James & Ecclesiastes - What is Wisdom?

[SilverFox7]

James 4:11-12
New King James Version

11 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

We need to be careful about our assessments towards others, especially our brethren. We don’t see the full picture of what’s going in a person’s soul and God’s attempt to break through those walls of rebellion and sin. This is some pretty strong language from James against speaking evil of a brother and casting judgment on them, saying it is an attack against the law.

“There is one Lawgiver,” and thankfully for us He is a gracious and forgiving Judge. For those of us who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are forgiven through His sacrifice, and we are no longer under the wrath of judgement. Our sins are covered in His blood, and we kneel before the Judgement Seat as a seat of Mercy as well. We are not qualified to judge others like He is.

Romans 2:1-4
New King James Version

God’s Righteous Judgment

1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

 

[Sipsey]

I heard an excellent sermon a number of years ago that focused on the book of Ecclesiastes, and the pastor noted that James is an excellent complimentary epistle to Ecclesiastes. Both books fall within the category of "wisdom literature" with their short maxims that emphasize properly living a "righteous" and "prosperous" life in the flesh (Ecclesiastes) and in the Spirit (James).

Ecclesiastes was likely written by king Solomon later in his life. After succeeding his father, David, on the throne at a very young age, he started off down the right path by asking God for wisdom to govern the nation with a "discerning heart" to "distinguish between right and wrong" (I Kings 3: 9). God was pleased with this request and said, "...I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be" (v. 12).

Solomon shares his wisdom through the book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Psalms 72 and 127 along with the Song of Solomon. Early on in his career, he built upon David's success and led Israel to the height of their physical power and prestige as a nation. Unfortunately, unlike his father, he fell into heavy idolatry, had wives and concubines from other nations, and neglected his relationship with God to the point that Solomon's salvation is questionable (e.g. he is excluded in the list of "heroes of faith" in Hebrews 11).

Solomon lived a life of experimentation. Rather than focusing on God like David did, Solomon pursued a life of leisure and pleasure, but he sums up the results right at the beginning of Ecclesiastes that he felt emptiness in that lifestyle:

Ecclesiastes 1:1-2

New King James Version

The Vanity of Life

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher;
“Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

James on the other hand begins his letter much differently, emphasizing right up front that he is a servant of God, and life is far from "vanity" when we are living in Christ:

James 1

New King James Version

1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:

Greetings.

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces [a]patience.

4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be [b]perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

I've been looking forward to tackling these two challenging texts for quite some time, yet I may have bitten off more than I can chew. But, with your help, I'm excited about gaining more "wisdom" hopefully through this study and fellowship with all of you.

May I suggest a book by someone who grew up in Greece, studied classical and Biblical Greek.
Faith, Love & Hope


An Exposition of the Epistle of James


Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D.


Zodhiates, Spiros. 1999. Faith, Love, & Hope: An Exposition of the Epistle of James. Electronic ed. Logos Library System; Exegetical Commentary Series. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

Here is the preface:
Preface


The messages contained in this book were prepared under the sponsorship of American Mission to Greeks, New York City [now Advancing the Ministries of the Gospel, Chattanooga]. The Mission felt that in appreciation for what the Christians of the United States have been doing for the people of Greece, both spiritually and materially, it should give them something of value from the original Greek New Testament.


This study is probably one of the most extended expository works on that much neglected, though eminently practical, book of James. When I began my study, I did not realize that there would be so much spiritual wealth in James. It took three years to complete the studies in this series—although, when I began, I anticipated that it would take only a few months.


I am happy to confess that I never experienced so much conviction by the Spirit of God as during the time that I prepared these expositions of the book of James. The study of James has greatly changed my life and thought. I now send these studies forth with the prayer and hope that they will aid in making great changes in the lives of many, whatever their place in life may be. We Christians often allow our confession to become mere lip service. The gospel of Jesus Christ, however, demands that our daily lives give evidence that we really mean what we confess. And it is precisely at this point that the book of James is needful, for it is actually a treatise against “Christian” hypocrisy.


In these studies I have sought to bring within everyone’s comprehension the depths of thought of the Greek text. The studies therefore will be of value both to the preacher and to the general Christian reader and worker. As a basis for these studies I used D. Erwin Nestle’s edition of Novum Testamentum Graece, published by Privileg Wurt Bibelanstalt, Stuttgart, Germany, 1956. It is my hope that as a Greek who has studied the Greek of both the classics and the New Testament, and as one who speaks the Greek used today, I have here given something that will help all of us to a better understanding of James.


Although these studies are based on the Greek text of James, they are not technical or specialized. Their main purpose is to touch and influence the life of the reader, to apply the message of James to practical life. This is a book on Christian conduct. We want to find out how God wants us to behave. But to do that, we have to be sure of the meaning of the words which God inspired James to write. A man who did not know that rechts and links meant “right” and “left” in German would not know which way to turn if these words were spoken to him. Sometimes even the preacher builds up a whole system of teaching and interpretation without examining the real meaning of a particular verse, not in its translated form, but in the original tongue in which God gave it. We read in Nehemiah 8:8, “So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.” That is the task I have endeavored to perform—with objectivity and without theological or denominational bias.


Zodhiates, Spiros. 1999. Faith, Love, & Hope: An Exposition of the Epistle of James. Electronic ed. Logos Library System; Exegetical Commentary Series. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

 

[SilverFox7]

James 4:13-15

New King James Version

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

It may seem that James is discouraging planning our future events, but that’s not the case. Planning and establishing goals are proven principles that lead to long term success in this life. Working hard through secondary schooling with the goal of preparing for higher education in a solid career is prudent.

