Jas 1  —  LONG DIVISION

"A man's anger does not fulfill God's justice. Strip away all that is filthy, every vicious excess." —James 1:20-21

James' church, like ours, was divided. The worldliness of the church promoted selfishness and division. James lists various steps toward unity:

  1. We should rejoice even in bad circumstances because when our faith is tested this makes for endurance and maturity.
  2. We must ask for God's wisdom to deal with disunity.
  3. "Let the brother in humble circumstances take pride in his eminence and the rich man be proud of his lowliness" (1:9-10).
  4. "Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger" (1:19-20).
  5. "Humbly welcome the word that has taken root in you, with its power to save you. Act on this word" (1:21-22).
  6. We must control our tongues.
  7. We must look after orphans and widows and keep ourselves "unspotted by the world" (1:27).

If we do these things, unity will be restored.

Prayer: Jesus, I pray with You that all may be one as You and the Father are one (Jn 17:21).
Promise: "Happy the man who holds out to the end through trial! Once he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life the Lord has promised to those who love Him." —1:12
 

Jas 2  —  RACISM IN THE CHURCH

"Have you not in a case like this discriminated in your hearts?" —James 2:4

If a person says he has faith and yet is prejudiced, racist, or insensitive to the poor, that person's faith is without works and is as "dead as a body without breath" (2:26).

Prayer: Jesus, deliver the Church from the demon of racism.
Promise: "Did not God choose those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom He promised to those who love Him?" —2:5
 

Jas 3  —  TONGUE-LASHING

"All of us fall short in many respects. If a person is without fault in speech he is a man in the fullest sense, because he can control his entire body." —James 3:2

If, by God's grace, we can just control our tongues, we can control our entire bodies. This may even apply to the body of Christ, the Church. Divisions in the Church can be reconciled by controlling our tongues.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, use my tongue for praise, not for gossip and division.
Promise: "The harvest of justice is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace." —3:18
 

Jas 4  —  LIFE-STYLES AND DEATH-STYLES

"Are you not aware that love of the world is enmity to God?" —James 4:4

Conflicts and disputes, including those in the church, originate from our inner cravings. Our selfish, pleasure-seeking, and worldly life-style marks us out as God's enemies. Let us "begin to lament, to mourn, and to weep" for our sinful life-styles (4:9). Let us not judge others, but repent of our sins, and "be humbled in the sight of the Lord" (4:10).

Prayer: Father, give me the gift to cry for my sins and the divisions in the church.
Promise: "Therefore submit to God; resist the devil and he will take flight. Draw close to God, and He will draw close to you." —4:7-8
 

Jas 5  —  PRAYER-POWER

"Declare your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may find healing." —James 5:16

James counseled the rich to repent, the poor to be patient, and all to pray. "The fervent petition of a holy man is powerful indeed" (5:16). Through prayer, we can heal the sick, bring sinners back to the Lord, and even restore the unity of the Church.

Prayer: Father, may I pray now all the more since the Day draws near.
Promise: "See! The Judge stands at the gate." —5:9
 

CONCLUSION

When you finish reading this booklet, give it to someone else. Pray for that person to be motivated to read God's word and make a total commitment to the Lord. Use this book as a tool for evangelization. Right now pray to know the person with whom you are to share this book.

 

Nihil obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, April 25, 1997
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 28, 1997

The Nihil obstat and Imprimatur are a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free from doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil obstat and Imprimatur agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.

Source:  Presentation Ministries

3230 McHenry
Cincinnati, Ohio 45211
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