. It\u2019s reminiscent of an old \u201cBeetle Bailey\u201d cartoon, where there\u2019s a frame showing \u201cBeetle\u201d after \u201cSarge\u201d is done with him . . . Beetle is left lying in a pile of arms and legs all akimbo.<\/p>\n
Yes, the one thing about the Book of James that is so terrifying to me is that he always goes right for my heart, my character . . . no holds barred. He doesn\u2019t soft-soap it. And when he is finished with me, I see myself as I really am, and I\u2019m not too happy with it. He cuts away all the ego that I associate with my good deeds, the honorable veneer, the respectful greetings in the marketplace . . . I\u2019m left with nothing of my own. And there I am in a pile on the floor, and then he leaves the room. But though it hurts, it\u2019s the best medicine for me, because he doesn\u2019t leave me alone. He leaves me with something to fix me . . . a humble return to the cross.<\/p>\n
As he leaves he gives me the solution . . .<\/p>\n
\u201cIf any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without insult, and it will be given him\u201d (1:5).<\/em><\/p>\n And then he adds,<\/p>\n \u201cHumble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you\u201d (4:8-10).<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBut,\u201d I plead as he walks out the door, \u201cwhat did I do that was so wrong?\u201d He responds,<\/p>\n \u201cDo not hold your faith in our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with an attitude of partiality\u201d (2:1)<\/em><\/p>\n Ahhh . . . there it is . . . partiality. We all know what that is. It\u2019s playing favorites with someone because they elevate you before men. It\u2019s honoring the rich, the famous, as if they were godlier. It\u2019s trying to get status before men, instead of humility before God. It\u2019s hoping someone notices your humble deeds that you did for their viewing. It\u2019s ignoring those who aren\u2019t as well off as we. It\u2019s that irritable response when someone invades our space. And it goes on and on.<\/p>\n It would seem that when one teaches the Book of James one could escape self-analysis since, as a teacher, one is applying the book to their audience . . . telling them to shape up . . . loading guilt on them, not on themselves. But this is not the case with the Book of James. James is talking about \u201cyou,\u201d the reader, which becomes clear from all the second person pronouns throughout the book (\u201cyou\u201d or \u201cyour\u201d occurs 112 times). So even though one teaches or preaches the book, he cannot escape the fact that James is accusing him, the reader. So to take the book and use it for the condemnation of others, as is so often done, and allow yourself to escape the intense scrutiny that James intended, is to do exactly what James is warning the reader not to do . . . become more self-righteous than others (2:4). In other words, the way the book is taught reveals more about the teacher than it does the one at whom the teacher points his finger (3:1).<\/p>\n So, now you can see why I have such a difficult time with this book . . . because James is constantly sitting next to me, commenting on every action . . . clearing his throat so as to get my attention, \u201cAhem . . . Ahem.\u201d<\/em> If I express irritation at a driver in traffic, I hear him clear his throat and say, \u201cDoes a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?\u201d (2:13)<\/em>. Or if I ignore someone needy for someone more prosperous, I hear him say something like, \u201cIsn\u2019t that putting the rich man up front and the poor man at your footstool?\u201d (2:2-3).<\/em> Or perhaps it might be my overly frugal nature when there is a believer in need and he will say, \u201cIsn\u2019t that telling them to be warmed and filled of themselves (2:15-16) . . . well, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/em> And then he always follows it up with . . .\u201dWhere is that coming from . . . God? . . . or your covetous nature? (1:13-16) . . . make up your mind . . . And don\u2019t say that your partiality and anger is from God (1:20) . . . which leaves only one other place it can come from . . . demons\u201d (3:14-16).<\/em><\/p>\n He\u2019s there in every dialogue that I have . . . with my wife, my pastor, my Sunday School class, the nursing home, while driving the car in traffic . . . well you know . . . all the time.<\/p>\n And then after I\u2019m done studying the book, he still stays with me.<\/p>\n \u201cAh hem! Ah hem!\u201d<\/em> he states. Then he continues, \u201cWhere did that come from? It wasn\u2019t from God, now was it? (1:13-16).<\/em><\/p>\n One more thing . . . there is something James wants you to know that is much more hidden, much more unrealized, much more frightening (5:19-20). It is the self-delusion that one is godly based on wrong thinking. He has confused the world\u2019s values for God\u2019s truth (1:13-16). And since he doesn\u2019t know the Scriptures he has no ability to perceive his own depraved reasoning. He thinks he is doing just fine (3:14). He doesn\u2019t ever hear James\u2019 \u201cAhem . . . Ahem!\u201d<\/em> or James\u2019 subtle condemnation. Instead he leaves the book thinking James has confirmed his spirituality, and by comparison has confirmed others\u2019 lack of spirituality. So be sure you listen for James, because if you don\u2019t hear him, there\u2019s something wrong.<\/p>\n So, as I upload the \u201cIntroduction to James\u201d (located under \u201cCommentaries,\u201d \u201cJames\u201d), I would like to introduce you to James, a bondservant (1:1) of our Lord Jesus Christ of Glory (2:1). He wrote this book and I want you to listen to him for a time. He will teach you the Scriptures. Oh, by the way, once you read his book he will not leave you either. You\u2019ll be so glad you met him. He will walk beside you . . . and if you let him . . . he will keep taking you to the same place . . . over and over again . . . to a hill just outside of Jerusalem . . . where the world was changed . . . a place where once stood . . . the old rugged cross (4:10, 5:15).<\/p>\n \u201cAhem! Ahem!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [Refer to \u201cIntroduction to James,\u201d listed under \u201cCommentaries,\u201d \u201cJames.\u201d]<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0[For more information on the wisdom of God (revelation) and the wisdom of man (lust), and how man operates from lust but calls it godly, see \u201cThe Knowledge of Good and Evil,\u201d under \u201cArticles.\u201d]<\/em><\/p>\n Written:\u00a0 Dr. Charles Baylis, June 3, 2015<\/p>\n Photo Credit:\u00a0 The Mount of Beatitudes looking across to the Sea of Galilee, Photo by Charles Baylis, March 11, 2010<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I always have mixed feelings when I am about to teach the Book of James. 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