Daily Reading for Personal Growth, 40 Days with God

1 From James [^Cone of Jesus’ brothers and a leader in the early church; Gal. 1:19; Acts 12:17; 15:13–21; 21:17], a ·servant [slave; bond-servant] of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

To ·all of God’s people [^Lthe twelve tribes; ^Can allusion to the twelve tribes of Israel; referring either to Jewish Christians or all believers as the new covenant people of God] ·who are scattered everywhere in the world [^Lin the Diaspora/Dispersion; ^Ca reference to the scattering of the Jews during the Babylonian captivity, now applied to the church]: Greetings.

Faith and Wisdom

² My brothers and sisters [^Cfellow believers], when you have many kinds of ·troubles [trials; testing], ·you should be full of joy [^Lconsider it all/pure joy], ³ because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you ·patience [perserverance; endurance]. ⁴ [^LAnd] Let your ·patience [perserverance; endurance] ·show itself perfectly in what you do [have its full effect; finish its work]. Then you will be ·perfect and complete [mature and whole; or completely mature] and will ·have everything you need [^Llack nothing]. ⁵ But if any of you ·needs [lacks] wisdom, you should ask God for it [Prov. 2:6]. He is generous to everyone and will give you wisdom ·without criticizing you [without finding fault; ungrudgingly; Matt. 7:7]. ⁶ But when you ask God, you must ·believe [ask with faith] and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like a wave in the sea, ·blown up and down [driven and tossed] by the wind. [^LFor] Such doubters are ·thinking two different things at the same time [^Ldouble-minded], and they ·cannot decide about anything they do [^Lare unstable in all they do]. They should not ·think [expect] they will receive anything from the Lord.

True Riches

⁹ ·Believers [Brothers or sisters] who are ·poor [in lowly/humble circumstances] should ·take pride [boast] ·that God has made them spiritually rich [in being raised up; in their exaltation; in their high position]. ¹⁰ [^LBut] Those who are ·rich [wealthy] should ·take pride [boast] ·that God has shown them that they are spiritually poor [in their humiliation; in their lowly state; Jer. 9:23–24]. [^LBecause] The rich will ·die [pass away; wither] like a ·wild flower in the grass [or flower in the field]. ¹¹ [^LFor] The sun rises with ·burning [scorching] heat and ·dries up [withers] the ·plants [or grass]. The flower falls off, and its beauty is ·gone [destroyed]. In the same way the rich will ·die [^Lwither away] ·while they are still taking care of business [in the midst of their pursuits; ^Lin his journeys; Ps. 49:16–17; 103:15–16; Is. 40:6–8].

Temptation Is Not from God

¹² ·When people are tempted and still continue strong, they should be happy [^LBlessed is the one who perserveres/endures trials/temptations]. After they have ·proved their faith [stood/endured/passed the test], ·God will reward them with life forever [^Lthey will receive the crown of life; ^Calludes to the laurel crown given for a victory]. ·God [^LHe] promised this to all those who love him.