Marriage, children, and raising our family using the Lord’s principles yield some of the greatest joys of this life. And, we plan for retirement and our ultimate fate, death, to ensure our estates are established to the best of our ability to take care of loved ones who are left behind.

So, what is James referring to in these passages? From my point of view, God needs to be a part of every aspect of our lives, and we need to seek His will in everything. We were redeemed out of slavery and purchased by our Lord. It is an unconditional and willing submission because God loves us and wants to be an intimate part of every endeavor we pursue. It’s been ingrained in me that whenever I share my dreams and plans with others, I often weave in the words “…Lord willing.” God is my partner, and if I’m outside of His will or life, my efforts are vanity.

This hearkens back to what Solomon learned through his life of experimentation. “Solomon in all his glory…” (Matt. 6:29) eventually fell into idolatry with his foreign women and became an empty and depressed individual during the “difficult days” of his elderly years. He “had it all” and lived the ultimate life many dream of – wealth, power, wisdom, the finest food and drink, a gorgeous palace, and beautiful women at his beckon call. Yet, he cries out after all of this: “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (Ecc. 1:2).

If the Lord is not a part of our lives, our lives are empty and meaningless. We were created to need God, and we are incomplete without Him. Like James says, our lives are but a “vapor”, and we need Him desperately, whether we realize that or not. My life is not complete without the Lord now, and I face certain death swiftly without His saving grace. It’s not just a purposeless life now; it’s life without Him for all eternity.

No, thank you. Like David, I want to “…dwell in the house of the Lord Forever” (Ps. 23:6).

 

[Sipsey]

James 4:13-15

New King James Version

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

It may seem that James is discouraging planning our future events, but that’s not the case. Planning and establishing goals are proven principles that lead to long term success in this life. Working hard through secondary schooling with the goal of preparing for higher education in a solid career is prudent.

Marriage, children, and raising our family using the Lord’s principles yield some of the greatest joys of this life. And, we plan for retirement and our ultimate fate, death, to ensure our estates are established to the best of our ability to take care of loved ones who are left behind.

So, what is James referring to in these passages? From my point of view, God needs to be a part of every aspect of our lives, and we need to seek His will in everything. We were redeemed out of slavery and purchased by our Lord. It is an unconditional and willing submission because God loves us and wants to be an intimate part of every endeavor we pursue. It’s been ingrained in me that whenever I share my dreams and plans with others, I often weave in the words “…Lord willing.” God is my partner, and if I’m outside of His will or life, my efforts are vanity.

This hearkens back to what Solomon learned through his life of experimentation. “Solomon in all his glory…” (Matt. 6:29) eventually fell into idolatry with his foreign women and became an empty and depressed individual during the “difficult days” of his elderly years. He “had it all” and lived the ultimate life many dream of – wealth, power, wisdom, the finest food and drink, a gorgeous palace, and beautiful women at his beckon call. Yet, he cries out after all of this: “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (Ecc. 1:2).

If the Lord is not a part of our lives, our lives are empty and meaningless. We were created to need God, and we are incomplete without Him. Like James says, our lives are but a “vapor”, and we need Him desperately, whether we realize that or not. My life is not complete without the Lord now, and I face certain death swiftly without His saving grace. It’s not just a purposeless life now; it’s life without Him for all eternity.

No, thank you. Like David, I want to “…dwell in the house of the Lord Forever” (Ps. 23:6).

I have a book by Spiros Zadhiates on the book of James. It has become my go-to reference in studying this practical book; See what you think———

In Planning, Do Not Leave God Out


Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain.


—James 4:13


In the first 10 verses of chapter 4, James has shown man’s disregard of God in his preference for the world and the pleasures of the world. In verses 11 and 12 he has shown man’s disregard of God in judging his brother. In verses 13–17 he shows us man’s disregard of the providence of God. Man in his pride does not want to acknowledge that he cannot determine his own fate and make his own plans. Proud man forgets God when he plans his life and his business for the future.


The significant thing about the 13th verse is that the first verb is in the second person singular. If it were correctly translated, it would read, “Go thou now.” James is addressing you and me individually, and he does not want us to think that he is speaking to someone else. But the participle that follows, hoi légontes, “[you] who say,” is in the plural. It is as if he wants to stress the fact that there are many who say what he is about to mention. He speaks to you and me individually, but at the same time he wants to inform us that in our neglect of the providence of God we have plenty of company. As we toil and labor, we forget that the actual increase cannot come from anyone else but God.


Bishop Beveridge gave a wonderful illustration of one of the names by which God has chosen to call Himself, I AM. “He does not say, I am their light, their guide, their strength, or tower, but only ‘I AM.’ He sets, as it were, His hands to a blank, that His people may write under it what they please that is good for them. And as if He should say, Are they weak? I am strength. Are they poor? I am riches. Are they in trouble? I am comfort. Are they sick? I am health. Are they dying? I am life. Have they nothing? I am all things. I am wisdom and power. I am justice and mercy. I am grace and goodness. I am glory, beauty, holiness, eminency, super-eminency, perfection, all-sufficiency, eternity. Jehovah, I am. Whatever is amiable in itself, or desirable unto them, that I am.

