The Book of James Week One Lesson One

“Consider It”

“This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad. ~ Greetings!

   Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

 James 1:1-4

Take a moment to re-read James 1:1-4 and underline the following:

• “a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

• “consider it an opportunity for great joy.”

Remember our introductory lesson? In it we learn of James’ relationship to Jesus. He was His little brother. James was not a believer before the resurrection. We now see that he sees himself in relationship to Jesus differently. He calls himself a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

What does it mean to be a slave? Let’s look at what being a slave meant for someone living when James did:

In the first century Roman society, slaves were a common. I don’t want you to think that I believe slavery is good. In fact, I believe that slavery is abhorrent. However, when we take a look at what slavery meant to a person living in the days Jesus walked on earth, we can see why being called a slave of Christ Jesus is a good thing.

“Slavery also offered a certain amount of social and economic protection to those whose masters were kind and well respected. Slaves did not have to worry about where their next meal would come from or whether or not they would have a place to stay. Their sole concern was to carry our the interests of their owner. In return, their master cared for their needs...One’s experience as a slave, then, ultimately depended on the demands and goodness of the master.” 

James, considered himself to be a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. He no longer viewed himself as the younger half-brother of Jesus. He looked to Him as His Lord. 

Jesus is the ultimate good Master. Those who have given their lives over to Jesus should view themselves as “slaves” to the one who bought us with a price. It is from this mindset as His servants we can begin to understand what James is saying about why we should consider our troubles in this life.

Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. What does this verse tell us? And how should it help us determine which viewpoint we should take? 

From the  viewpoint of humanity, being a slave of someone is not good. But from the vantage point of being God’s slave, we see that our Master is good and provides for those who allow Him to call them His own. We cannot consider trials as being good from the eyes of being human. We can, however, see trials as good from the eyes of someone who belongs to the perfect Master.

Read Romans 5:3-5. Answer the following:

_______________________ produces ___________________________,

_______________________ produces ___________________________,

_______________________ produces ___________________________.

Hope doesn’t __________________ because _____________________

_____________________________________________________________________ .

How does viewing ourselves as slaves to Master Jesus help us understand going through trials “pure joy?” 

By looking at the meaning of “consider it pure joy” in the original Greek text, we see a descriptive view of what that verse means. “Consider” is “hegeomai” and means “to lead, to guide, to think.” “Pure” is “pas” and means  “all, the whole” “Joy” is “chara” and means “rejoicing, gladness.”  In other words, we should think of trials as complete rejoicing. 

James is directing us to view things from the vantage point of being Christ’s own. He provides us with what we need. Trials are nothing to Him. He conquered it all on the cross for us. Trials, when we trust totally in our Master Jesus, strengthen us. Trials, when viewed from a slaves eyes, are a chance to show the world how our Lord takes care of us. 

Read the following verses and list the trial/s and then the promise of hope for those who belong to Jesus:

Matthew 5:11-12   Trial: 

                                   Hope:

Hebrews 10:34     Trial:

                                 Hope:

We have hope if we have given our lives over to the Master. Jesus is the perfect provider. He has promised that He will always be with us. The outcome of our faith may not be seen on this earth, but we have the ultimate hope of our Lord that He will make all things right. For the time being we must trust that He has our best in mind. As humans working on our own we only have a limited view of what is happening or will happen to us. As “slaves” of the One who paid the ultimate price for our lives, we have an infinite view from the One who has our best in mind. 

Consider it, my friend, to be pure joy, a different way to see our trials in this life. There is an ultimate purpose for them. Our Hope is sure as we depend on our Master Jesus.