How humbly and helpfully James introduces himself in his only letter in the Bible: “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” This is James, leading pillar of the church in Jerusalem. This is James, Moderator of the Assembly that delivered the momentous decision on grace. This is James, to whom the Lord specifically appeared after His resurrection. This is James, famous for his sermon to be doers of the Word, and not mere hearers only. This is James, (not James the brother of John and son of Zebedee – that’s the Apostle James), but James, the Lord’s blood-brother.

American expositor Ralph Kent Hughes gibes that James could have started his letter this way: “James, the Just, from the sacred womb of Mary, congenital sibling of Christ his brother, confidant of the Messiah.” I for one, am glad he didn’t, else the pomposity and pride might have derailed his call to humble obedience from the start.

How fascinated we all are with our letters and titles and ranks and connections. And how wrong we are to harp on about them and to adroitly drop them into our introductions and conversations. No wonder Jesus called a little child to stand up in the middle of one of His sermons to make a point on humble discipleship. Of course, introducing ourselves as a servant would make for a short resume, but it seems to me that the real Master would be pleased to approve our employment.