JAMES 1:1-12: FAITH AND TRIALS (STUDY 1)
Future and Present Judgment James 5:1-3 “Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have [...]
When I was in college, a common sentiment was that the summers were spiritually difficult. There was the lack of fellowship, community, and just too much time or the lack of it. You can complain about anything! From a spiritual point of view, most people in my college fellowship were glad to be back to [...]
It might be surprising that so many of the verses of Proverbs address the importance of speech. Proverb 15 is no exception. 15:1 speaks of how the power of gentle words turn away wrath, 15:2, 7 how wise speech gushes forth knowledge, 15:4 how wise tongues bringing healing, and 15:23 how an apt reply brings [...]
Proverbs 14:29 states, “a patient man has great understanding, but a quick tempered man displays folly.” These words are dear to anyone who sees the importance of wisdom and desires to grow in it, because this verse teaches us one of the paths towards wisdom, growth in patience.
Each society prizes certain qualities, generally speaking. For example, wealth is something that most people in New York prize. I am sure that there are exceptions, but I am also sure that we would be hard pressed to find many people who would refuse a check for a million dollars with no strings attached.
“Had I only known” are the famous words of many people who live with regret. Hindsight is usually much better, but the problem with this is that it is usually too late. Therefore, what is best is to live according to the wisdom of God’s counsel now, says the author of Proverbs. This is wisdom.
I love Proverb 3 – there is so much to say about it; it is like going to an exquisite feast and having to describe all the glory in ten minutes. It just cannot be done! In view of this very real constraint, I’ll comment only on three points. First, God calls us to trust [...]
Advice may seem like a small thing. Words; that’s it. However, when we enter into a biblical framework, the advice or counsel that a person internalizes will make all the difference in a person’s life. This is precisely why the proverbs constantly exhort people to seek after wisdom. The good news is that wisdom calls [...]
Psalm 119:9-16 The question the psalmist asks is: “How can a young man keep his way pure?” He does not leave the reader to guess. In fact, he offers seven actions verbs to point the way. How is that for direct! To make things even more practical, he shows how it all works in his [...]
Peter writes that he will always remind his people of the person and work of Christ, even if his people already know these things (1:12). He even offers a defense: “I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of his body” (1:13). He does not stop [...]
The point of Jesus’ teaching is clear. Do acts of righteousness, but do them in secret. So, if you give to the needy, then give in secret. On the surface, this might sound like an odd exhortation. Some may even find fault with Jesus (at least some good is being done, a person may say), [...]
Psalm 23 Psalm 23 is one of the most beloved psalms of all time. It portrays the various blessings, which come from the reality that God is our shepherd. The psalmist’s depiction, of course, is not exhaustive, but it is surprisingly full. In six short verses, he writes that the Lord leads us besides still [...]
King David feared for his life on many occasions. One of these occasions was when he was fleeing from his own son Absalom. Psalm 3 offers a glimpse into his situation. David confesses that he has many foes (3:1), and that these foes are saying that God will not deliver him (3:2). For these reasons, [...]
Proverb 10
The two themes that struck me in the reading of this proverb are: work hard and speak less. I think if we all followed these two pieces of advice a little more, then we would all be better off. The answer for this is not hard to ascertain. First, God calls us to work. The [...]