WEEKLY
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
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international Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday August 2, 2020
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FAITH AND WISDOM
(Faith and endurance)
(James 1:1-18)
The epistle of James was written to the Jewish Christian
Diaspora for the purpose of providing them with practical instructions to live
by, concerning “the Christian way”. It contains many short, proverbial sayings,
and reflects in a remarkable way, JESUS’ teachings from HIS famous “Sermon on
the Mount”.
Here
in this letter, James, the brother of JESUS, addresses the issues of Pride,
James believed that “professed Christians”
should be able to “show the World an outer expression of the inner
transformation that had taken place in their hearts”. The world needs to see
how the Gospel of CHRIST really does change the lives of those who choose to
follow JESUS and continue to walk in the newness of HIS light.
Christians are to adhere to the ways of an
unchanging GOD, and to stand with confidence in GOD continuously. We need to
show the World, through our behavior on a daily basis, that Christianity really
does produce the best men and women.
As followers of CHRIST, we need “wisdom” if
we want to know what GOD wants us to do, and when we ask HIM to disclose HIS
perfect Will to us, HE will gladly and plainly tell us, and, HE will never
resent us for asking (v.5). When we ask GOD for things that are within HIS
Will, we should be of the mindset that we know that HE will deliver it to us. For
instance, if we ask for rain, we should not then turn around and leave home
without an umbrella.
In verses 9-11 James says that Christians who
are poor should be glad, because when they came to CHRIST, GOD honored them
with HIS eternal salvation. On the other hand, James says that Christians who
are rich should also be glad, because when they recognized that they still need
GOD, they became “humble enough” to have “eternal salvation” added to their “fading
and temporal”, worldly treasures. As a result, they won’t have to fade away
with all of their wealth and achievements of this life.
Here in this chapter of this doctrinal letter,
verses 13-18, to be exact, James also offers us his analysis of, and solution
to, “temptation”. He tells us that the gravitational pull towards evils such as
“anger”, “striking out against one another”, or, our “surrender to the physical
and emotional passions” that we feel, does not come from GOD. GOD “cannot be
tempted to do wrong”, nor, does HE “tempt anyone of HIS greatest Creation,
mankind, to do wrong”.
The temptations that we encounter comes
from one source, which is satan, who manipulates the “sin nature”, that we
freely accepted from him the first time that we disobeyed GOD at the age of
accountability. This conformance to our spiritually sinful nature leads us to physically
evil actions, which leads us to death, or, to “temporary” (hopefully), or “permanent”
separation from GOD.
GOD, through HIS infinite wisdom, has put
into place, two “temptation barriers” that help keep us on the straight and
narrow. Those barriers are “HIS judgment”, and, “HIS goodness”. These two
actions represent GOD’s way of balancing our fear with HIS love. GOD motivates
us to obedience either by “fear of HIS judgment” (like in the case of David),
or, by “our respect for HIS goodness” (like in the case of Joseph, Jacob’s son).
Only that which is “good” and “perfect”
comes from GOD (and this includes HIS judgment), and we should never be led to
think otherwise. When we doubt or reject GOD’s goodness, we automatically
become attracted to satan’s offers. The GOD WHO created all things “does not
change”, “nor does HE cast shifting shadows”, as some of HIS creation (man)
tends to do. Through HIS goodness, GOD chose to make us HIS children, by giving
us “HIS OWN nature” from birth, and “HIS Word of Truth” to aid us through life.
We, out of all creation, are “GOD’s prized
possession”, and we are expected, by GOD, because we share HIS nature and HIS
Truth, to live out our lives in that Truth, and, in HIS SPIRIT. And so,
ultimately, the key to responding to trials, and resisting temptation, can only
be found in a person’s “use of GOD’s nature”, and, “our reaction to GOD’s Word”
(Vs.17-18). And always remember that:
·
GOD
gives only good gifts
·
The
way GOD gives is good
·
GOD
gives continually
·
GOD
does not change
Amen.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D.
Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER-
Official Website
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