James 1:9–11 — Rejoicing, Not Religious Humiliation Most teachers approach this passage as though James is teaching about humility. But that misses the force of the passage. James is not telling believers to perform humility. He is not telling the poor brother to act small, stay low, or make a spiritual costume out of being humble. That kind of humility can easily become a mask for self-righteousness. It says, “Look how humble I am,” while still keeping the focus on the self. That is not freedom. That is bondage. James is doing something different. He writes: “Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: but the rich, in that he is made low…” — James 1:9–10 KJV The word translated brother is adelphos. It speaks of one who belongs to the family. James is not addressing this person as a spiritual failure. He is addressing him as family. The phrase of low degree comes from tapeinos, meaning low, brought down, humble in station, or of low condition. This is not necessarily a description of spiritual virtue. It is a description of position. This brother is low in the eyes of the world. He may be poor, overlooked, powerless, or socially insignificant. But James does not tell him to glory in being low. James says to rejoice in his exaltation. The word is hypsos, meaning height, elevation, or being raised up. That changes the whole emphasis. James is not saying, “Celebrate your humiliation.” He is saying, “Rejoice because in Christ you have been lifted higher than your circumstances.” That is not bondage. That is release. Then James turns to the rich man. The word for rich is plousios, the materially full man, the one who has abundance, status, and outward security. James tells him to glory in his lowering — tapeinōsis. This is the reversal of earthly height. The rich man must recognize that his visible status is temporary. James compares him to the anthos, the blossom, of the chortos, the grass or field growth. The flower looks beautiful for a moment, but it cannot last.

James has just made something clear: temptation does not come from God. Evil desire pulls a person away, gives birth to sin, and sin brings forth death. God is not the author of that downward pull. God is the giver of life. That is why James says: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above…” The Greek word for good is ἀγαθή — agathē. It means good in its nature, beneficial, upright, and useful for what is right. The word for perfect is τέλειον — teleion, meaning complete, mature, whole, and brought to its intended purpose. So James is not saying God gives us corrupt things and then tells us to figure them out. He is saying everything that truly comes from God is good, complete, and life-giving. God does not give temptation. God does not drag us into darkness and then blame us for stumbling. James says these gifts come down from the Father of lights. That phrase matters. Created lights shift. The sun rises and sets. The moon changes. Shadows move. But God does not change like that. With Him there is no variableness — παραλλαγή — parallagē. That means no shifting, no alteration, no moving from good into evil. James also says there is no shadow of turning — τροπῆς ἀποσκίασμα — tropēs aposkiasma. God does not turn in a way that produces darkness. There is no dark side in Him. There is no moment where He stops being good. Many people think God is the one handing them evil, temptation, and destruction. James corrects that thinking. God is steady. God is light. God gives what is good. Then James says: “Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth…” The phrase of His own will comes from βουληθεὶς — boulētheis. It means God acted according to His own deliberate purpose. He wanted to do this. He chose to do this. The word begat is ἀπεκύησεν — apekyēsen. It means He brought us forth, caused us to be born, and gave us life. This is powerful because James already used birth language earlier. Evil desire gives birth to sin. Sin gives birth to death. But God gives birth to life through the word of truth — λόγῳ ἀληθείας — logō alētheias.