Whatsoever is pure and holy, whatsoever is great or pleasant, whatsoever is good or needful to make men happy, that I am.” To leave Him out of the picture of our daily toil, our business, is to deprive ourselves of the greatest joy and happiness which could accompany these. The word used by James to express the way in which these merchants speak is légontes. There is another Greek word, laloúntes, which would indicate haphazard talking without necessary reasoning and thought. The Greek verb légō used by James comes from the noun lógos, which means “reason, intelligence.” Their talk is the result of careful planning and reasoning. The complaint which James has against such people is that they do such planning without asking God’s guidance and permission.

Of course, it is good and necessary to plan, but God is highly displeased when we leave Him out of the picture. He is interested in all that we plan, say, and do. It is sinful not only to do things without submitting to God, but also to plan them without Him. If we keep Him out of our planning, He will leave us out of His planning. Our planning will lead to ultimate failure and tragedy, while His planning for our lives will lead to happiness and victory. Financial success does not necessarily lead to success and happiness in life.


Planning without God, whether we execute our plans or not, will bring us nothing but misery. Robert Horton has well said that the greatest lesson he learned from life was that people who set their minds and hearts on money are equally disappointed whether they get it or not. It binds alike the poor who crave money and the rich who make it their god. Let us, therefore, ask God’s partnership in all that we plan for our lives, if we want our lives to count, not only for time and men, but also for eternity and God.


How did their minds work, these men who planned without God? “Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain,” they said. The plans were all ready. These merchants must have loaded their camels with the merchandise that they were going to take to some large city of that day, such as Damascus or Antioch or Alexandria. These were shrewd businessmen who had everything figured out very carefully.

Continued next post——

 

[Sipsey]

James 4:13-15

New King James Version

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

It may seem that James is discouraging planning our future events, but that’s not the case. Planning and establishing goals are proven principles that lead to long term success in this life. Working hard through secondary schooling with the goal of preparing for higher education in a solid career is prudent.

Marriage, children, and raising our family using the Lord’s principles yield some of the greatest joys of this life. And, we plan for retirement and our ultimate fate, death, to ensure our estates are established to the best of our ability to take care of loved ones who are left behind.

So, what is James referring to in these passages? From my point of view, God needs to be a part of every aspect of our lives, and we need to seek His will in everything. We were redeemed out of slavery and purchased by our Lord. It is an unconditional and willing submission because God loves us and wants to be an intimate part of every endeavor we pursue. It’s been ingrained in me that whenever I share my dreams and plans with others, I often weave in the words “…Lord willing.” God is my partner, and if I’m outside of His will or life, my efforts are vanity.

This hearkens back to what Solomon learned through his life of experimentation. “Solomon in all his glory…” (Matt. 6:29) eventually fell into idolatry with his foreign women and became an empty and depressed individual during the “difficult days” of his elderly years. He “had it all” and lived the ultimate life many dream of – wealth, power, wisdom, the finest food and drink, a gorgeous palace, and beautiful women at his beckon call. Yet, he cries out after all of this: “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (Ecc. 1:2).

If the Lord is not a part of our lives, our lives are empty and meaningless. We were created to need God, and we are incomplete without Him. Like James says, our lives are but a “vapor”, and we need Him desperately, whether we realize that or not. My life is not complete without the Lord now, and I face certain death swiftly without His saving grace. It’s not just a purposeless life now; it’s life without Him for all eternity.

No, thank you. Like David, I want to “…dwell in the house of the Lord Forever” (Ps. 23:6).

This trading was definitely going to go through and yield profit. Failure was excluded. They had contacts all over the world. These were Jews of the dispersion, and a great many of their fellow-Jews were in business. There was nothing that would stand in the way of their buying and selling and realizing profit. They intended to stay for a year in the city where they were going, and there they were determined that they would make a profit. Apparently this profit-making was their principal aim. It certainly was not the glory of God. The Greek verb kerdḗsomen comes from the noun kérdos, which, besides meaning just plain profit or gain, also means “the desire of gain, the love of gain.” Profit-making had become a passion with these merchants. That was the only reason why they traveled, why they traded, why they lived.


Profit-making is essential in any business, but when it becomes a passion and the motivation of all our activities, then we are on very dangerous ground. Unfortunately, this is even the case with some Christians who engage in the Lord’s work. Though they may do the Lord’s work well and conscientiously, they should be careful lest their sometimes unconscious motivating power turn out to be the love of and the realization of profit. In secular work, the fundamental aim of a Christian businessman should not be profit-making by hook or by crook, but rather the service that would ensue as a result of his trading first for God and secondly for others.

If we put God first in our business, He will surely take care of the profit-making. If we leave God out and make Him secondary in our business life, even the profit that we realize may bring us misery and unhappiness. After all, profit should neither be the motivating power nor the ultimate goal of life, for profit in its last analysis is only a means to an end and not the end itself. Great profits will not make a man happy, because profit-making without God may make others unhappy and bring sorrow to the heart of God in whom the Christian businessman professes faith. Oh, for merchants whose primary goal is not the accumulation of wealth for selfish purposes, but the glory of God and the service of humanity!

If our primary aim is profit, we may even rationalize ourselves into some business which Christ could not sanction; while if it is first the glory of God, then the service of humanity, and finally the satisfaction of our personal needs, we would only engage in business which Christ would not hesitate to engage in if He were down here. Let the Christian businessman watch the motivation of his trading and its goal, for what will the profit profit him if it brings him unhappiness and heaviness of heart and scruple of conscience?


What a practical book this gospel according to James is. James brings the deity into our human affairs, present and future. We are not to think that God is concerned only with things supernatural. No, He is also interested in things natural, such as business, in which He expects to be an active partner, with the deciding vote. As someone has said, “Truly, in the view of St. James, no gulf separates the divine from the human, the transcendent from the terrestrial, the spiritual from the practical.”

