Tag: Flesh

As James concludes his letter, he discusses the need for one another as put our faith on full display.  Throughout the course of James’ letter, he has constantly exhorted his readers to take the faith they held in their soul and express it outward.  Yet, as a member of the body of Christ, we are not to go through our spiritual path on our own.  We are guided by the mentors and leaders who have gone before us to show us how to walk in our faith.  We have our peers and friends to hold one another up and challenge one another along the way.  Furthermore, we guide those who come after us.  For the Christian to successfully be connected to his or her Christian community, there is a minimum of three generations of interaction, each one providing different opportunities and challenges for the believer.  

We will at some point experience the corruption of others around us.  Yet, this should not shake our faith.  The God we serve is an eternal God who is drawing all things to Himself.  At the end of time itself, it is God who will stand in Judgment over the wicked and the righteous.  Until then, we must not fall into the same trap as the wicked in pursuing gain, but remain steadfast and patient waiting on the Lord, speaking with wholeness and integrity. James continues to discuss the connection between faith and works, specifically in the face of the wealth and power that the world offers.  Our God is eternal and our strength comes from God whose strength will never run out.  

James continues his discussion of wisdom and how we apply it to our lives as Christians. James begins with a rhetorical question challenging to the reader to take a look inward and ask “Am I wise?”  Wisdom goes beyond a simple understanding of what is right.  While wisdom includes understanding, it goes beyond that.  Wisdom, and thus a wise person, applies what they have learned.  Yet, this wisdom is easily contrasted with the wisdom of the world.  The world will encourage us to pursue selfish gain over and at the expense of others.  The wisdom of Heaven, though, strives for a greater and deeper expression of a life changed and redeemed by an everlasting God.  

James continues his discussion of wisdom and how we apply it to our lives as Christians. James begins with a rhetorical question challenging to the reader to take a look inward and ask “Am I wise?”  Wisdom goes beyond a simple understanding of what is right.  While wisdom includes understanding, it goes beyond that.  Wisdom, and thus a wise person, applies what they have learned.  Yet, this wisdom is easily contrasted with the wisdom of the world.  The world will encourage us to pursue selfish gain over and at the expense of others.  The wisdom of Heaven, though, strives for a greater and deeper expression of a life changed and redeemed by an everlasting God.