James 1:19-27

“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. So put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls. But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves. For if someone merely listens to the message and does not live it out, he is like someone who gazes at his own face in a mirror. For he gazes at himself and then goes out and immediately forgets what sort of person he was. But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out – he will be blessed in what he does. If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile. Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”

— ‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬-‭27‬‬

 I love James, and I know so many people do because of its practicality. Although, we still need to understand its historical and social context. Several of its passages can still be easily understood and there are still some very difficult passages, like ch 5. 

The one major theme is works supporting one’s faith, especially in the face of famine and persecution ransacking the early church. Helping others would be a visible sign of inner faith. 

I’m sure v. 19 finds a better home in this context as well. But it also applies in nearly every human situation. Quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger/wrath. We could probably spend all day reflecting on these implications. Send a lifetime trying to live it out. 

God’s righteousness in v. 20 is debated. Could be a characteristic of God, or that which comes from God, a moral standard, or something eschatological. I’ll leave it to scholars to sort out those details and come to a conclusion later.

Message implanted probably goes back to Jeremiah 31 when law is written on the hearts. External law does no good except points out our failures and shows us our imperfections. Law on hearts allows us to live in light of love.

We cannot just receive the law. We have to live it out. This is the whole message of James. Saying to have faith and not doing anything about it is not only pointless, it’s hypocrisy. It’s deceitful. 

A mirror has a purpose. To show us imperfections so that we can (hopefully) fix them. Not the time for a self esteem lesson. Comb your hair. The point is not to look at the mirror more. The point is to allow the looking to prompt a response. Mirror= internal law. It must move to external actions.

He then gives two examples. Use of the tongue and helping those in need. Tongue will be revisited in ch 3. Have to control speech (see v. 19)—perhaps just not talk if we can’t.

And then help the most needy in society, in 1st century (and still mostly in 21st) it’s the orphans and widows. These would have little status, support system, money, etc. Not exactly outcasts, but in middle of famine, there would be little hope. To say we have faith in 1st century context and ignore them is just silly. 

Not sure if the unstaining is related to the care for others or if it’s separate. “And” can sometimes have a result affect. Need to do more research here. Since he does mention “filth” and “excess” previously, he could just be talking about moral living. 

In either case, the point here is that claiming faith and not showing works toward others doesn’t add up. He’ll dig deeper into this in chapter 2.

Philippians 1:3-11

“I thank my God every time I remember you. I always pray with joy in my every prayer for all of you because of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. For it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you became partners in God’s grace together with me. For God is my witness that I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And I pray this, that your love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight so that you can decide what is best, and thus be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.”

— ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭11‬‬

One of the best sermons I heard on this was Renaut van der Riet at Mosaic. His waffle illustration at the end will be in next book about serving together in fellowship of the gospel. The background to Philippians doesn’t belong here, but Paul certainly had a close bond with this church. Many of his memories can be found in Acts 16. Some of this most famous stories are found there (e.g., singing and prison doors opening). Philippi was Roman colony, so retired soldiers/politicians settled there. It would have been quite difficult for Christian church to really flourish.

Paul is obviously grateful for these people. You almost lost count of how many times he says love and appreciate in these verses. And apparently the feelings are mutual. Greek is ambiguous whether this is Paul remembering them or them remembering him. Either way, it’s clear that Paul and Philippians had very special relationship. Most likely the former.

Participation in the gospel could be their evangelism and mission, but more likely referring to their financial gift mentioned throughout the letter. They had sent people and money to provide for Paul while he was under Roman house arrest.

V 6 is perhaps another way of saying 4:19. God will supply all your needs after your gifts to me. Not so much financially in this passage, but their outworking of love toward Paul was shown through generosity. This was also a sign of spiritual maturity and growth and God would continue to grow/mature them until Christ’s appearing.

All the “for”s in v 4 and 5 relate back to Paul’s heart of gratitude. It is right for him to be thankful. He is sure of God’s working in their lives. And all this is cause to be thankful. He and the Philippians are partners. They are on the same team. They are working together on mission, and though God is the one working (2:12-13), they are invited into the work. 

Love may abound more and more. But Paul wants discernment and insight to restrict that love so that they invest in what’s best. Maybe restrict is the wrong word. Abounding and restricting seem to be oxymoronic. But Paul does want them to pour love into the best things. Sometimes we can waste time, energy, service into good things and not best things. With limited resources, we can alway use more discernment and insight. 

Fruit of righteousness—guessing this is apposition. Righteousness is the fruit. Probably debate whether this is righteous standing or righteous living. I’m going to guess it’s righteous living. Being just. Being pure. Making wise decisions. In this passage—love and generosity. So that we are giving praise and glory to God. He alone is worthy, not the idols that lead to sin and death.

Matthew 6:25-34

 ““Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won’t he clothe you even more, you people of little faith? So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.”

— ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭25‬-‭34‬‬

So much more difficult to apply than understand what Jesus was saying. Could do background study on socio-economic status of those in northern Galilee. They did not have much. 

These verses fit into wisdom/rabbi tradition. Again, Jesus emphasizes the goodness of the Father. He loves His children and longs to provide for them. He will not forget their needs. 

Are there ever followers of Jesus that suffer from hunger or lack of shelter? Probably, and it would be interesting to have a conversation with them. Their perspective would be enlightening. But that’s still not the point here. God provides for His children, generally, universally. Yes, I would still make this a promise, because it’s emphasized in other places of the Bible, too, but I also allow for experience to inform theology. 

Cognitive dissonance is my phrase of the decade I think. Two things can both be true even though they seem contradictory. I can hold things in tension pretty well. The world is an awful place sometimes, but I can have confidence in God’s power and provision and love.

My responsibility is not to worry. An unbelieving mind/heart is concerned about my needs. My desires. What gets me through the day. 

Jesus says to focus on the kingdom. This is a realm. A real realm where Jesus reigns. This is worth a book, but others have done it. Can’t go extensive now. Probably a theology blog later about the already /not yet nature of the kingdom. It’s invisible now but visible later. It’s growing like a mustard seed (not in a post millennial kingdom sense). 

We pray for the kingdom to come and advance on earth.  The church is not the kingdom, but we are inhabitants of the kingdom. Israel is not the kingdom but believing Israel is also part of the church. Jesus reigns over all and we will see that reign completely enforced one day. 

How do we seek it? How do we focus on it? How do we pursue it? And righteousness…a classic Matthew term. The sermon on the mount will tell us. The law of love, both for neighbors/enemies. A higher morality. Matthew will discuss a commitment to discipleship. But all of this assumes a lack of commitment to me and my needs. Can’t have both.

For more reflection on a personal story of struggles with worry, see Chapter 6 in Too Small to Understand Why.