The book of James, which was written by Jesus’ half-brother and the pastor of the 1st church of Jerusalem, is a very practical book written for Christian living in a life of faith seeking God’s wisdom. It is often called ‘The Proverbs of the NT’, considered ‘Wisdom literature’ and is often associated as a commentary to the Sermon on the Mount.
James ‘the Just’, dealt with questions that arose in the Jerusalem council, alongside the apostles, and based on the evidence that Peter and the other apostles laid out, it was obvious that God had extended His saving mercy to the Gentiles. People of all nations, cultures and backgrounds were being saved but had no ideas about the Jewish culture, customs or laws of Moses. They were challenged with legalistic Jews who insisted on new converts observing the national, cultural and Mosaic laws in order to be considered one of God’s saved people, but after council, prayer and direction, James, Peter, Paul and the apostles concluded that the Gentiles did not have to become Jews to be saved, but to avoid using their freedoms as an offense to Jewish Christians (Acts 15).
James, in his epistle to the dispersed Jewish Christians (1:1), I believe shows us that there is a balance of faith and works, and that balance is, true faith in Christ will produce works. Both are evidences for each other. If there is a sun, you must have sunlight and if you have sunlight, there must be a sun. Therefore, he takes all of the various ‘trials’ or ‘tests’ of faith that a Christian may face in their life, he incorporates the balance of responding in faith while expressing that faith in obedience and good works towards God.
Intentional or not by James, but we know intentional by the Holy Spirit, the book of James also shows the readers what true faith looks like in the light of circumstances that ‘test’ the faith.
Being the Lord’s half-brother, he at first was an unbeliever and skeptic of Jesus’ message (John 7) – but later came to faith in Christ when he experienced firsthand, the loving powerful presence of the risen Lord and surrendered his life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. James died a martyr around 62AD, being thrown off the top of the temple, then stoned, then beaten to death by clubs remaining faithful to his profession of His Lord and Savior.
May we, like James, find expression in our walk of faith, being loyal and obedient to the will of God in our lives, and as Paul stated in 2 Tim 4:7, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith…”