James 2 - How we should treat each other

Hey Vibers!  Just wanted to recap a little of what we talked about a week ago when we talked about the 2^nd chapter in James.  God’s really been teaching me a lot about just how important community is in our lives.  

The need for relationship with others is one thing that drives all of us whether we are Christian or non-Christian. We, by nature, understand that we need each other.

James wrote to a church where division was starting to happen, and people were starting to act in ways that contradicted what they said they believed.  One way this played out was favoritism.  Certain people in the church were starting to show distinction to the people above them while neglecting the poor, and treating them as if they were inferior.  James launches an attack against this, and brings up two great points that I think we can even learn from.

One, why are we judging those “below” us when they are the very people who will inherit the kingdom of God as Jesus said during the Sermon on the Mount?  Why should we dishonor the very people God is going to honor?  It doesn’t really sound like a good idea to deliberately hurt and take advantage these people now does it?  My question for you is this: Who are those people in your life that you’re taking advantage of?  You probably think they’re below you, and James flat out tells us that we have “become judges with evil thoughts” when we treat them differently in this way.

Second, James points out that they’re trying to please the very people who are oppressing them.  Why do we want to impress and gain the approval of those people who take advantage of us?  Do we so desperately want to be part of the “in-crowd” that we’ll do whatever it takes to get there?

James taps into one of the most common struggles I know of, and that is people pleasing.  

Chances are these people were trying to gain the approval of those above them, because they could gain something from it.  Whether it was a ticket into the in-crowd, or to be able to say they know someone in a high place, they were nonetheless seeking the approval of man over God.  Are you doing this in your own life?  I know I’m prone to do it at times, and chances are that you are too.  Take a little bit to evaluate your life and make sure you’re seeking to please and glorify God rather than gain the approval of man.  It’s one of the easiest pitfalls to struggle with, and we need to constantly be wary of it.

We all fall short, but fortunately a trusting belief in Christ’s sacrifice allows us to become Christians and move under the law of liberty that James mentions in 2:12.  We are now free to obey God, and we gain rewards in Heaven for doing it as James points out in that same verse. (Also see 2 Corinthians 5:10).  In the end mercy is going to triumph over judgment, so we need to be willing to extend mercy to everyone.  This is the way James calls us to act.  Rather than be judgmental and think of ourselves as better than others, we need to learn to love and show mercy to everyone we come into contact with.

We ended the night with a song talking about our need for each other, and you can watch it below.  In the song “We Need Each Other,” by Sanctus Real, there’s a line that says, “if we’d only learn to love.”  That is so true!  Loving others does not come naturally.  It’s not our default.  It’s easier to love ourselves before God and others.  We talked about it briefly, but our actions need to line up with our faith.  Do people look at you and know that you love others.  Your actions are going to show what you truly believe and value.  A faith that does not produce works is a dead one according to James.  

If we’re going to say relationships are important, it’s time we stepped up and showed it.  We need to LEARN to love and SHOW others that we love them!

~Kyle Davison

Trials and Tribulation

Hey Guys! This is Ashley! Last week, I was able to share with the students and leaders at Vibe about my story and experience as we started the new series, where we will be reading through the book of James!

This is an awesome book! And there is a lot of stuff in it. I really want to encourage y’all to be reading this book in your own time. It has lots of practical goodness, and I have really enjoyed going through it myself.

We spent most of the night talking about what James writes in James 1:2-4, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

So James writes “if you face…”, NO! he actually says “when you face…”. There's a huge difference! James knows that we all will, if we haven't already, go through trials. There's no if's. And James goes on to say "trials of many kinds". Trials can be any kind of struggle you may be going through. Some of y'all might not be looking forward to school because there are some bullies there, maybe you're in a relationship that is hurtful and even abusive. There are many kinds of trials, but I want to share with y'all a trial of mine.

One of my trials was a trial I was born with. I was just about to turn four when my family found out that I couldn't hear (here I am in the pic as a four-year old with my teachers). The reason I could not talk at the time was due to the point that I could not hear for the first four years of my life. For the next couple of years, I would have to work harder to catch up to everyone else in my class. When the class would have recess or play time, I would go to work on my speech with my own teacher. It was clear to me that I was different than everyone else. I was getting some extra attention that I didn’t want. I would get so frustrated because I couldn’t say a word right or when someone spoke for me because someone couldn’t understand me. Even today, there’s a clear difference, day and night, in the way I am when I have my hearing aids on and when I don’t. I go from confident to self-conscious. I immediately feel the anxiety because I lose control.

And if I'm reading this right, James is telling me to consider it pure joy! Take joy in feeling frustrated because I am in a situation I can't control. There are many kinds of trial, but there is a common theme to the trials, it’s the lack of control. As much as we try to control the situation, we feel helpless.

Take some time to watch this video, it's a story similar to the story I am sharing with y'all. This man has a great perspective on how to consider his trial as pure joy. 

In this video, John talks about how given the choice to have his hearing loss taken away, he’s not sure that he would take it. It’s sounds like crazy talk even to me as I say it, but I’m not sure that I would either.

The dictionary defines Perseverance as a steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. 

James later writes “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial…”

Though it is hard to be hearing impaired, I consider my hearing loss is a blessing. How? Through my trials, I’ve had to depend on God in a way that I might not have ever did without those trials. 

Your circumstances, your situation may not be normal, and it may be hard. You might be suffering. But God is not just an observer in your life. He’s not punishing you. He loves you. He is real. And He is going to carry us through our trials.

It's not going to be easy sometimes, but as Christ-followers, we have a promise we can hold onto. We persevere through the trial and tribulation because we are on a course with a purpose!

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)