If we fail to recognize the divine element in the human, our prosperous humanity will be calamitous. To leave God out of our common human affairs intentionally is sometimes worse than belligerent atheism. Practical atheism, as we could very well characterize the life attitude of the merchant spoken of by James, is unfortunately far more common than reasoned unbelief, and we may well wonder what the judgment of God will be upon this practical atheism which plagues the Christianity of the twentieth century just as it has apparently plagued the Christian Church throughout the ages. How dare we say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year?” Some manuscripts have “or” instead of “and.” We prefer the latter.

Oh, vain man, who with one hand holds the present and with the other the future, you do not stop to realize that it is only by the sustaining grace of God that you own this very instant in which you live! These merchants did well to look into the future, but they did not look far enough. We must look into the future in terms of eternity and not only in terms of tomorrow’s gain. Their aspirations were high, but they were not high enough. They stacked up profits, but not heavenly treasures while here on earth. Fontenelle, the French skeptic, was right when he wrote, “Man is born to aspire at everything and enjoy nothing; to go always forward, but to arrive nowhere.” This is very true when man leaves the perpendicular dimension out of his business and travel. Let us remember that time and space are divine gifts to humanity, and humanity should not leave the Giver out of the gift.


Zodhiates, Spiros. 1999. Faith, Love, & Hope: An Exposition of the Epistle of James. Electronic ed. Logos Library System; Exegetical Commentary Series. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

 

[SilverFox7]

The last two verses of James warn against boasting and arrogance along with telling us to follow through with action on the “good” we know we should be doing in every aspect of our lives: “But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:16-17).

Sin separates us from God, and we need to be in a continual state of repentance, asking for forgiveness, and allowing the humility we gain through God’s grace to empower the Holy Spirit to produce fruit – the character of Christ, good works. We are powerless to accomplish this without God (Matt. 19: 16:26).

We covered James 5 verses 1-6 in an earlier post, which warns us against seeking the fleeting pursuit of riches in this world and the lusts of the flesh that again can tear us away from God. Patience, perseverance, and suffering are key themes that close out this incredible epistle that is indeed “practical” @Sipsey :

James 5:7-11
King James Version

7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

 

[Sipsey]

The last two verses of James warn against boasting and arrogance along with telling us to follow through with action on the “good” we know we should be doing in every aspect of our lives: “But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:16-17).

Sin separates us from God, and we need to be in a continual state of repentance, asking for forgiveness, and allowing the humility we gain through God’s grace to empower the Holy Spirit to produce fruit – the character of Christ, good works. We are powerless to accomplish this without God (Matt. 19: 16:26).

We covered James 5 verses 1-6 in an earlier post, which warns us against seeking the fleeting pursuit of riches in this world and the lusts of the flesh that again can tear us away from God. Patience, perseverance, and suffering are key themes that close out this incredible epistle that is indeed “practical” @Sipsey :

James 5:7-11
King James Version

7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

Indeed, when properly understood, a most practical letter.

 

[SilverFox7]

7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Patience is imperative as we await the return of Jesus Christ. James uses the analogy of farmers who toil with hope that their hard efforts of tilling the soil, planting the seed, and praying for good weather with the life-giving rain nourishing the barley, wheat, and other crops to enjoy, share, and profit from the harvest.

The disciples thought Jesus would return in their lifetime, and James says “the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” Many of the events leading up to the return of the Lord pointed to A.D. 70 as the tipping point, yet Jesus made it clear to His disciples within the Olivet prophecy that His return was going to be unexpected; we need to keep the faith and have hope (Matt. 24: 36-51).

It must have been disappointing and heartbreaking for the Church to see Jerusalem overrun by the Roman forces and the temple laid in ruins with great destruction and death filling the streets. But, Jesus didn’t return to destroy the pagan invaders. Two thousand years later, we still eagerly await the promised coming of our King to rule the world with justice, truth, grace, and love.

Jesus’ promise to return is sure. We can count on that. Yet, it’s like “how much longer do we have to wait, Lord? We have made such a mess of our lives and this planet that we desire your return soon. I think we’ve made it clear that we are incapable of governing ourselves and living successfully without you. And, there are millions of your saints who can attest to this for eternity because we’ve lived in the cesspool and experienced your grace firsthand.”

The conditions seem ripe again for Jesus’ return in the near future, and the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran may be but a small precursor to the battles ahead between the “super powers.” But, we always have to remember that Jesus made it crystal clear: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matt. 24: 36). The Father will send Jesus back to us when the fields are ripe. Patience, keeping the faith, and preaching the Gospel need to be a primary focus in the meantime.

We can rest assured that the “coming of the Lord draweth near.” Whether we witness that triumphant return in the coming years or are left longing for this next momentous event in God’s plan of salvation to happen, it will be near either way. It will happen when we are on the brink of destroying ourselves as a species (Matt. 24: 22), or we will join the Lord when the short mortal struggle we have now is complete.

“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21: 36).

 

[Sipsey]

Patience is imperative as we await the return of Jesus Christ. James uses the analogy of farmers who toil with hope that their hard efforts of tilling the soil, planting the seed, and praying for good weather with the life-giving rain nourishing the barley, wheat, and other crops to enjoy, share, and profit from the harvest.

The disciples thought Jesus would return in their lifetime, and James says “the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” Many of the events leading up to the return of the Lord pointed to A.D. 70 as the tipping point, yet Jesus made it clear to His disciples within the Olivet prophecy that His return was going to be unexpected; we need to keep the faith and have hope (Matt. 24: 36-51).

