James: If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God

 James 1:1-11

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

This opening chapter mentions almost all the topics dealt with more fully later: testing, endurance, wisdom, prayer; faith; riches; the tongue, Christianity in action. The crisp, succinct style and some of the themes recall both the Old Testament book of Proverbs and Jesus' own way of speaking in the Sermon on the Mount.

Why?

James encourages the Christians that even suffer the testing and difficulty should have faith, it will produce perseverance, and perseverance finish its work so that may be mature and complete.

Wisdom comes from the Lord, so we should pray to the Lord without doubt and with faith. If it is right, it will be given to us.

The pride, high position, rich... etc all of these will pass away like a wild flower. What is the most important is the faith and the pure heart in Christ.

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雅各是耶穌的弟弟，卻很謙卑，稱自己為耶穌的僕人。

當時似乎受大逼迫中，在逼迫中讓人看出他們的生命，以行為來證明信心。雅各書主要內容1)要行道不要單聽道，2)多思想，要謹慎說話，3)以免舌頭引來麻煩。4)不要按外表對待人要愛弟兄姊妹，不要受世俗觀的影響。

週到試練、逼迫要喜樂，這是主要我們生命成長的時刻。我忍耐的下去嗎？忍耐也當成功，這逼迫也是神的安排，神也會保守，讓我們與主同行走一條辛苦的道路。

要憑信心求智慧！社會地位，經濟有可能改變，在世人看來富足或是卑微都不足道。卑微的升高是基督徒進入屬天的領域。富足的降卑。有錢人要超過外在的條件即使地位降低或是失去錢財 ，仍然享受在神裏的巧妙富足，所以也要喜樂。無論人怎麼看我們，我們更要重視神怎樣看我們。我們服事主，主必尊重我們。遇事逼迫不是求快快過去，而是求神給我們智慧，如何面對?是否喜樂呢?若是神看重我而喜樂。

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How?

May my heart and my mind always go with the Lord and glory the Holy Name of the Lord in my life.