James 1:1-8

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

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 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. 6 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. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. (NIV)

Which James wrote this letter? It could be either the Apostle James (Son of Alphaeus) or James the Lord's brother, the acknowledged head of the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15). The other prominent James of the New Testament, John's brother, was already martyred (Acts 12:2). For a variety of reasons, we must say that we cannot be 100% certain, but I am going to proceed under the assumption that it was James, the Lord's brother and pastor of the Jerusalem Christians.

James addresses this letter to "the twelve tribes scattered among the nations." He is writing to Jewish Christians. Notice that he also talks about their faith in these opening verses. That context for the letter is absolutely vital for our understanding of what James will say. When Paul and the other apostles wrote to Gentile Christians (such as the Galatians), they were writing to brand new believers, still infants in their faith, who needed to know the basic building blocks of sin, grace and faith (the doctrine or teaching that we call "justification" -- how we have been declared "not guilty" of our sins).  James is writing to Jewish Christians, people who have believed in God all their lives and now have been shown that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of their faith. James' emphasis is on how we live our lives in response to our salvation (we call this doctrine or teaching "sanctification"). James wants them to know that they can ask God confidently for wisdom and understanding and not doubt for a moment that God will give it.

James' words are hard-hitting, directed at people who should know better.  James is being firm with them, the way Jesus was firm with his listeners during the Sermon on the Mount.  In fact, a lot of this letter reflects the language of the Sermon on the Mount -- something we might expect from the brother of Jesus.

James warns his readers about trials and pains that will come.  He doesn't say we can avoid them; he says we can have joy when they come, because tests of our faith develop perseverance. What would we lack if we didn't have these trials and tests?  Don't such things also develop wisdom, empathy (shared feelings based on similar experience) and so forth?  Praise God who tests our faith and gives us the only means by which we can pass such tests -- his Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.