The practical admonitions of the epistle of James have lost none of their potency over the last two thousand years.  

Perhaps the most intriguing one is the first one James mentions: “Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials” (Jas. 1:2). While Paul nowhere states the truth as clearly as James does here, the point is no less founded in the Biblical truth. Christians can do the exact opposite of what the world around them does because they know the final and conclusive outcome. Christians can rejoice in the face of great adversity because the trial equips them to handle the next trial better (cf. Jas. 1:3-4). Especially in the ultimate sense, Christians know where they are going, and that enables them to go through trials: “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (Jas. 1:12; cf. Peter’s comments in I Pet. 1:6-9; and Paul’s in II Ti. 4:6-8). 

In chapter two, James warns against personal favoritism. He presents a scenario where a wealthy person comes into the assembly and is treated well because he is wealthy (Jas. 2:2-4). I think if we are honest with this warning, we are far more likely to be guilty of it than we realize. While there are not as many social or financial distinctions in our assemblies as in the first-century church. There is a real temptation to be friendly with those we like and push away those we don’t. If someone whom we didn’t care much for came in, would we still slide further in the pew and make room for them? Maybe, place this in the realm of wealth and education. Do you honestly view those without higher education as equal to those without? No matter your background, social standing, education, race, or any other dividing factor, you can be forgiven and stand before God justified. The way we treat each other should reflect that wonderful truth. 

The tendency of professing the Christian faith but not practicing it has always been a scourge on Christianity. God has never simply wanted people who professed the great doctrines, He wants those who will profess and practice. James hits this point several times throughout his epistle. “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an active doer, this person will be blessed in what he does” (Jas. 1:22-25). The entire last half of chapter two insists on this melding together of faith and action. There is hardly a more damaging thing than a Christian who is not living the faith. How many refuse to serve Christ because they “know a Christian”? In truth, they know a person who claims to be a Christian. We must humbly practice what we preach. We must love the gospel and live the gospel. 

James reminds us that there is no substitute for practical holy living and that there is no excuse for not applying the gospel message.