James’ epistle had a tenuous journey before being included in the canon and seems to have some of the same characteristics of Proverbs – wisdom for a meaningful life. The writer speaks to us of the real meaning and obligations of living a spiritual life seven days a week. If for no other reason than for us to pause and reflect on the way in which our real life is affected by our faith we read today’s scripture:
James 1:16-18 So, my very dear friends, don't get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.
• What is the origin of the desirable and beneficial blessings of life? What do you think about his description of these gifts? Does that include good things and good deeds initiated by non-believers?
• What difference does being a person of faith make in being an effective conduit of God’s desirable and beneficial? Should/does our faith make us more effective givers of good things? How and why?
• How is God described? What are some attributes? What words would you use about God when thinking of gifts and life?
• Do you think that the writer has our physical birth in mind when speaking of God bringing us to life? What words are clues to what is meant? Read this from Ephesians 2 for some ideas about life and acting as God’s creation:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
• In what way does this creation of us to do good works happen, how are we equipped, what should make us effective?
More from James' epistle
19-21Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God's righteousness doesn't grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.
• What does the writer suggest to us about suppressing anger? What is your experience; what brings anger to the forefront for you? What has helped you avoid angry reactions? What gets left out when anger takes over? How often have you looked back on an angry exchange with regret? When did you feel that it was appropriate?
• What is his suggestion for insuring angry reactions straggle along in the rear? In what attitude should we seek acting righteously and what should we use as a guide for change? Has your spirituality helped reduce the anger in your life?
22-24Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. 25But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.
• How good are your listening skills? Are there times and conditions when you listen well and not so well? Do you think that he is limiting our spiritual education to just listening or might this also apply to reading and observing? How do you learn best?
• What has been the source of your most useful spiritual wisdom? Where have you turned in times of doubt and confusion about the practical aspects of living a spiritual life?
• How has your spiritual journey been enriched and guided by practical application, testing, risking? Do you agree with the writer that acting and action are where we find “delight and affirmation” of our faith? Must the action have a happy ending to bring either delight or affirmation?
26-27Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.
• How many times have we heard words like this? Do you think that talking about the ‘good game’ is a bad idea? Has hearing about events on the faith journey of others been helpful to you?
• But what is the bottom line on hearing – when does it become an empty game? What keeps us from moving past the talking to action?
• Are there action scriptures that have had particular meaning for you, helped you take action, and gave you inspiration for the experience of ‘real religion’?
• This might be both the essence of and most familiar words from this letter:
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Closing Litany (Psalm 15)
God, who gets invited to dinner at your place?
How do we get on your guest list?
"Walk straight,
act right,
tell the truth.
"Don't hurt your friend,
don't blame your neighbor;
despise the despicable.
"Keep your word even when it costs you,
make an honest living,
never take a bribe.
"You'll never get blacklisted
if you live like this."
Amen
Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 or Isaiah 35:4-7, Psalm 125 or Psalm 146, James 2:1-10, (11-13), 14-17, Mark 7:24-37
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