This letter, James wrote to encourage the many followers of Jesus scattered in many places as they encounter trials of all kinds. Here's the verse by verse.
James 1
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
[There are still many who are unaware that Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world today. In fact many ignore or worse, do not want to believe this even when data and research have proven this to be true for several years now. Of course depending on which part of the world you live in, there will be various degrees of persecution, from ridicule, intimidation, segregation, discrimination, censorship, curtailment of religious freedom, bullying, harassment, assault, imprisonment, torture, shootings, bombings and executions. Yes this is 2019 but for 100 years it sure looks and feel like it is back in First Century AD again.]
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
[Wisdom here is not stock knowledge or being booksmart or university educated or even having a high IQ. And this is not to say that millions upon millions of Christians aren't educated and smart. Countless are. But like in any religious group, and we can include those who believe or not believe in a god, each includes a mix bag of people of different backgrounds and levels of intelligence. Regardless, wisdom as Scriptures refer to is that kind of knowledge that comes from God, meaning the Creator of all things, which one would not be able to comprehend nor grasp unless God is in the equation or they factor Him in it.]
6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
[Just like in anything that you believe in, you trust in, and that you trust in you do so 100%. This does not look crazy when it comes to a belief in say when you work your hours, ou get paid for those on payday. Or that the moon and stars come out at night, while the sun in the daytime. Because you believe those. Faith in God, works the same way. Although, non believers will not get it.]
9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.
10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.
11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
[God's economy is not the same as the world's. The poor in terms of financial riches would be humble in the world's eyes but not necessarily in God's. In fact, it is the opposite as the poor has more time to focus on God, or has no choice actually so in essence has a higher standing than a rich person who will of course be burdened of many of the concerns of money, and its variants and its acquisition and maintenance. In the end, when both the poor and the rich die, they both will leave behind whatever riches they have accumulated in this world.]
12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
[Here both the poor and the rich have their own unique types of trials. And these trials include religious persecution. But regardless, both will go through their own individual trials.]
13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.
15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
[Most unbelievers think Christians blame all their troubles to an unknown if not imaginary person, known as Satan. No, most of the trials of believers stem from themselves, their own wicked selves, yes much like unbelievers.]
16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
[This is where believers and unbelievers differ. Believers acknowledge and give thanks to God for the good things they receive. Unbelievers thank themselves, their charm, their looks, their hardwork, their intelligence, their skill, lady luck, karma, good fortune, their lucky stars, lucky numbers, feng shui, rabbit's foot, the universe, good old 'being at the right place at the right time' and just about everything else.]
19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
[This one everyone should he wise enough to believe in.]
20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror
24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
[This passage explains to the believer why anger should not rule his life. A wisdom only someone who walks with God can appreciate if not understand.]
27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
[True Christians do not follow a religion, much like other religions. But like everyone else they do have preconceived notions of right and wrong, and helping others in need is one of those "good" things to do. To believers this world is not their world as they merely live here at the moment. Their citizenship is in heaven and thus they are heaven bound. This world offers nothing but worldly things, perishable, material things. True believers store up treasures in heaven, guided by God's Word and God's Spirit, again all nonsense to an unbeliever, but will totally make sense to one who believes.]