Summary & Commentary on Book of James, The New Testament Bible, New King James version

In preparation of the Book of James Bible study we are going to do tomorrow and Friday in church, I thought I better value add myself and apply what I have learnt in my law foundations on doing a case summary and providing some commentary to the Book of James. Comments welcome!

The Book of James is a letter James has written to the 12 tribes to encourage them in their pursue of Christian faith. You see, it is easy to say you believe in Christ, but it sure hard to be a Christian, cos you got to emulate Christ to be a Christ-ian. Getit?

Chapter 1 started pretty in-your-face. On face value, it seems James wasted no time in idle chatter and went straight into what he wants the 12 tribes to know:

1) On trials and tribulation
Be joyful when faced with trials because the testing of your faith produces patience.
If you lack wisdom, just ask God in faith. I like it how he visualises a man without faith to be a wave in the sea, tossed and turned by the winds.

2) The perspective of rich and poor
Main point: be careful if you are rich, it seems you might be 'passed away like flower in the field', 'grass withering away in the scorching sun', 'beauty appearances withers as the flowers withers'. James is quite a poet!

3) Loving God when you are in trials
You get brownie points if you can endure temptations because the chain of command is thus; when one is tempted, desire is conceived, sin is birthed, death is brought forth. And just so you don't know already, ALL good and perfect gifts come from heaven. I am hearting James' poetic description of us being the example of the good and perfect gift from heaven because God spoke us into existence (Book of Genesis) and WE are the tithe of all creatures.

So, let us all be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath (v19). More brownie points here!

4) Be do-ers
If you just hear the word spoken to you and not act on it, you are just looking at yourself in the mirror and once you walk away, you will forget how you look like. How good are James’ descriptions?! According to him as well, if you do good, you will be blessed in whatever you do. And by religion to God, it means visiting orphans and widows in their trouble and keep yourself away from the world. o.O

Chapter 2
1) Beware
I bet you didn't know James was already preaching about equality in AD100s. Being the Shakespearean he is, he said not to hold rich men in fine apparels and gold rings in high esteem and poor men in filthy clothes to stand in a corner. James reminded us of the commandment 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself' and not to show any partiality. And boy, if you show partiality to anyone, you commit sin; you will be convicted by the law as transgressors. And dun you think at any point that being partial is a smaller sin than being a murderer, because he had cleverly pointed out 'For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.' (v10). Still, we ought to carry ourselves with mercy in mind, cos being judgemental is a no, no as well.^^

2) More on faith
Repeat after me: Faith without works is dead. And works without faith is dead as well.

Example 1: What is the use of you saying to a destitute person 'Depart in peace, be warm and filled' but you do not give any warmth and food to the person?

Example 2: Abraham, when he offered his son Isaac to the altar for God, is exercising his faith together with works. Faith and works go hand in hand.

Chapter 3
1) Your tongue
James is quite a storyteller! I like how he describes the importance of your tongue; putting bits in horses' mouth to control the horse, large ships being controlled by small rudders and that if you are able to control your words, you are a perfect man (or woman. I insist on being politically correct).

He further describes how much damage a tongue could do in visual terms; how a small kindle of fire can burn a forest down. You see, even beasts, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea, were tamed by Adam's tongue (Book of Genesis). With your tongue, you can choose to curse and poison someone, or you can choose to bless and exalt. You gotta choose, because, as James aptly visualises as well, a spring cannot bring forth fresh and bitter water at the same time, nor a fig tree bear olives and a grapevine bear figs.

2) Wisdom
Need I say anything else? V17 and 18 describes heavenly wisdom we all should practice: 'But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.' :)

Chapter 4
1) Pride and wars
The real reason for war, according to James, is the lust for what you do not have. And pride comes about when you covet and spend on your pleasures. Come on guys, be friends with God, not with the world where temptations are abound.

2) Humility
Submit to God and humble yourself before Him. You can easily resist the devil and he will flee from you. Is that good or what?!

3) Judging
Again James discussed about not being judgemental and speak evil against one and other. Haha, I like how James ended with 'Who are you to judge another?' Damn sarcastic, but I rike.

4) Boasting
Dun boast that you can do such and such a thing, make a profit here and there. We all ought to always keep God in our vision line in all things we do. James' description reminds me of some people I know and ain't exactly impressed with. >.< Wake up call!

Chapter 5
1) On being rich and corrupted
I think James has got beef with people who are rich and corrupted. Quite scary if he is talking about you; your garments are moth-eaten, Your gold and silver are corroded and the corrosion will eat your flesh like fire (@.@).

2) Be patient!
If we could be as patient as the farmer who waits for the harvest of his crops to wait for the 2nd coming of Christ, we surely will be rewarded. Need I say again how I like James the poet?

Dun grumble against one another and look to Job as an example of perseverance (Book of Job). Oh yes, let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’, ‘No’ be ‘No’. Savvy?

3) Meeting Specific Needs
James then listed down some very practical ways to meet needs:
You suffering? Pray
You cheerful? Sing psalms
You sick? Let the elders of the church pray for him
You committed sins? You will be forgiven when you confess to one another and pray for one another.

James’ example – Elijah (Book of 1 Kings), who is like any of us, prayed for no rain and there is no rain on the land for 3 years and 6 months. And when he prayed for rain, the heaven gave rain. Wow.

Lastly, James ended the letter with another of his nugget; that for those who turn a sinner from the error of his ways will save a soul from death and redemption from sins. I wonder why James being a good writer he is, did not end the letter in a more endearing way.

I personally feel James’ letter is very useful to all beginner Christians as well as mature ones, as I am a firm believer in check and balances every now and then to keep yourself in line. This Book may not be an end-all on how to be a good Christian, but it is definitely a good place to start.

Well, time flies when we are having fun. Tomorrow, I might attempt the Book of Habakkuk, which I was told is an interesting book as well.