The Common Thread in the Epistle of James

The Common Thread in the Epistle of James

It begins immediately with these words: “all joy.” Not “also joy,” but “all joy.”

All joy in various trials! All kinds of temptations arise under all kinds of difficult circumstances, under various adversities and various, unreasonable circumstances. Thus we are exhorted to count it all joy when we fall into various difficulties, adversities, tribulations, and unreasonable situations. During all this there should be a multitude of opportunities and possibilities and dangers for being defeated; yet defeat cannot be joyful. Therefore counting it all joy when we fall into various temptations must be based solely and alone on the full assurance of victory—in all cases and in all situations. Only joy=only victory! “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the realization of things not seen.” Heb. 11:1. “And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

Thus we are exhorted to lay hold of this triumphant, victorious faith that has already solved this problem once and for all that each temptation means victory! A new temptation means a fresh victory; a great temptation means a great victory.

The temptations that James principally dwells on are of a certain kind; namely those that arise during our mutual relationships. They are the most important and weightiest, the most difficult of all temptations:

All these things pertain to mutual relationships. Sin is a transgression of the law. We are tempted to transgress the law. When God’s Word, law, and will say that we shall be swift to hear, we are tempted—drawn away and enticed by our own lust—to be slow to listen to another person when he is to give account why he has said or done something that we do not think was right, and we are tempted not to want to listen to a lowly person because he is poor or has a hard time expressing himself; we are tempted to be partial. We are tempted to be swift to speak and quick to get angry because we are conceited, thinking that we are well informed about the matter. We are tempted to be zealous against sinners.

It is God’s will that everything should transpire according to the laws of liberty. When a soul is making slow progress, and you know quite well what is for their eternal well-being, you can also be tempted to sin on this point, namely, to break the law of liberty so that you, by “hook or by crook,” desire to force onto others your light, your understanding and your personal way of proceeding.

According to God’s will not many shall become teachers since the ministry of teaching is fraught with responsibility and is crucial. This is also an area in which we are tempted to transgress the law. We may think that both this person and that person, both this and that should be different, and that we have such good understanding of things and that we speak very clearly and convincingly. Therefore we desire to be a teacher.

We are also tempted to consider ourselves very wise and then display this wisdom by regularly speaking about all kinds of things and people instead of demonstrating God’s wisdom by our good conduct in the meekness of wisdom.

Temptations to argue and criticize and contend manifest themselves, and by comparing ourselves to other brothers, we are tempted to cruel envy and view our brother with suspicion.

The wisdom that is from above is peaceable, for it cannot be overcome, neither can it gain ground unless it is according to the law of liberty. Therefore everything that is called strife falls away through this wisdom. However, according to sensual wisdom we are sorely tempted to wars and strife. We are tempted not to have time or to show any interest in listening to others; we are not willing to yield; we would much rather instruct the others, and that they should be willing to listen. In all our zeal to promote ourselves to honor and authority, we are tempted to get angry at everything and everyone who seemingly stand in our way; we are tempted to envy and even want to get such people out of the way—to murder them, spiritually speaking.

We are tempted to speak evil about our brother, to slander him. Consequently, we are also tempted to swear. When the usual words do not seem to be sufficiently strong to have the desired effect, and we absolutely want to force ourselves and our viewpoint to the forefront, we are tempted to strengthen our allegation by swearing.

When you suffer unjustly, you are tempted to impatience. When it is very important to advance your cause, to insist on your rights, you can be tempted to think that you cannot wait any longer. Humility is lacking. For the same reason you are tempted not to confess your sins to another person when you need healing. Then you imagine that you sink deeply in the other person’s estimation, which is of course the direct opposite of all the thoughts of a proud person. There are many good souls whose prospects were good otherwise, but they have floundered on this very point. They have fought and struggled and prayed and sacrificed much in order to advance on the way on which they wanted to advance. Nevertheless God, who knew of their secret pride, had to set this matter of confessing their sins to one another as a condition for their progress, precisely because it was necessary based on the kindness of His heart.

There is nothing wrong with being tempted to all this. On the contrary, it is only to be considered as golden opportunities to overcome, opportunities to prove in deed that we love God in truth. Jas. 1:12. The important thing is that sin is not conceived, that my conscious “I” does not agree to the temptation but rejects it decisively. It is of vital importance to possess this all-conquering, always triumphant, overcoming faith with which we beforehand are fully assured of victory so that we always consider it all joy—total victory—when we fall into various temptations, so that we say to ourselves: “A new temptation—very well, a new victory! Glory to God! Not listen to Him? On the contrary, my soul, now just listen: be swift to hear, be patient and listen.”

Swift to speak? Not at all! God be praised! Now God’s Word is going to be kept! Now we are going to be slow to speak; there is no hurry. Just listen carefully. Swift to be angry? This is dreadful; what he is saying is terrible! No! Now it is vital to be patient and meek, slow to get angry, no defeat. God be highly praised!—He who always lets us have the victory in Christ Jesus! A new opportunity for victory and a crown! Glory to God! It is pure joy! Gaining the victory is delightful!

This is what our attitude needs to be and how we need to think beforehand when the temptation arises. Otherwise it will not succeed. This is what James (who was a teacher) wants to teach us: not to avoid temptations but with an unending victory, march through them all; enticed and drawn in every possible way and in all directions, but always decided and firm, just as unfailing and faithful until the very end. What a blessed spirit and mind and idea this beloved brother had!!! Oh, that many people would act accordingly by God’s great grace. Amen.