The first verse of the chapter might seem pretty simple, telling you who James is and who he is speaking to.
That is what I thought as well, until I looked it up in a commentary. Then my mind changed. It is a much deeper verse than it seems at first. Here is the first commentary note on it. There are two more notes but this one caught my eye the most. Please, by all means, take a look at the other notes. So interesting.
(commentary info taken from Bible Gateway and it's the Matthew Henry's commentary)
Verse 1 ~ James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
I. The character by which our author desires to be known: James, a servant of God, and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was a prime-minister in Christ’s kingdom, yet he styles himself only a servant. Note hence, Those who are highest in office or attainments in the church of Christ are but servants. They should not therefore act as masters, but as ministers. Further, Though James is called by the evangelist the brother of our Lord, yet it was his glory to serve Christ in the spirit, rather than to boast of his being akin according to the flesh. Hence let us learn to prize this title above all others in the world—the servants of God and of Christ. Again, it is to be observed that James professes himself a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ; to teach us that in all services we should have an eye to the Son as well as the Father. We cannot acceptably serve the Father, unless we are also servants of the Son. God will have all men to honour the Son as they honour the Father (John 5:23), looking for acceptance in Christ and assistance from him, and yielding all obedience to him, thus confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.The biggest reason this one caught my eye was because James was at a high rank in the eyes of God but still wanted to be addressed as a "servant". Before reading the commentary I would have never realized this fact. Another note for verse 1 is that he says not only is he a servant of God but also of the Lord Jesus Christ. Seemed a little redundant as I read it the first time or two but then after you read the commentary notes, you see that God and the Lord Jesus Christ are both mentioned because, as the commentary says, "we cannot acceptably serve the Father, unless we are servants of the Son." OK, that makes me go whoa, a little. Basically, here then he is saying not only am I servant of God but I also follow and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. The importance of understanding the trinity is clear here. You can't have one without the others; they are all one. Powerful message in half a verse. The other half of verse one is pretty self explanatory. It is written to the the twelve tribes. It does mention however that the tribes are scattered among nations. But makes sense over time that the tribes naturally moved around.
Verse 2 ~ Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
Now lets just start by saying, how many of us see a trial in our life and immediately react with joy? No, that does not happen. Many times we react with our flesh rather than respond with our spirit to trials. I'll bet that every single one of us would love if our reaction was in fact joy when we face trials. If you're like me, your reaction is more likely one of "why" or "no", or, if I am honest, one of anger or resentment at first. Then usually, after awhile, when I have resigned myself to the fact that it is God who has put a trial in my path, my heart goes to a more submissive or even desperate place. After that phase I eventually find my way to the final stage and preferred response which, lets face it, happens at the end of the trial, or sometimes even after, of joy and thankfulness or of realizing the growth that was obtained through the trial. Sigh. I see how much work God still has to do in me to get my reaction to be joy. My friends, it's so important to remember that our Father knows it all and is right there in the midst of our trials. He has seen it all. And also keep in mind that he 'works all things together for the good of those who love Him'. The last part of verse 2 I like because it specifies that there will be trials of many kinds. That has a calming effect on my heart reading that. It reminds my heart that God already knows the trials we will face and in this phrase he acknowledges this.
Verse 3 ~ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance
This verse conveys a different idea entirely because it talks about not only faith but also testing your faith. Faith can be such a touchy thing because we feel so unsure of even what faith is. We struggle with if we have enough of it. We read the verse that says "if you have faith of a mustard seed". Have you ever seen a mustard seed? It's so tiny. This reminds me of something I heard someone say once, "You don't need big faith in God, you just need faith in a big God." We know how faithful God is and has been, not only in the stories we read in the Bible, but I hope also in our own lives. I know He has been so faithful in my life that I can't not give Him credit. So my dear ones, how can we not have faith in the One that gave His life for us?
Secondly, in that same phrase, he mentions that this testing produces perseverance. Perseverance seems like its a big word with scary ramifications. Let's look at the word:
per·se·ver·ance - noun steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. (from Google)
What does it take to have perseverance then ? Going through some trials perhaps. Huh... Amazing how we are right back where this verse started. Perseverance wouldn't happen if life was always easy and always worked out the way we wanted it to. And where would our faith be? Well, we wouldn't need it. The biggest thing I see here is that we also wouldn't need to reach out to our Savior if we didn't have trials to persevere through or we also wouldn't need faith. Ah, so cool to me how every verse of the Bible leads us back to our Father in some way. No way around it.
Verse 4 ~ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
This verse is pretty full of information.
(Commentary taken from Bible Gateway Matthew Henry's Commentary)
(2.) We must let it have its perfect work. Do nothing to limit it nor to weaken it; but let it have its full scope: if one affliction come upon the heels of another, and a train of them are drawn upon us, yet let patience go on till its work is perfected. When we bear all that God appoints, and as long as he appoints, and with a humble obedient eye to him, and when we not only bear troubles, but rejoice in them, then patience hath its perfect work. (3.) When the work of patience is complete, then the Christian is entire, and nothing will be wanting: it will furnish us with all that is necessary for our Christian race and warfare, and will enable us to persevere to the end, and then its work will be ended, and crowned with glory. After we have abounded in other graces, we have need of patience, Heb. 10:36. But let patience have its perfect work, and we shall be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
This commentary describes it well but also really makes me want to hide. I mean, some of that is a tough pill to swallow. Essentially I read that and go, "I am done for." I mean, how many times have I tried to fight God's work in me? I don't want to even admit how many times. It is so tough to enter a hard time and have your first thought be, 'oh good.' Wish it was, but we have to remember God knows this. He knows our weaknesses. He created us, right? Nothing is out of His hands or reach. Persevering through tough stuff makes us more like Him if we let Him. Perhaps we don't dance with joy when see trials. But what if we let God do His will through it with open hands and a humble heart? He knows how hard it is. Let us remember he said "My God, My God why have you forsaken me?" He knows how it feels to have to do something when you're feeling alone. He was dying for us, the ones who put Him there, and he felt like God had left Him. Although He knew God hadn't abandoned him, He still felt it. So even though we feel alone, we can have faith that God's hand is still there and He's still guiding us.
Who doesn't want to be 'mature and complete, not lacking in anything?" I know that I do for sure. How much stuff would you go through to hear the words, "you're mature?" A lot, even to hear it from the ones we love, right? So how much are you willing to go through or endure to hear the words "well done, good and faithful servant?" Let us bring ourselves back to the first verse of the chapter where it says "James, a servant of God and the Savior Jesus Christ," He had considered himself a servant but, in all reality, he could have been called an important leader. He chose the humbled name, feeling like it was more fitting. Someday I hope I can be humble enough to even obtain the title of servant. The only place where we will be mature and complete, not lacking in anything is when we are standing in front of our Father with no leg to stand on. On the ground with no words to even say. All He asks of us is to go through the trials He has designed for us by leaning on Him. My work is cut out for me. A ton of humbling and persevering is needed to get this heart ready to serve Him.
Oh my goodness, my heart is so overwhelmed with all I have learned in these few verses. I really pray that it touches you as well.
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