James 1 (Part 1)

Join Beth Tikkun as we begin our study in the book of James. In this study we place the opening of The Sermon on the Mount side by side with James 1:1-12 and see what is revealed about the walk of faith, spiritual maturity, and wisdom.

This teaching’s study Resources:

James 1 (Part 1)

Categories Apostolic Writings, James, Media | Tags: , , | Posted on May 4, 2013

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6 Comments

  1. by Charlotte Gunther

    On May 14, 2013

    nor do I understand what you mean when you say “the solution is in the problem” or the “problem is the solution”. whatever–can’t quite figure it out.

  2. by L. Grant Luton

    On May 19, 2013

    The saying is “the problem is the solution”. Let me give you the grandest example of this principle and then you can interpolate for other circumstances. Think of the execution of Yeshua. This is by far the greatest sin ever committed by mankind. God’s Son, the Messiah, Who is the Word made flesh comes to earth and lives a completely sinless life and then He is tried illegally and executed as a base criminal. This is a problem! His family and followers could see nothing good in this gross miscarriage of justice. And yet, this tremendous problem was actually the greatest solution to mankind’s problem in that it accomplished the removal of mankind’s sin. What we must do is try to see how this same principle applies in our own situations. This is not easy to do. But it is possible.

    Shalom!
    Grant

  3. by Charlotte Gunther

    On May 14, 2013

    Reading the beatitudes in Delitzsch’ Hebrew Gospels: v6, “O, the gladness of those who hunger & thirst for tzedakah…”, which you identified as ‘charity’. but then v10, “O, the gladness of those who are pursued on account of tzedakah…”
    Can tzedakah in v10 also be translated ‘charity’? and if so, what does it mean?

  4. by L. Grant Luton

    On May 19, 2013

    The word tzadakah literally means ‘righteousness’, just as the word tzadik means ‘a righteous person’. These words come from the verb root tzedek which means to do righteousness or charity. R’ R.S. Hirsch commenting on Genesis 15:6 writes “When God acts with tzadakkah toward His creatures,, He acts benevolently [i.e. with charity] towards them. When man acts with tzadakah toward his fellow man, he acts benevolently toward him, but fulfills an obligation to God. For every person is obligated to promote tzedek with all his spiritual and material resources. The whole reason he is given these resources is to establish tzedek in the world around him. Every contribution to the establishment of tzedek is tzadakah.” (The Hirsch Chumash, vol.1, p.358)

    Hope this helps!
    Grant

  5. by Tim

    On June 11, 2013

    I have found that the most painful times of my life are the times when I am closest to our Lord. Unfortunately, I tend to drift when I am too comfortable.

    In my earlier more ambitious days, I sought to make myself comfortable and secure. According to the Christian Community and the world’s terms I was blessed and successful, respectively. The product of the selfish pursuit (at the time I didn’t see it as selfish) was apathy. I wondered why I had grown so distant from our Lord; that my love had grown cold. My belief did not, but my love did. I actually prayed one day “shouldn’t I be experiencing some chastisement at this point”.

    Then it all began to fall apart. Career, assets, family etc… It appeared to be a 3-4 year nightmare. I have found though, that it is during the latter times I have grown closer to the Lord and as I face challenges today the problems are truly the solution.

    It is in the challenge now that I do not depend on my talent, ingenuity, christian ethics and principles, etc…. but am learning to turn quickly to our Lord to see how He is going to work in the situation. It is in the problem that the solution is so beautifully highlighted.

    This may sound a little strange but a certain part of my spirit (small but definitely there) detests the comfort and yearns for the problem as I have grown to detest the apathy and yearn for the closeness the problem produces.

  6. by L. Grant Luton

    On June 11, 2013

    Tim, Thank you for sharing your experience. What you describe is true brokenness, which is something that is absolutely necessary for a believer to make progress in his spiritual walk. Your comments reminded me of Watchman Nee’s insight into the woman who anointed Yeshua’s feet with the precious ointment in the alabaster box (Luke 7). The Scripture states that when she broke the box the fragrance of the ointment filled the room. Nee says that this is a picture of one who has been ‘broken’ so that their spirit can be revealed like a fragrance. And once the box has been broken, it takes only the merest touch to open it again.

    Thanks again for sharing your comments.

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