James has told us that the Church has been brought forth by the word of truth (1:18), and that God's Law, which is also the word of truth, is to be practiced by us. We are not merely hearers but doers of God's truth, or, we are doers of God's truth because we have truly heard his truth. Thus, God's truth is to be, and will be, revealed in the life of God's people. God's truth is revealed in the covenant community through our prayers, our praise and proclamation.

Life is a spiritual trial or test that requires supernatural patience and perseverance. James calls us to be patient and persevere by means of God's revelation of Jesus. In particular, James emphasizes that patience and perseverance are empowered by knowing of Jesus' coming judgment and past compassionate faithfulness.

How we use wealth or riches reveals what or whom we worship. The wise person not only uses wealth in a way that demonstrates their worship of God, but also evaluates their use of wealth so that they know whether they are truly worshiping God. Toward this end James invites us to ask three questions: 1) Does our use of wealth corrupt and condemn us? 2) Do we take advantage of others in order to indulge ourselves with wealth? 3) Do we trust in God's vindication of the righteous and vengeance against the unrighteous?

Our arrogance results from failing to receive God's truth regarding who he is and who we are. When we act arrogantly we conduct ourselves as if we are God by speaking condemnation against others, planning presumptuously and failing to obey God in the circumstance of our lives. James not only commands us not to do such things but also reveals why we have no business thinking so highly of ourselves. Along the way he reveals how we ought to think about God and why there is no need to act arrogantly.