It seems to me that James receives some bad press for not being as linear as we’d like him to be. One writer remarks, “It is difficult, if not impossible, to extract from it a continuous and coherent plan. Its sections follow one another with a certain disconnectedness.” Another uses the word “rambling” in regard to James’ style, while a third observes that “little sequence or development can be detected.” At first glance, these observations might seem warranted but I’m of the mindset that the more familiar we become with the letter, the more clearly its connection (which at times lie beneath the surface), can be seen.
For example, it’s not hard to see in James’ discussion of trials that he tells us how we should view them (v. 2), what one of their purposes is (v. 2-4), how the wisdom we need to handle testing comes from God (v. 5), and how the failure to trust in God’s goodness is worse than any trial we might face (v. 6-8).
The introduction of the poor person and the rich person seems abrupt, but it is simply an application of what James has been discussing. One of the trials many of the people he is writing were struggling with was poverty—a poverty brought on by the oppression of the wealthy (2:6-7, 5:4-6). James is consoling and counseling them concerning how to view their situation. While it certainly had elements of injustice in it, they nonetheless have a high position (presumably because they were more sensitized to and seeking of God and His kingdom (Luke 6:20ff). Meanwhile, the affluent needed to glory in their low position by realizing the transitory nature of their circumstances (4:13ff) and acting accordingly.
The blessing of v. 12 then speaks to all generally, but perhaps especially to the poor who were having a rough go of it. They were to pursue the blessing of God rather than use their difficulties as an excuse for sin. God was testing them as any good teacher tested their student, not setting them up for failure or sin (v. 13-15). Their teacher was not the source of evil but good (v. 16-17). Sin gives birth to death, but God gives birth to us through His word.
It is this word we should listen to and allow to shape our lives rather than rant about our difficulties and go off on people (v. 18-21). More than that, there needs to be a serious commitment to putting into practice the things we hear from God’s word. This is freedom and blessing (v. 25).
The statement chapter one closes with has to do with the nature of truly seeking God. Although often isolated from its context, it’s not hard to see these words form a conclusion to what has come before as well as setting the table for some things he will develop later in the letter. True religion is about being slow to speak. It is about reaching out to people in distress rather than distancing yourself from them (2:1ff). It is about resisting the world’s temptations (1:13-15, 4:7ff).
I think you can see that James can be approached as a fairly straightforward letter. Of course, there would be nothing wrong if it had been written in the manner of Proverbs (the second half of the book) and moved unrelatedly from one subject to another. I’m just among those who are unconvinced that this is what he did!
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 