"James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:1-4) [NIV]
"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14) [KJV]
Open: What causes you the most stress in life? What do you typically do when stressed out?
Back Ground Comments:
It is important to note to who James addresses his letter to. It was to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad. “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations ...” (James 1:1) He was writing to these early Christians who were, in his words, “scattered among the nations.” The Greek word is diaspora. We get our word “disperse or dispersion” from this word. It's a picture of someone scattering seed. Or in our time, using a walk behind seed spreader. Beginning with the death of Stephen in Acts 8, the Christians in Jerusalem were scattered through the known Roman world. Persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem and the Bible tells us that “... all except the apostles were scattered throughout the world ...” (Acts 8:1).
As we look at this dispersion today, we quickly see that God permitted this test on the Jerusalem church for a purpose. If they had not been scattered throughout the world, the Gospel would not have spread. The result of this diaspora was that in one single generation the Gospel spread all throughout the known world.
James was writing this letter to those Christian Jews who were scattered outside of Palestine. He was writing to those who had been dispersed. He was writing to those who had to leave their homes and their jobs and their properties. However, this is not just a letter to Christian Jews outside of Palestine in the 1st century world. There is a real sense in which all Christians are in the diaspora. We are living in exile from our eternal, heavenly home. So you see, this letter is a letter from God to each of us. Behind the hand of James is the very hand of God Himself penning these words for “ ... no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.” (2 Peter 1:20-21) [NLT]
James is writing to Christians who are facing all kinds of “trials” - stresses. He was teaching them, and us, how to deal with stress and pressure that life brings. He is writing to those of us who are dealing with or will deal with it. Yet, at the same time he is writing to those who are wrestling with how to live out what they believe in a stressful world. As we continue our series for the next five weeks you will notice that James is extremely practical and at times critical in his encouragement for each of us to find margin in our life.
I want you to take a moment and think about the people who were the first readers of this letter. There were women who were at their wit's end. They had been uprooted from their homes, their “nests.” They found themselves struggling to keep the home together even though they were hundreds of miles away. He was writing to children who were trying to deal with new surroundings and uncertain futures, living now in a completely different culture. He was writing to men and women who were literally hanging by a thread and who were under tremendous pressure and intense stress. It's as if these words were written directly to those of us who take our High calling serious and are experiencing high anxiety.
One of the greatest secrets of life, one which I am in the process of learning, is the ability to react properly under stress and pressure. As the verses of James 1 unfold in the weeks to come, we will see that James is addressing the issues which are not simply applicable to a 1st century world but just as valid for a 21st century world. I pray that in the next five weeks you will find a word from God for your heart and life.
Explore: Many say that stress can be predictable, problematic, paradoxical, purposeful and profitable. How is this true? Look at each one of these 5 “P” words and give an answer for each.
Get it: Stress mainly comes into our life because, one, we bring it upon ourselves, two, the Lord uses it to redirect us and three, because we’re living as Christians ought to live. Why do you most frequently experience it?
Apply: How can you turn your stress into something profitable?
Quoted from”Life Application Bible”, Illumina, Serendipity Bible and “High Calling, High Anxiety" by O.S. Hawkins
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