THE LETTER OF JAMES to the Church is one of the most unique and, to some, controversial letters of the New Testament. Often referred to as the Proverbs of the New Testament, it is full of wisdom for everyday life. The central theme of every Book of the Bible is Jesus, but there is also a personal message in each Book that Christ Jesus is the Sufficient One, the Provision for every part and portion of our lives. He also wants to convey to every Christian that He is the Good Shepherd who watches continuously over His children. Finally, He wants to convey to His children that He loves us where we are, but He is unwilling to leave us where we are.

James offers Christians a choice between the wisdom of God and the wisdom of the world, continually driving home the point that mixing the wisdom of God with the wisdom of the world is being double-minded. He points out that God only sends good, not judgment, into our lives. He moves from subject to subject on matters of Christian living and Christian behavior, causing us to examine our own level of Christian maturity.

When studying the Book of James, we may need to continually remind ourselves that God is speaking to me. Too often, we fail to receive God’s message for ourselves because we want someone else to change. James is not speaking to someone else. He is speaking to you and me.