Memorizing James

Introduction

Memorizing Scripture is a fruitful practice. If you’re not one of those people blessed with photographic memory, this may be a daunting and difficult practice, but the rewards make it worthwhile.

James is one of the most popular books of the Bible amongst everyday Christians. The letter is full of practical wisdom and vivid word pictures. There are many passages in James that would be beneficial to memorize.

If you’ve never memorized an entire book of the Bible, James would be a good one. The whole letter is just over 2300 words in the ESV, or roughly 15–20 minutes of speaking. (For inspiration, check out this video of my friend and fellow Sovereign Grace pastor Joel Shorey, reciting the book of Hebrews from memory.)

Below you will find a selection of recommended passages to memorize from James. I chose these passages because

James 1

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. —James 1:2–4

This opening exhortation not only sets the tone for the whole letter, it functions powerfully in our lives every time we face trials, challenges, tests, and afflictions. This passage provides us with much needed perspective, which is worth storing in your heart for those times when you need to preach it to yourself.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. —James 1:12

If faith is confidence that God will keep his promises, then knowing specific promises is crucial to living by faith. This promise is suited for ‘trials of various kinds,’ from tiny trifles to major afflictions. Arm yourself with this promise!

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. —James 1:19–20

Opportunities to get angry are abundant. Slowness is to anger is precious and rare. In Proverbs, being slow to anger is a mark of wisdom (Prov 14:29, 19:11, 29:11), and here is wisdom from James to help us slow down. The first part of the passage holds out God’s instruction for us. The second part provides powerful motivation: sinful anger does not sanctify anyone.

James 2

For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. —James 2:13

This truth is comforting and convicting. We all want to be recipients of mercy when we’re in the wrong, but we demand justice when others wrong us. Memorize James 2:13 and preach this to yourself when you are tempted to respond in bitterness toward the person who sins against you. Can you honestly say that when you stand before God, you want God to deal with you the way you deal with those who sin against you? That is how Jesus taught us to pray: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12).

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. —James 2:26

This is a central point in James, and it would be worthwhile to memorize more of the surrounding passage (James 2:14–26). Understanding the relationship between faith and works is vital to the Christian life, and James gives us great clarity when he calls for living and active faith.

James 3

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. —James 3:13–18

We are often reminded of our desperate need for wisdom (Jas 1:5), and here is the compelling description of the kind of fruit produced by God-given wisdom, set forth in stark contrast with worldly and demonic ways. The description alone is motivating, but it comes with a sweet promise of a fruitful harvest.

James 4

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” —James 4:1–6

This passage asks and answers one of the most important and practical questions in life, and it doesn’t pull any punches. The cause of conflict is disordered passions and desires inside our own hearts. The wisdom of this diagnosis is applicable in all of your relationships—marriage, parenting, in-laws, co-workers, etc.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. —James 4:13–17

In all of our focus on goal-setting, planning, and productivity, it’s easy to drift into sinful attitudes—from arrogance and self-reliance to anxiety and despair. This passage provides the divine paradigm that will both stabilize and motivate us.

James 5

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. —James 5:19–20

This last passage stirs up our evangelistic zeal. We need both courage and love to overcome the fear that keeps us from speaking the truth to those who are living in sin. It is motivating to know that God uses people like us to rescue eternal souls from death.