As the Lord led me to
meditate on this chapter recently I have been encouraged not only by
the Scripture, but also by reading Matthew Henry's concise commentary
notes on it. A little lengthy, but well worth the time. I hope this
is a blessing to some of you, as it was to me.
~Brittany
James 1:1-11
“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For
the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the
grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of
it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.”
Christianity
teaches men to be joyful under troubles: such exercises are sent from
God's love; and trials in the way of duty will brighten our graces now,
and our crown at last. Let us take care, in times of trial, that patience, and not passion, is set to work in us:
whatever is said or done, let patience have the saying and doing of
it. When the work of patience is complete, it will furnish all that is
necessary for our Christian race and warfare. We should not pray so much for the removal of affliction, as for wisdom to make a right use of it.
And who does not want wisdom to guide him under trials, both in
regulating his own spirit, and in managing his affairs? Here is
something in answer to every discouraging turn of the mind, when we go
to God under a sense of our own weakness and folly. If, after all, any
should say, This may be the case with some, but I fear I shall not
succeed, the promise is, To any that asketh, it shall be given. A
mind that has single and prevailing regard to its spiritual and
eternal interest, and that keeps steady in its purposes for God, will
grow wise by afflictions, will continue fervent in devotion, and rise
above trials and oppositions. When our faith and spirits rise and fall
with second causes, there will be unsteadiness in our words and actions. This may not always expose men to contempt in the world, but such ways cannot please God. No condition of life is such as to hinder rejoicing in God.
Those of low degree may rejoice, if they are exalted to be rich in
faith and heirs of the kingdom of God; and the rich may rejoice in
humbling providences, that lead to a humble and lowly disposition of
mind. Worldly wealth is a withering thing. Then, let him that is rich
rejoice in the grace of God, which makes and keeps him humble; and in
the trials and exercises which teach him to seek happiness in and from
God, not from perishing enjoyments. - MHCC
James 1:12-18
“Blessed
is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall
receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that
love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every
good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from
the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of
turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”
It
is not every man who suffers, that is blessed; but he who with
patience and constancy goes through all difficulties in the way of
duty. Afflictions cannot make us miserable, if it be not our
own fault. The tried Christian shall be a crowned one. The crown of
life is promised to all who have the love of God reigning in their
hearts. Every soul that truly loves God, shall have its trials in this
world fully recompensed in that world above, where love is made
perfect. The commands of God, and the dealings of his providence, try men's hearts, and show the dispositions which prevail in them.
But nothing sinful in the heart or conduct can be ascribed to God. He
is not the author of the dross, though his fiery trial exposes it.
Those who lay the blame of sin, either upon their constitution, or upon
their condition in the world, or pretend they cannot keep from
sinning, wrong God as if he were the author of sin. Afflictions, as sent by God, are designed to draw out our graces, but not our corruptions.
The origin of evil and temptation is in our own hearts. Stop the
beginnings of sin, or all the evils that follow must be wholly charged
upon us. God has no pleasure in the death of men, as he has no hand in
their sin; but both sin and misery are owing to themselves. As the sun
is the same in nature and influences, though the earth and clouds, often
coming between, make it seem to us to vary, so God is unchangeable, and our changes and shadows are not from any changes or alterations in him.
What the sun is in nature, God is in grace, providence, and glory; and
infinitely more. As every good gift is from God, so particularly our
being born again, and all its holy, happy consequences come from him. A
true Christian becomes as different a person from what he was before
the renewing influences of Divine grace, as if he were formed over
again. We should devote all our faculties to God's service, that we may
be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures. -MHCC
James 1:19-21
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore
lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive
with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”
Instead of blaming God under our trials, let us open our ears and hearts to learn what he teaches by them. And if men would govern their tongues, they must govern their passions. The worst thing we can bring to any dispute, is anger.
Here is an exhortation to lay apart, and to cast off as a filthy
garment, all sinful practices. This must reach to sins of thought and
affection, as well as of speech and practice; to every thing corrupt and
sinful. We must yield ourselves to the word of God, with humble and
teachable minds. Being willing to hear of our faults, taking it not only
patiently, but thankfully. It is the design of the word of God to make
us wise to salvation; and those who propose any mean or low ends in
attending upon it, dishonour the gospel, and disappoint their own souls. -MHCC
James 1:22-25
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But
whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein,
he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man
shall be blessed in his deed.”
If
we heard a sermon every day of the week, and an angel from heaven were
the preacher, yet, if we rested in hearing only, it would never bring
us to heaven. Mere hearers are self-deceivers; and self-deceit will be
found the worst deceit at last. If we flatter ourselves, it is our own
fault; the truth, as it is in Jesus, flatters no man. Let the word of
truth be carefully attended to, and it will set before us the corruption
of our nature, the disorders of our hearts and lives; and it will tell
us plainly what we are. Our sins are the spots the law discovers:
Christ's blood is the laver the gospel shows. But
in vain do we hear God's word, and look into the gospel glass, if we
go away, and forget our spots, instead of washing them off; and forget
our remedy, instead of applying to it. This is the case with
those who do not hear the word as they ought. In hearing the word, we
look into it for counsel and direction, and when we study it, it turns
to our spiritual life. Those who keep in the law and word of God, are,
and shall be, blessed in all their ways. His gracious recompence hereafter, would be connected with his present peace and comfort.
Every part of Divine revelation has its use, in bringing the sinner to
Christ for salvation, and in directing and encouraging him to walk at
liberty, by the Spirit of adoption, according to the holy commands of
God. And mark the distinctness, it is not for his deeds, that any man is
blessed, but in his deed. It is not talking, but walking, that will
bring us to heaven. Christ will become more precious to the believer's
soul, which by his grace will become more fitted for the inheritance of
the saints in light. -MHCC
James 1:26-27
“If
any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue,
but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure
religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the
fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself
unspotted from the world.”
When
men take more pains to seem religious than really to be so, it is a
sign their religion is in vain. The not bridling the tongue, readiness
to speak of the faults of others, or to lessen their wisdom and piety,
are signs of a vain religion. The man who has a slandering tongue,
cannot have a truly humble, gracious heart. False religious may be known
by their impurity and uncharitableness. True religion teaches us to do every thing as in the presence of God. An unspotted life must go with unfeigned love and charity. Our true religion is equal to the measure in which these things have place in our hearts and conduct. And let us remember, that nothing avails in Christ Jesus, but faith that worketh by love, purifies the heart, subdues carnal lusts, and obeys God's commands. -MHCC
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