Read James 1:4

Today’s Scripture: Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:4

As we read the epistle of James, we discover that the Jewish Christians

were having some problems in their personal lives and in their church

fellowship. For one thing, they were going through some difficult tests.

They were also facing temptations to sin. Some of the believers were

catering to the rich, while others were being robbed by the rich. Church

members were competing for offices in the church, particularly teaching

offices.

One of the major problems in the church was a failure on the part of

many to live what they professed to believe. Furthermore, the tongue was a serious problem, even to the point of creating wars and divisions.

Worldliness was another problem. Some members were disobeying God’s Word and were physically sick because of it; and some were straying away from the Lord and the church.

But James was not discussing an array of miscellaneous problems. All of

these problems had a common cause: spiritual immaturity. These Christians simply were not growing up.

Something to Ponder

Think back to your life one year ago. How have you matured spiritually

since that time?