James - A Good Life

New Sermon Series – The Good Life

When someone today talks about “The Good Life” most likely they are thinking of a loving spouse, obedient kids, a maintenance free dog, a low carbon footprint source of transportation, an abundant supply of tasty organic food, stylish but practical clothing, close friends, a family cabin and enough money to retire early. What surprises many is that the “good life” used to mean something much different. The Ancient Greeks, for example, talked about “A Good Life” (AGL) not “The Good Life (TGL)” and the difference mattered. Instead of the comfort, luxury and wealth of TGL (large houses, exotic cars and extravagant vacations) AGL described an ethical, moral and spiritual existence.

James, the brother of Jesus, had something like this in mind when he wrote a series of short moral essays. He pointed out the benefits that come from faithful endurance, the value of wisdom, the need for the rich use their wealth to benefit the poor and the intentionality it takes to live a righteous life. 

James is a sort of New Testament version of Proverbs. As an author, he is a moralist rather than a theologian. His goal was make Christians into better Christians and he believed that the only way to see if faith is real is by how we behave.