James 2 Study

 

James 2

The Word of God that has been implanted in the believer's heart should be received with meekness, which is a teachable spirit. Someone who is not rebelling, or being resistant to the changes God's Word gives us to change in both our heart and mind, in order to change our lives. We should not be questioning or going against what God says, disputing it or resisting it is going against God.

Basically accepting the Word of God as truth and being obedient to His commands prevents death! It actually protects us, the believers, from sinful actions, thoughts or ideas entering into our lives. See Chapter 1:15 as well as 1Corinthians 11:30 and you will see that these behaviors or weaknesses can lead to direct or indirect sinful living, and physical death.

1.     Think for a moment about your life; is there something you think on, or about, or do that goes against the Word of God as you know it to  truth?

2.     What can you do about this? See verse verses 19-22in Chapter 1

3.     What does it mean to love one another? What kind of love is being taught in this section of the Word? Verses 225-26Also read John 36-38, Matthew 26:36-40, Galatians 5-13 and Ephesians 3:17-19

4.     What can we personally do to love one another? Some suggestions are written in verses 22-27

5.     Read Chapter 2 Then answer the following discussion questions.

6.     What does it mean to have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ and hold it with partiality?

7.     Can you think of a time when you have treated someone different because of their cleanliness or lifestyle? Be honest with yourself! I can. I know I have stepped back, or aside from someone because of their smell or uncleanliness, and sometimes that is okay. There are appropriate and inappropriate times to be cautious. For example, a person who is not just dirty but maybe looks intimidating may feel threatening as well. We do need to be cautious, but not to choose purposefully to give our best only to those who have fancy clothes and living well already is not right. God's Word tells us to treat others with the love of God. That mean s we can be cautious and kind at the same time.

8.     Just because a person is poor does not mean they are dangerous, or worthless. See Chapter 2, verses 5 to 7 and consider the way  you treat others. When I was a child, we did not always have a lot of money. My mother taught us that we should always be clean and kind, that just because we had less did not mean we could act less. I think that was a great lesson. God wants us to treat others the same regardless of their income.

9.     In order to truly love others we will love others as our self. This of course means we must first love ourselves. How do you feel about yourself? Do you keep yourself clean and fed? Do you make yourself do the right things when you would rather not? Take a moment and think of how you can observe yourself and have time learning about what you like or dislike. This may seem silly but in order to love others you need to understand how you care for you, and then you can apply this scripture to life with other people.

10.   When you give yourself mercy, you will?

11.  now how to give others mercy as well. See verse 12 and 13. Why is mercy important?

12.  Read on to Verses 14 to 19. See also Genesis 22 and Joshua 22 for references.

13.  What does it mean when it says “Faith without works is dead?”  Explain how you can claim to have faith and not walk in trust for God to guide you through life?

14.  This section has James speaking about the difference between Faith with,  as in along with, works and faith without works. What is the difference? Can both be correct? Why or why not?

15.  Read Romans 3:28 where Paul claims that man can be justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. How are we saved? Is it by the work we do, or is it solely by faith in Jesus to grant us salvation. 

c     copywrite2025 by Teresa M. Wilson  

Have Mercy! in His Word 6-9-2025

 Have Mercy- In His Word 6-9-2025

 Continuing in James.

Today as I read James 2, I am finding some wake up calls! So many of us do this without even realizing it. We favor the one who will pay for their item over the one who cannot. We may even favor the cleaned up person over the messy, dirty one. Especially in children we notice this but as adults we, if we examine our actions, will step back from someone who is obviously living on the streets in line, or maybe even ignore them when we walk by them trying to avoid their request for food. Not on purpose mind you but when you live where there are so many people asking for free food, free whatever you will give them free it gets easier to go by them. Especially when you have personally met those who could work a good job, have had them but chosen to just not work because they can get by without it and enjoy life living there in the world. Some people are homeless by choice because they just don’t want to have to do all that work. Some people are poor by things that just happened, and then some are because they got involved in the wrong lifestyle.  Then there are those who have been out there so long that they are stuck, drugs, or mental issues include these people.

But what are we supposed to do about it?

Well, the Bible says to treat them like anyone else.

As usual I have a story from my life that relates to this! When I was young and we could not afford to go to Horse Camp I realized that some people just don’t have the money to do so. I wanted to grow up and get some land and start a camp where people who could pay would offset the cost for those kids who really wanted to go to camp but could not afford to go.

If you are in the Bay Area of California you may have a camp called MorningStar that is available to help kids who cannot pay, afford to go to a wonderful camp experiencing group outings, adventures in the wilderness, and a chance to know who God really is and how He can make a difference. You get to meet with leaders who really care about your kids. Being allowed to participate in this helps kids feel ‘normal’ when they are too poor to go and hear others talk of their camp experiences. Things like this can change a life.

But what about adults? How can we reach those adults that don’t want to be reached?

We had a friend who recently passed on who would walk the streets of Concord California sharing the Gospel message and loving on everyone she met. Sounds like a Bible person eh? Yes she was! Many lives where touched because of her. We had other people who came to groups as unhoused people who were able to eat a meal and listen to the study and fellowship with the rest of the groups, in whatever condition they came in!

That is how we need to be. When we have our groups, or outings with Church or just friends, we need to be aware of hungry around us and offer them food.

I know another woman who picks up food at the food bank and drives around in normal days looking for people who she happens to meet or see that look like they could use some fresh veg. She bags them, and shops for them from her truckload of food.

This is more than most of us would do but it is what God has called her to do.

Read the scriptures now. We will talk more after.

My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting (in Greek its synagogue) dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes.  If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?

Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?  But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court?  Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear? Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.

For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws.  For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.” So, if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law.

So, whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free.  There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you. James 2:1-13

“What can I do?” you ask? Maybe you don’t have money and cant help someone in true need, but you want to help. Join in with one of the local church giveaways and help encourage others to go pick up the food. Or gather food to distribute like our friend mentioned above does. Ask God, ‘what should I do?’ Have Him show you who really needs help, and who is being lazy.

There is a scripture that says that those who do not work should not eat or will not eat. I could not find it in my search engine, but I did find a ton that say to work hard, to do your best to do the things that Jesus would have us do to further the kingdom.

I did find a lot that are like above here, be merciful and do not judge them. Treat them like anyone else, not giving preference to those who are clean over dirty. Seems a little off in our world today but we can do it! And that is the lesson I think this portion of chapter 2 in James wants us to know. Be open to helping that person in line whose debit card is just not working. If you are able, pay their grocery bill or something but be merciful and pray for them as you patiently wait in line. Ask God to show you their needs, and to know how to pray. Then lift up the need silently in prayer. That my friend is a start!  There is so much more to this chapter, but as with last week I will post the questions later and let you read and study the rest of the Chapter 2 in James!

In His love,

Teresa Wilson