James Introduction & Suffering – Part I James 1:1 – 5, 12

Let me ask you this morning, what would you have done?  The church is in its 2nd decade of existence, the believing Jews have been dispersed because of persecution, and the central church seems to be in danger of losing its influence.  So, what does James (the brother of Jesus) do?  He writes a letter to the Jewish churches as a guide to help Jewish Christians navigate cultures with completely different norms and their beliefs than those that existed in Jerusalem.  His writings apply in today’s world where social norms and beliefs often differ from those of Christianity.

During the 1st decade of the church, the church was mostly dominated by Jews who knew the Old Testament scripture and were still able to participate in the complex Jewish social structure.  During the 2nd decade, many non-Jews (Gentiles) became believers beginning when Peter was on the rooftop and received a vision and Cornelius was told by an angel to go get Peter, and then later with Saul’s conversion and Saul (Paul) being sent to the Gentiles during his missionary travels.  James probably stayed in Jerusalem instead of doing much traveling.  So, James writes a letter to the Jews living outside Jerusalem (James 1:1) to establish the Jews in applicable truth and conduct and to encourage them in their journey of faith.

Suffering is something most of us seek to avoid, but by doing so we avoid the many benefits that result from enduring and overcoming trials.  Notice in Hebrews 11:35 – 37, (faith in action chapter) the suffering that many believers endured.  Suffering is not a pleasant subject we like to discuss, but there is a purpose for this subject that James writes about.  But in order to discuss this subject in proper context, we need to understand the nature of God.  In 1 John 4:8, 16, John states that God is love!  His very nature is one of love!  God is a loving God who sacrificed his only Son so He could receive us as His own children.  God is good and desires what is good for us.

Suffering exists and is the natural course of life since the fall of mankind.  There is no contradiction in the statement that God is good, and suffering exists.  Suffering exists but that does not mean that God is not good.  There are some today that chooses not to follow Jesus Christ or choose to quit following because they cannot resolve in their understanding that a good God would allow suffering to people, especially those that are good and don’t deserve it.

First, when James writes about suffering, he writes about it mainly in terms of persecution for the cause of Jesus Christ.  Second, the assumption that a good God would not allow good people to suffer is contradictory to the New Testament.  The scriptures present suffering as both something natural happening in a sinful world and as a tool that God sometimes uses for His benefit or ours.  Jesus made it clear in His teachings that we should expect suffering at times.  Suffering does not mean God is not good; it means that God does not behave as we want him too.  Thirdly, God desires us to remain faithful to him when we do suffer; and even joyful and thankful.

James is practical in his writing.  James may have understood that unmet expectations were often the source for discontentment and unbelief; and knew that if followers only expected good things to happen in their lives as followers, they would soon be disappointed and lose their faith.  He knew if they expected suffering, they would not be disappointed.  So, for just a moment, let’s take a look at what James wrote concerning suffering.

James 1:2 -5; 12

James 5:7 – 11

1 Peter 4:12 - 19

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