It must have been disappointing and heartbreaking for the Church to see Jerusalem overrun by the Roman forces and the temple laid in ruins with great destruction and death filling the streets. But, Jesus didn’t return to destroy the pagan invaders. Two thousand years later, we still eagerly await the promised coming of our King to rule the world with justice, truth, grace, and love.

Jesus’ promise to return is sure. We can count on that. Yet, it’s like “how much longer do we have to wait, Lord? We have made such a mess of our lives and this planet that we desire your return soon. I think we’ve made it clear that we are incapable of governing ourselves and living successfully without you. And, there are millions of your saints who can attest to this for eternity because we’ve lived in the cesspool and experienced your grace firsthand.”

The conditions seem ripe again for Jesus’ return in the near future, and the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran may be but a small precursor to the battles ahead between the “super powers.” But, we always have to remember that Jesus made it crystal clear: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matt. 24: 36). The Father will send Jesus back to us when the fields are ripe. Patience, keeping the faith, and preaching the Gospel need to be a primary focus in the meantime.

We can rest assured that the “coming of the Lord draweth near.” Whether we witness that triumphant return in the coming years or are left longing for this next momentous event in God’s plan of salvation to happen, it will be near either way. It will happen when we are on the brink of destroying ourselves as a species (Matt. 24: 22), or we will join the Lord when the short mortal struggle we have now is complete.

“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21: 36).

Amen!

 

[SilverFox7]

9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

We need to get along and be unified as Christians. Some of the trivial matters we argue about really don’t matter in the larger scheme of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and striving to become more like Him in everything we do. Shortly before His betrayal by Judas, Jesus sums up where our focus should be:

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17: 3)

Paul lived this, and that is the main focus of his letters: “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (I Cor. 2:2). If our eyes are focused on Jesus, there is nothing to argue about. In that same “intercessory prayer” before Jesus was arrested, I count five times where Jesus prayed “…that they [His disciples – the Church] may be one as We are” (John 17: 11, 21, 22, 23). Oneness with God and at one with one another – atonement.

How can we achieve at-one-ment? We can’t by our own power – that has to come through the Power from Above that flows within and through us if we desire. James points to the characteristics we need that have their basis in humility – suffering, affliction, patience, and endurance. These are all traits the world likes to avoid, and I can relate as someone who is entangled in this mess on a daily basis.

Yet, they are the very traits we need to reach our potential. Ezekiel had to lie on his side for 430 days proclaiming the sins of Israel and Judah. That doesn’t sound like a whole lot of fun, but it had to have made a huge impression on his audience. And, it had to be extremely uncomfortable and painful – an act of endurance made possible through God’s grace and strength.

Or look at righteous Job – he did nothing but try to exemplify being a model family man, citizen, and leader. Out of the blue, his children were destroyed by a whirlwind, his wife was highly critical, his “friends” were a bunch of self-righteous snobs, and he sat on an ash heap covered in boils lamenting to God, “why me, Lord; what have I done to deserve this suffering?” What an act of perseverance, and God made things right in the end as He always will:

“Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord – that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11; NKJV).

What a power-packed verse.

 

[SilverFox7]

9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

Suffering is a part of our lives as Christians as much as I don’t enjoy it. Long ago, a battle-hardened deacon told our singles’ Bible Study group that he wanted to build character, so he prayed to God for trials. He said he would never do that again because God had no problem swiftly answering his prayer with a host of difficulties that brought him to his knees asking for relief.

Unfortunately, stubbornness has always been one of my weaknesses, and it runs in both sides of my family. I tend to be experimental as well. So, I tried what Mr. L did and prayed for trials to build more humility. Oh boy, did I regret it – that day at the shop was a complete disaster. It was one problem after another, and I did some things I had never done before like dumping a scrap hopper of galvanized steel into the uncoated steel bin. My boss just looked at me like what the #$%^ are you doing! I spent the next hour hand picking the galvanized scrap out of the bin.

I felt like a complete fool, and I prayed that God would remove the trials, which He swiftly did. An 8+ hour shift filled with large slices of humble pie was more than enough for me. And, that was the only time I ever prayed for trials. I know that suffering builds character, but I don’t like it. I complain, moan and groan, and have actually stopped talking to God for several days because I was so mad at Him for the suffering happening in my life or the lives of others I love. I know it isn’t right, but that’s how I felt.

James talks about judgement and suffering in chapter 5. He uses the prophets as an example who were mocked, beaten, ridiculed, and put to death in many instances. And let’s think about Jesus on this Good Friday. Talk about the ultimate example of suffering: He was betrayed and arrested, went through a “kangaroo court” process with Pilate and the Jews, and was beaten, spat upon, and given a crown of thorns for acknowledging that He was a king, the King actually. Then, he endured one of the most gruesome forms of judgement man has devised – crucifixion on a cross, nailed through the hands and feet to a hunk of wood.

Jesus knew what he was facing, and the reality hit home hard as the final minutes were ticking away in the garden. He prayed, “Father, if it is Your Will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). Jesus’ humanity is revealed here and in many other ways throughout His ministry. Yet, He had resolve and Power from on High to say “Yes” to the suffering and agonizing death at Calvary.

All of this came to mind as I was thinking about what Good Friday means and how James 5:12 ties into it: “But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,”, “No,” lest you fall into judgement,” which can also be translated as “condemnation” (KJV) and “hypocrisy” (note in my NKJV).