James closes chapter 1 by moving from hearing the Word to being shaped by the Word. He says: “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” The word translated doers is ποιηταί — poiētai. It does not simply mean people who are busy with religious activity. It carries the idea of one who brings something into practice, one who acts on what has been received. James is not describing church busyness. He is describing the Word becoming visible in a person’s life. The word translated hearers is ἀκροαταί — akroatai. It refers to those who listen or sit under instruction. James is warning that hearing alone can deceive us. A person can listen to truth, agree with truth, and even quote truth, yet still walk away unchanged. That is why James compares the hearer-only to a man looking at his natural face in a mirror. He sees himself clearly, but then walks away and forgets what kind of man he is. The word for beholding is κατανοεῖ — katanoei. It means to notice carefully, observe, or consider. This man does not merely glance at himself. He sees something real. The problem is that he does not remain with what he has seen. That is not discipleship. James then says: “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein…” The word translated looketh into is παρακύψας — parakypsas. It means to bend down and look closely, to stoop in order to examine something carefully. This is not casual Bible reading. This is a person leaning into the Word and staying with it. James calls it the perfect law of liberty. The word perfect is τέλειον — teleion, meaning complete, mature, or brought to its intended purpose. The word liberty is ἐλευθερίας — eleutherias, meaning freedom. James is not describing bondage. He is saying the Word brings us into mature freedom. That matters because many people read James as a salvation test. They see “be doers” and think James is telling us to prove salvation by works. But James is writing about discipleship. He is teaching believers how to walk with Christ and allow the Word to take root.

Faith Repair Shop: There was an old film that Iron Maiden penned a song from called, The Prisoner. They borrowed a clip from it to intro the song, "YOU, are numbah 6." The prisoner's response, "I am NOT A NUMBAH, I am a free man." And the song began. Our marvelous government is attempting to identify us all as numbers and have been over the last many decades. However, that flag we live under still represents the blood spilled, purity under God, the states as stars and overall liberty & freedom as free men living in a free society, albeit of laws and order, but that simply as a matter of necessity to prevent uprising and anarchy. And our greatest need as humans is our need to be needed. This is proven with an infant or a child and it doesn’t stop as we age. The human touch is mandatory for survival. The Bible speaks of "like minded" individuals (in/under Christ) and Christianity is built and perpetuated on that premise. A changing/renewing, a “metanoew” of the mind. This works the same with our nation and patriotic duty. The Bible also tells us that a house divided is bound to fail. A country divided will also fall. So, shouldn't we all get on the same page for our future's sake, both country and under our Father's rule? I say, I say, I say! God day, freedom rules, rejoice always and be safe (Clint and Foghorn Leghorn). “I will walk at liberty (freedom): for I seek thy precepts.” Ps. 119:45

Faith Repair Shop: Praise, Prayer and Worship. Thanks to Don Nuzum for our fellowshipping today and to the Holy Spirit for interjecting Himself INTO our conversation for the now. Wor-ship/worth-ship. What’s God’s Word “worth” to us? ANY time we speak to God, that's recognition, respect, appreciation AND reverence (and thanks for that reminder Daniel). Praise, thanks, showing/stating love toward Him, asking for guidance and for help to be more in-tune with Him, asking Him to assist us in obedience and faith and trust, I call worship. Bottom line, It's that daily recognition of His presence WITH US. When Dr. A. W. Tozer stated, “We were designed to worship,” I'm very sure he meant the overall reason was to recognize the Creator in ALL things. Not all the other stuff we and the church may think is important. All the rest of what's necessary will follow when the trust in Him is established and the path begun. He will provide everything else. I don’t need to conjure things up. Sometime’s we struggle with prayer, in knowing what to pray for or how even how to (Romans 8:26). The apostle’s asked Jesus to teach them to pray and He did in Luke 11:1 & Matt. 6:9. D. W. Forrest pointed out that Jesus is the only religious founder on history’s stage that gave a prayer to His followers that He wouldn’t pray, the Disciples Prayer (Commonly called The Lord’s). Jesus said when YE PRAY, say this and then told them what to say (Whether it’s a general prayer guide or not is irrelevant for purposes here). Furthermore, this prayer consists of asking for forgiveness of our trespasses, sins or debts. Jesus had KNOWLEDGE OF NONE, so this makes it a moot point for Jesus from the get-go. He thought He was perfect and held Himself to that standard. After I die, I’ll be perfect too, but until then our Father sees us as such, due to and through the eyes of Jesus and thank God for that! My daughter, Crystal, said years back that the Lord’s Prayer should be retitled The Lord’s Prayer Recommendation. I like that. The Disciple’s Prayer works too.