JAMES was the half brother of Jesus and could have justly made much of that relationship but he saw himself more as a servant than anything else. How do you look on yourself? It is all too easy when you have been a Christian for a long time to forget your origins and to be critical of other newer believers. May we never forget what we were or lose sight of what God by His grace wants to make of us.

James was writing in the early days of the Church to new believers scattered by persecution, to encourage them to keep the faith in spite of their circumstances. He encourages them to ask for guidance in a spirit that believes, while at the same time warning them that doubt is a sign of instability. In verses 9-11 he teaches us to have a proper sense of balance. Neither rich nor poor should be affected by wealth or the lack of it. He goes on to encourage us to stand by our convictions. A crown of life to be worn eternally is worth persevering for!

We often say “These things are sent to try us,” but we don’t say by whom they are sent. James makes it clear that God will not use any evil means and that our temptations come from within us. The consequences are inevitable, ending in the death of the soul, so we need to draw on the strength available to us from the “Father… who does not change.” The wonderful truth is that God chose to give us life and because of this we can surely trust Him to guide us through the maze of our everyday lives. Remember that there are times when the attack comes from the devil. We can occasionally make the mistake of blaming ourselves for a temptation which is really an onslaught of Satan. Whatever is the origin of the evil we know that God can help us to cope with it and overcome it.