I need to be focused and resolved like Jesus. “Swearing to tell the truth, the whole truth so help me God” and making oaths I cannot keep are futile. I need to say, “Yes, Father” and have passion to fulfill His will like Jesus did. It’s as simple yet as complicated as that.

Matthew 5:33-37
New International Version

Oaths

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’

34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.

36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

 

[SilverFox7]

God is our Healer (Exodus 15:26). He not only heals us physically, God also heals us mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. For those of us who have become Christians, we are given a new heart and a new spirit that is cleansing the filth of our corrupt nature and slowly but surely replacing it with Jesus’ nature. We are experiencing oneness and wholeness, healing that is lasting.

James 5:13-15
King James Version

13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

In the church I attended in my twenties, we practiced verse 14. When I experienced some serious viruses several times during those years, I contacted my pastor or one of the elders when I was sick, and they were at my residence within hours to pray over me with their hands on my head beseeching God for healing. I was then anointed with oil on my forehead, and they would stick around for a short conversation afterwards.

It was a great experience, and it made a difference. I felt better, sometimes within a matter of hours, and God has healed me physically multiple times throughout my life. There were documented testaments in our church where God healed people of serious diseases like cancer and heart failure. In some cases, the healing occurred immediately. In others, it could take weeks, months, or years. And, yes, there were many instances where the healing didn’t come in this life.

When I first started attending that church, we didn’t believe in going to doctors unless it was a life-threatening situation. We took these verses from James literally and believed that if we had faith, God would heal us. With multiple instances where that didn’t happen, there was a sense that the person wasn’t exhibiting enough faith and/or they were living a sinful life. We came to the realization as a church that was an incorrect interpretation.

We learned that God heals in many ways. Jesus’ healing was instant, God’s healing towards us can take time, and God can heal us through doctors and medicines as well. The natural healing properties of our bodies can do the trick, too. But, ultimately, the healing we look for goes beyond this mortal life as James notes in verse 15. The prayer of faith will save us, and the Lord will raise us up, forgive our sins, and bring us into His Kingdom where we will be healed forever.

 

[Sipsey]

God is our Healer (Exodus 15:26). He not only heals us physically, God also heals us mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. For those of us who have become Christians, we are given a new heart and a new spirit that is cleansing the filth of our corrupt nature and slowly but surely replacing it with Jesus’ nature. We are experiencing oneness and wholeness, healing that is lasting.

James 5:13-15
King James Version

13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

In the church I attended in my twenties, we practiced verse 14. When I experienced some serious viruses several times during those years, I contacted my pastor or one of the elders when I was sick, and they were at my residence within hours to pray over me with their hands on my head beseeching God for healing. I was then anointed with oil on my forehead, and they would stick around for a short conversation afterwards.

It was a great experience, and it made a difference. I felt better, sometimes within a matter of hours, and God has healed me physically multiple times throughout my life. There were documented testaments in our church where God healed people of serious diseases like cancer and heart failure. In some cases, the healing occurred immediately. In others, it could take weeks, months, or years. And, yes, there were many instances where the healing didn’t come in this life.

When I first started attending that church, we didn’t believe in going to doctors unless it was a life-threatening situation. We took these verses from James literally and believed that if we had faith, God would heal us. With multiple instances where that didn’t happen, there was a sense that the person wasn’t exhibiting enough faith and/or they were living a sinful life. We came to the realization as a church that was an incorrect interpretation.

We learned that God heals in many ways. Jesus’ healing was instant, God’s healing towards us can take time, and God can heal us through doctors and medicines as well. The natural healing properties of our bodies can do the trick, too. But, ultimately, the healing we look for goes beyond this mortal life as James notes in verse 15. The prayer of faith will save us, and the Lord will raise us up, forgive our sins, and bring us into His Kingdom where we will be healed forever.

Indeed, suffering and more importantly our reaction to it, often tests our faith. It can be a great teacher that produces patience and trust, or it can lead to a complete meltdown. God expects certain things on our part, but He will supply greater grace (James 4:6) when we trust Him with our lives.

 

[SilverFox7]

Indeed, suffering and more importantly our reaction to it, often tests our faith. It can be a great teacher that produces patience and trust, or it can lead to a complete meltdown. God expects certain things on our part, but He will supply greater grace (James 4:6) when we trust Him with our lives.

I’ve experienced both ends of the spectrum in my reaction to suffering, Sipsey. I am a tough person in certain areas and have been in the martial arts for over 40 years. Yet, I am still a wimp when it comes to trials and difficulties. It’s a bad attitude. I have had those “meltdown” moments and felt abandoned by God during the suffering.

That’s being human. Life’s challenges and pain have shown me how utterly dependent I am on the Lord. I am powerless in the face of foes way more powerful than me, and I just have to surrender and say, “Lord, help me! This is Your battle.” And now, entering my sixties, I need to rely on God even more. Thankfully, I can see that His work is making a difference because I feel that “patience and trust” that is not coming from my stiff-necked, proud nature.

I really like these next set of verses from James as we are close to closing out this remarkable journey through this powerful letter:

James 5:16-18
King James Version

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

Prayer is powerful. We have access to God at anytime, and we can enter into the Holy of Holies and talk with our Father about anything. He knows what’s going on, and He wants to “hear” from us. If I’m upset with Him, I let Him know, respectfully of course. He’s not surprised, and our Lord who sits at His right hand knows all too well what it’s like to live in the flesh.

Jesus tells us plainly to ask, and we will receive. Why would our loving Father want to hold back any good gift from us? And, we need to draw upon our brothers and sisters in Christ to help us face the challenges of this life. It feels good to confess our sins to one another – within reason obviously – and to know that we have a support system who cares for us and is praying for us. We’re a family, and God desire intimate relationships to flourish in His Body, the Church.

