What do you suppose it would be like to have Jesus as your older half-brother? To grow up in the same family as the Son of God? To have a senior sibling who is incapable of sin, who leads a perfect life?
I often wonder about that when I study the book of James. As one of Jesus’ younger half-brothers James had a firsthand look at the perfect Christian life. It’s difficult to imagine he didn’t feel jealous and envious of Jesus’ unrelenting self-control, wisdom and honesty.
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In fact, there are those who interpret certain verses in the Bible to indicate that Jesus’ brothers deeply resented Him and even plotted to kill Him.
Jealousy and envy.
They are such natural emotions. They wash over us so quickly when we see in others things we desire for ourselves — people who have money, power, fame, youth, good health, love, popularity, athleticism, artistic talent. We see it and we want it. And we find it difficult not to resent those who have it.
James may have found it exasperating to compare himself with his older sibling as they were growing up, but when Jesus followed through with the ultimate sacrifice, giving His life to atone for the sins of others — sins He Himself never committed — it changed James’s life. About 10 years after Jesus’ death on the cross, James wrote a book explaining what he learned from a life with a perfect older brother. He realized that jealousy and envy are wasted emotions; that if we occupy our minds and our time focusing on God’s will for us, there is no room for sinful thoughts.
‘Quite a U-turn’
“Now if any of you lacks wisdom,” he writes in the first chapter, “he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him” (Jas. 1:5). Then later he says, “Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger … ridding yourself of all moral filth and evil excess, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you” (Jas. 1:19–21).
Wow. That’s quite a U-turn for a guy who may once have wished his brother dead. Clearly, James learned not to lust over what others have, but to focus on what God can provide. Still pretty good advice 2,000 years later.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Ken Lass is a retired Birmingham television news and sports anchor and an award-winning columnist for numerous publications and websites.
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