Day 354 Reading Schedule: : James 1-3

James 1: Overcoming trials and living a godly life
[Content Overview]
The author of James greets the recipients and gets straight to the point. Trials play a role in honing one's character, so one must face them joyfully(1-4). True wisdom comes from God and can be received when we respond with faith(Verses 5-8). Wealth is only temporary(9-11). Trials are given by God to teach patience, but tests are caused by man's evil desires(12-15). God not only gives trials but also gives good gifts(16-18). When we hear and receive the Word, we must remove everything that is contrary to God's righteousness. It warns of the dangers that those who hear the Word face when they do not obey through their actions and explains the difference between vain piety and pure piety(19-27). 

In this chapter, Apostle James taught believers how to overcome and overcome trials with the patience of faith. In addition, in order to live a godly life, he advised us to abandon hypocrisy, which involves only listening to the word of God but not practicing it, and to build true godliness by practicing obedience to the word. 

James 2: Dead faith without works

[Content Overview]
The author of James harshly criticizes those who look down on the poor and welcome the rich by taking people for their appearance. To discriminate against the poor is to break the Lord's commandment to love your neighbor as yourself. Ignoring the poor for whom the Lord has shown mercy and the grace of salvation is the same as ignoring God and Christ(verses )1-13<TAG1>. And while emphasizing that faith must be accompanied by works, he makes the famous declaration that faith without works is dead. To prove his words, the author of James uses the example of Abraham and Rahab in the Old Testament to emphasize the fact that they testified by practicing their faith(14-26).
Apostle James is wary of believers' discriminatory treatment of people based on their appearance, and emphasizes that these actions deviate from God's law of love. It also warns against faith not appearing as the fruit of works. No matter how much a person confesses his faith with his lips, if that faith is not proven by his actions, that faith is like dead faith.

James 3: The life of a true wise man
[Content Overview]
The author of James mentions two lessons for those who want to become teachers. The first lesson is to be careful what you say. Teachers must properly understand the power of speech and think deeply about the dangers of uncontrolled speech. Not only is the tongue the most uncontrollable part of our body, but its consequences affect the entire body. Through various examples, the author of James explains the fatal danger of untamed speech and the contradiction of being able to ask for blessings and curses with the same lips(v1-12). The second lesson is that we must gain true wisdom. Wisdom that breaks order and causes envy and strife is false wisdom. Only true wisdom from above is wisdom that is holy, tolerant, peaceful, and bears good fruit(13-18).
In this chapter, Apostle James taught about the principles and aspects of the lives of believers. He emphasized humility and responsibility by saying not to like to be a teacher, and by emphasizing the importance and influence of words in language life, he commanded believers to control their tongues well and speak only holy and edifying words. It also taught us that we must abandon worldly wisdom and receive wisdom from above to bear the fruit of righteousness.