Doing The Math
The first chapter of James contains five gifts of promise for our lives:
• that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (James 1:4b)
• let him ask of God, that gives [wisdom] to all men liberally (James 1:5a)
• he shall receive the crown of life, (James 1:12b)
• with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21b)
• into the perfect law of liberty (James 1: 25a)
In light of our need to overcome trials and temptations of life, the author remarks about these gifts from God. Every good gift and
every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of
turning. (James1:17)
Sprinkled throughout the Gospel are the solutions to receiving these gifts from God. First, since God is unconditional love, all
gifts must come from Love. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (1 John 4:8) Second, as God is Spirit [see
John 4:24]. He has given us all spiritual gifts. [see Ephesians 1:3] The results of these gifts are the fruits of the Spirit. But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there
is no law. (Galatians 5:22&23)
The book of James begins with a greeting and a command, My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
(James 1:2) Well, if we are to “count it”, we need to “DO THE MATH”! This is the way the equation looks:
Joy + Faith Patience Godly Wisdom
_________ = ________ = _____________
Trials Time Entireness
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire,
wanting nothing. (James 1:3-4)
Applying this equation takes all the fruits of the Spirit. We are to have joy + faith OVER [not for] our trials and temptations. This
will produce patience OVER time. This will lead to Godly wisdom to OVER-come the entire situation. Godly results only come
from the application of Godly attributes. These attributes are the fruits of the Spirit [listed above.] Of his own will begat he us with
the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (James 1:18)
“If this is so simple, why aren’t more people living the Perfect Life?’ I cannot speak for other people, but I know joy has not always
automatically “sprung” forth when a trial hit. Having joy during trials and peace when temptations arise seems phony and fake to
my logical mind. To address this mental problem, James says, But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is
like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A
double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (James 1:6-8)
The other mental slip we should all guard against is blaming God. A celebrity was interviewed recently at a memorial fund raiser
for a deceased celebrity and his wife. They had championed a social cause, but both had passed away early in life. The celebrity
being interviewed said “What was God thinking [such nice people, taken so early].” He blamed God. We must guard against
similar deception. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither
tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath
conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. (James 1:13-16)
Okay, now, how do we exhibit the fruits of the Spirit in times of trial and resisting temptations?
• let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man works not the righteousness of God.
(James 1:19b & 20 ) Be quick to hear from God – get your Bible [and read it] as soon as possible when temptation comes. Do
not ever let anger [thoughts] turn into wrath [actions]. Wrath will never, never solve the problem, nor produce God’s result.
• But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves . . . being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of
the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James1:22 & 25b) After reading our Bibles, we must do what we have read and
heard in the Word – the fruits of the Spirit should lead to action, otherwise we might forget “who we are in Christ.”
• Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to
keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27) This verse has been a literal blessing to many widows and orphans. For
us be overcomers in life, with God’s help, we are to bring hope to the hopeless and help to those who are afflicted.
In Christ,
Gregory and Linda Emler
The first chapter of James contains five gifts of promise for our lives:
• that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (James 1:4b)
• let him ask of God, that gives [wisdom] to all men liberally (James 1:5a)
• he shall receive the crown of life, (James 1:12b)
• with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:21b)
• into the perfect law of liberty (James 1: 25a)
In light of our need to overcome trials and temptations of life, the author remarks about these gifts from God. Every good gift and
every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of
turning. (James1:17)
Sprinkled throughout the Gospel are the solutions to receiving these gifts from God. First, since God is unconditional love, all
gifts must come from Love. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (1 John 4:8) Second, as God is Spirit [see
John 4:24]. He has given us all spiritual gifts. [see Ephesians 1:3] The results of these gifts are the fruits of the Spirit. But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there
is no law. (Galatians 5:22&23)
The book of James begins with a greeting and a command, My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
(James 1:2) Well, if we are to “count it”, we need to “DO THE MATH”! This is the way the equation looks:
Joy + Faith Patience Godly Wisdom
_________ = ________ = _____________
Trials Time Entireness
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire,
wanting nothing. (James 1:3-4)
Applying this equation takes all the fruits of the Spirit. We are to have joy + faith OVER [not for] our trials and temptations. This
will produce patience OVER time. This will lead to Godly wisdom to OVER-come the entire situation. Godly results only come
from the application of Godly attributes. These attributes are the fruits of the Spirit [listed above.] Of his own will begat he us with
the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (James 1:18)
“If this is so simple, why aren’t more people living the Perfect Life?’ I cannot speak for other people, but I know joy has not always
automatically “sprung” forth when a trial hit. Having joy during trials and peace when temptations arise seems phony and fake to
my logical mind. To address this mental problem, James says, But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is
like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A
double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (James 1:6-8)
The other mental slip we should all guard against is blaming God. A celebrity was interviewed recently at a memorial fund raiser
for a deceased celebrity and his wife. They had championed a social cause, but both had passed away early in life. The celebrity
being interviewed said “What was God thinking [such nice people, taken so early].” He blamed God. We must guard against
similar deception. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither
tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath
conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. (James 1:13-16)
Okay, now, how do we exhibit the fruits of the Spirit in times of trial and resisting temptations?
• let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man works not the righteousness of God.
(James 1:19b & 20 ) Be quick to hear from God – get your Bible [and read it] as soon as possible when temptation comes. Do
not ever let anger [thoughts] turn into wrath [actions]. Wrath will never, never solve the problem, nor produce God’s result.
• But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves . . . being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of
the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James1:22 & 25b) After reading our Bibles, we must do what we have read and
heard in the Word – the fruits of the Spirit should lead to action, otherwise we might forget “who we are in Christ.”
• Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to
keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27) This verse has been a literal blessing to many widows and orphans. For
us be overcomers in life, with God’s help, we are to bring hope to the hopeless and help to those who are afflicted.
In Christ,
Gregory and Linda Emler