The great prophet, Elijah, is used an example of how effective prayer can be. Don’t underestimate it, and don’t be surprised when God’s answers come through in ways we didn’t expect. His ways are higher than ours.

Luke 11:9-13
New King James Version

Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking

9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

 

[SilverFox7]

From a literary perspective, the ending of James is puzzling to me. The apostle Paul’s letters end with a strong conclusion driving home critical concepts, mentioning specific saints, and closing with grace. For example, Ephesians has one of the strongest conclusions in all of literature:

Ephesians 6:10-13
New King James Version

The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

“Finally” signals we are nearing the end of this piece. Paul then identifies each weapon we need to fend off evil, encourages us to have “prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (v. 18), asks for prayers from the brethren, and wraps up this gem with peace, love, faith, grace, and a strong Amen:

23 Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

James on the other hand ends abruptly. “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5: 19-20). That’s the end. Granted, it’s a powerful concept to leave us with, admonishing us to do our best to turn sinners back to God and saving them ultimately from death if they become willful in their rebellion.

I had a short “conversation” this morning with Gemini, Google’s AI assistant, on the stark contrast between James’ ending versus Paul’s in his epistles. There are three main theories scholars have regarding the lack of a formal conclusion to James:

1. The “Sermonic” Theory – James is not a formal letter but was “a recorded sermon or a collection of wisdom sayings like Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.

2. The Lacuna (Missing Fragment) Theory – the final section of this letter was lost.

3. Intentional Rhetorical Strategy – the ending is a deliberate “call to action” to care for the wayward.

All three of these theories are credible and helpful. I tend to lean more towards number 2 at this point, pointing back to the opening of this text: “James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings (James 1:1). Why would James open with a formal greeting yet omit a formal conclusion? And, he’s addressing this letter to “the twelve tribes” of Israel. There isn’t any elaboration on why they are the target audience nor, for example, a closing for the diaspora to keep the faith.

Well, this has been quite some journey through the book of James, and I’m certainly open to covering other areas or questions you have on this meat-filled sermon. Now, it’s time to close out the book of Ecclesiastes. Head’s up, it’s going to be a slow process for me to attempt to bring all of this together. I’m in no rush to breeze through Ecclesiastes 12.

 

[SilverFox7]

The conclusion of Ecclesiastes is one of the best in classical literature,

Unlike the book of James that has an unusual and sudden ending, Ecclesiastes has a remarkable conclusion. Solomon was a great writer, and he follows time-honored conventions established early on as written language began developing three thousand years before Christ.

The basics we learn early on in our education to have a good introduction with a thesis, a solid body that develops ideas that support the thesis, and a solid conclusion that drives the main point through is a convention Solomon employs masterfully in Ecclesiastes. It’s very clear that “vanity” is the focus. Solomon points to his life and the world around him as meaningless and temporary from a secular perspective. And, he wraps up the reflection by pointing to our Source, our Creator.

Ecclesiastes 12:1
King James Version

1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.

It’s good to hear these words early on in life and try to take heed to them as we plan for our futures. I was far from perfect and still am, but I did establish a relationship with Christ when I was around 21 that has lasted for 40 years. I heard the sermon about Ecclesiastes when I was in my early twenties, and this first verse from chapter 12 really struck a cord. That advice to remember God in my youth has paid huge dividends.

Matthew 6:33
King James Version

1 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

[SilverFox7]

As I’m looking at chapter 12 as a whole, Solomon employs that great style once again of blending poetry and prose together. Verses 1-8 could be made into a beautiful song mourning the ravages of age yet also grasping for hope. Verses 9-12 prosaically proclaim the everlasting value of wisdom. The concluding 13-14 verses are a proverbial powerhouse.

Let’s take a look at the beautiful psalm first:

Ecclesiastes 12:1-8
King James Version

1 Remember now thy
Creator in the days of
thy youth,
while the evil days come not,
nor the years draw nigh,
when thou shalt say,
I have no pleasure in them;

2 While the sun, or the light,
or the moon, or the stars,
be not darkened,
nor the clouds return
after the rain:

3 In the day when the keepers of
the house shall tremble,
and the strong men shall bow
themselves,
and the grinders cease because they are few,
and those that look out of
the windows be darkened,

4 And the doors shall be shut in the
streets,
when the sound of the grinding is
low, and he shall rise up at the voice
of the bird, and all the daughters of
musick shall be brought low;

5 Also when they shall be afraid of
that which is high,
and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree
shall flourish,
and the grasshopper shall be a burden,
and desire shall fail:
because man goeth to his long
home, and the mourners go about
the streets:

6 Or ever
the silver cord be loosed,
or the golden bowl be broken,
or the pitcher be broken at the
fountain, or the wheel broken at the
cistern.

7 Then shall the dust return to the
earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto
God who gave it.

8 Vanity of vanities, saith the
preacher;
all is vanity.

The New King James translates the first couple of cords of verse 6 as “Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed.” Whether the remember your Creator is an omission or an addition has a significant impact on the thought being expressed and the spiritual state of Solomon at this latter point of his life that we will explore in more detail later.

 

[Sipsey]

As I’m looking at chapter 12 as a whole, Solomon employs that great style once again of blending poetry and prose together. Verses 1-8 could be made into a beautiful song mourning the ravages of age yet also grasping for hope. Verses 9-12 prosaically proclaim the everlasting value of wisdom. The concluding 13-14 verses are a proverbial powerhouse.

