James Says

Vol. 1
Be a Person of Character

Take a few minutes today to read through the following scripture, short message, and reflect on the questions below.

James 1:2-15 (NLT)

2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

9 Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them.10 And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. 11 The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.

12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

Each of us have experienced trials and challenges throughout our life. The choices we make after these experiences shape our character. Whenever we choose what’s right over what’s convenient, we build resilience, we deepen our faith, and we reflect God’s character in our lives. It’s in the choices we make each day that our true character is shaped and strengthened. Therefore preparing us for greater challenges and opportunities to be a reflection of God’s goodness to a desperate and hurting world.

Based on this week’s message and the book of James,
we become a person of character by: 

Finding joy in the midst of trials

Seeking out wisdom from God

Pursuing righteousness 

Reflection Questions 

  1. What are trials in your own life that have tested your character, and how have they shaped you?

  2. James 1:5 tells us that God generously gives wisdom to those who ask—how have you seen God provide wisdom in your life when you’ve sought him?

  3. True character is strengthened by pursuing righteousness—what is one area of your life where you feel called to grow in integrity and faith?