James Bond-Servant

In the letter of James, James seems to borrow from Paul’s introduction-tradition to identify himself as a bond-servant or slave of Jesus Christ.

Historically bond-servants were higly valued by their owners, like gold in some cases. And even so valued, at times, they were known to be unwilling to lift even one goldfinger on behalf of their owners. Philemon is one such example of a slave who wanted to keep his service to his master secret and he ran away.

However, James Bond-servant is not like Philemon. He publicly identifies himself as one who is totally subservient to Jesus Christ and one who would make no secret about His Majesty’s service. And he starts his letter speaking to that very fact.

“James, Bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,” (James 1:1a)

What is glaringly missing in James’ letter is his imitation of Paul’s normal salutation of “grace and peace,” a salutation that Paul usually measures out to his readers following his initial self-identification verse. James forgoes this quantum of solace salutation and simply says, “greetings,” before skyfalling directly into the heart of his letter. (1:1c)

In his letter, James Bond-servant reminds his readers that you only live twice; once in this world and once in the next (2:5, 5:7-11). Therefore, there is no time to die today. And there is no such thing as live and let die. It’s only live and let live.

However, James goes on to say that the life one lives in the next world, should exhibit the faith one proclaims in this world. That’s James’ way of saying faith without works is dead. If one’s faith is demonstrated by works in this world, then they will live in the next. If their faith is not demonstrated by works in this world, then there is a time for them to die another day (5:20). Then, in that sense, it really is live and let die.

In his letter, James specifically targets those who proclaim that their riches last forever, who think their diamonds are forever. His target audience is those who only have an eye for gold (2:2, 5:1) to the exclusion of those who have nothing. James informs them that, in reality, those who really have a golden eye are those who look into the mirror and see the reflection of someone who actually does what God’s Word says, i.e., take care of the poor.

As a matter of fact, if we remember, the concluding stipulation to the Jerusalem Council, recorded in Acts 15, for continuing the expansion of the gospel to all ethnic frontiers to the outermost parts of the world we see the admonition that "they not neglect the poor" in that expansion process (Gal 3:2-10).

It seems then that the people whom James addresses are those who just simply hear God’s Word and go away without doing it. They are the business men and women who say 'tomorrow never dies; we will go into such and such place and build our Casino Royales, and trade and make a profit' (4:13). It is those people, James says, who have condemned and murdered the righteous person (5:6); those who have a view to kill. They are those who are living the daylights out of every day as they live on earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. They are those whom James says have fattened their hearts like a calf in the day of slaughter (5:5), those for whom all the desires for the world is not enough.

James also tells his readers that your wealth does not create a license to kill nor is your wealth for your eyes only James Bond-servant, as their educator and their Dr. No, tells his readers, “No, No, No”…your wealth is not for your eyes only. Thus, they are the New Testament era moonrakers, the excuse-makers, trying to disguise their riches from everyone needy.

And because of the agony caused to the mistreated poor, James warns these stingy deceivers that the cries of those poor have reached the ears of the Lord in heaven like a thunderball. (5:4.)

James Bond-servant also warns his readers that not many of them should not become teachers because they know that those who teach will be judged with greater strictness. He tells them that they all stumble in many ways, but above all, it is the tiny tongue that causes most of the problems in life…those flapping of the gums.

James concedes that indeed, we are men and women with a fiery tongue, but because of his own wisdom he proves to be the man with the golden gums because he speaks the truth.

So, like the spies who infiltrated Galatia and proved they did not love Paul, James Bond-servant cannot say that there is in his midst “a spy who loves me." However, he can say that there are some present who are like a flower among the spectra, who in the midst of their pursuits of riches and fame are scorched by the rising heat of the sun. And it is those very people who will shortly fade away. Yes, it is to those who do not look out for the poor, they are the very ones to whom James addresses in his letter.

Reading James' letter with an understanding of the word 'bond-servant' will prepare us to read it afresh and never like we've read it before. And if this blog makes you think, "I never saw that before," then it has done its job. Hopefully, this blog will also help us to never say we’ll “never say never again.”