Let’s take a look at the beautiful psalm first:

Ecclesiastes 12:1-8
King James Version

1 Remember now thy
Creator in the days of
thy youth,
while the evil days come not,
nor the years draw nigh,
when thou shalt say,
I have no pleasure in them;

2 While the sun, or the light,
or the moon, or the stars,
be not darkened,
nor the clouds return
after the rain:

3 In the day when the keepers of
the house shall tremble,
and the strong men shall bow
themselves,
and the grinders cease because they are few,
and those that look out of
the windows be darkened,

4 And the doors shall be shut in the
streets,
when the sound of the grinding is
low, and he shall rise up at the voice
of the bird, and all the daughters of
musick shall be brought low;

5 Also when they shall be afraid of
that which is high,
and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree
shall flourish,
and the grasshopper shall be a burden,
and desire shall fail:
because man goeth to his long
home, and the mourners go about
the streets:

6 Or ever
the silver cord be loosed,
or the golden bowl be broken,
or the pitcher be broken at the
fountain, or the wheel broken at the
cistern.

7 Then shall the dust return to the
earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto
God who gave it.

8 Vanity of vanities, saith the
preacher;
all is vanity.

The New King James translates the first couple of cords of verse 6 as “Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed.” Whether the remember your Creator is an omission or an addition has a significant impact on the thought being expressed and the spiritual state of Solomon at this latter point of his life that we will explore in more detail later.

“Remember your Creator” would seem to be a warranted continuation of the main thought continued from verse 1– especially since the Hebrew word for “remember”
implies a direct, emphatic call to action. •

The full verse urges this remembrance in the days of your youth, before the “evil days” (old age, decline, and death described in 12:1–7)

Many commentators see it as practical urgency: Youth is prone to forgetfulness and self-sufficiency; old age brings increasing limitations that make turning to God more needful, but sometimes harder. It seems “warranted” because the rest of the chapter poetically illustrates why delaying is foolish.

“Remembering Him” (as in some translations of the implied subject in 12:6–7) simply continues this idea — “Him” refers back to the Creator from verse 1. It is not a separate allusion but a poetic wrap-up: Honor God before our bodies fail mechanically— and the body returns to dust (12:7).

 

[SilverFox7]

“Remember your Creator” would seem to be a warranted continuation of the main thought continued from verse 1– especially since the Hebrew word for “remember”
implies a direct, emphatic call to action. •

The full verse urges this remembrance in the days of your youth, before the “evil days” (old age, decline, and death described in 12:1–7)

Many commentators see it as practical urgency: Youth is prone to forgetfulness and self-sufficiency; old age brings increasing limitations that make turning to God more needful, but sometimes harder. It seems “warranted” because the rest of the chapter poetically illustrates why delaying is foolish.

“Remembering Him” (as in some translations of the implied subject in 12:6–7) simply continues this idea — “Him” refers back to the Creator from verse 1. It is not a separate allusion but a poetic wrap-up: Honor God before our bodies fail mechanically— and the body returns to dust (12:7).

I agree 100% the "Remember your Creator" is much more fitting for the context. I was surprised about the KJV leaving that out, which I didn't notice until this morning. I read the poem in my NKJV study bible first, and then when I copied over the KJV into the thread, it stood out like a sore thumb.

I want to check into this further, and see why the KJV translators omitted that important phrase.

 

[frederickdoc]

I heard an excellent sermon a number of years ago that focused on the book of Ecclesiastes, and the pastor noted that James is an excellent complimentary epistle to Ecclesiastes. Both books fall within the category of "wisdom literature" with their short maxims that emphasize properly living a "righteous" and "prosperous" life in the flesh (Ecclesiastes) and in the Spirit (James).

Ecclesiastes was likely written by king Solomon later in his life. After succeeding his father, David, on the throne at a very young age, he started off down the right path by asking God for wisdom to govern the nation with a "discerning heart" to "distinguish between right and wrong" (I Kings 3: 9). God was pleased with this request and said, "...I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be" (v. 12).

Solomon shares his wisdom through the book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Psalms 72 and 127 along with the Song of Solomon. Early on in his career, he built upon David's success and led Israel to the height of their physical power and prestige as a nation. Unfortunately, unlike his father, he fell into heavy idolatry, had wives and concubines from other nations, and neglected his relationship with God to the point that Solomon's salvation is questionable (e.g. he is excluded in the list of "heroes of faith" in Hebrews 11).

Solomon lived a life of experimentation. Rather than focusing on God like David did, Solomon pursued a life of leisure and pleasure, but he sums up the results right at the beginning of Ecclesiastes that he felt emptiness in that lifestyle:

Ecclesiastes 1:1-2

New King James Version

The Vanity of Life

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher;
“Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

James on the other hand begins his letter much differently, emphasizing right up front that he is a servant of God, and life is far from "vanity" when we are living in Christ:

James 1

New King James Version

1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:

Greetings.

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces [a]patience.

4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be [b]perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

I've been looking forward to tackling these two challenging texts for quite some time, yet I may have bitten off more than I can chew. But, with your help, I'm excited about gaining more "wisdom" hopefully through this study and fellowship with all of you.

This is Laid out very good from what I see ,wisdom I learned is only of God meaning educated man is nothing in true WISDOM .matter fact man steals from God these anointed blessings wisdom knowledge and understand that reminds me a self study I just remembrred these 3 blessing work together ,& none work By them self I try refresh I'm sure if u just read this I feel the excitement in Him