Daily Reading for Personal Growth, 40 Days with God

Salutation

Chapter 1

Greeting.^{[a] 1} James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: greetings.

Exhortation To Practice Patience

Trials—the Test of a Faith in Progress.^{[b] 2} My brethren, consider it a cause of great joy whenever you endure various trials, ³ for you know that the testing of your faith will develop perseverance. ⁴ And let perseverance complete its work so that you may become perfect and complete, and not be deficient in any respect.

A Believer’s Prayer.^{[c] 5} If someone among you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without finding fault, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But he is to ask with faith, without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind. ⁷ A man like that should not think that he will receive anything from the Lord, ⁸ since he is of two minds and inconsistent in everything he does.

Rich and Poor.^{[d] 9} The brother who is in modest circumstances should take pride in being raised up. ¹⁰ Likewise, the one who is rich should glory in being brought low, for he will disappear like a flower of the field. ¹¹ Once the sun comes up with its scorching rays and withers the grass, its flower droops and its beauty vanishes. So too the rich man will fade away in the midst of his affairs.

¹² Trials and Temptations. Blessed is the man who perseveres when he is tempted, for when he has been proven, he will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.^[e]