<p>1:7 <i>Do not let that man think that he shall receive anything from the Lord</i>- James constantly sets before us the need to strive for a &quot;perfect&quot; (complete, mature) man state, through having a mind wholly committed to the word. His black and white, &quot;hot or cold&quot; approach is now powerfully shown: &quot;Let not that man (the waverer) think that he shall receive anything of the Lord&quot; (1:7). This squashes the natural human reasoning that a bit of faith in prayer will lead to a bit of response from God. Faith is an absolute state. We either pray in faith- or with what are effectively empty words. But of course by contrast, if we do not waver, we certainly shall receive of the Lord. Again, there is another warning against semi-spirituality: having faith within certain limits, being content with expecting a small answer to our requests in accordance with our shaky faith. The way James understands human nature shines through, and it is fitting that someone of his experience and insight into the moment by moment ways of the flesh should have been the great leader of the early church. He too must have analysed his sins and temptations like we also can do. The correlation between his being such a senior brother and his evident appreciation of the wiles of the flesh must be significant; something to think about at the next ecclesial election?</p>