The Book of James - 1
The Christian's Trials - Chapter 1, Verses 2-18
James was a member of the Lord Jesus' family and his close observance of the Lord, and his impression of His teaching, had brought him to the position of faithful discipleship. So we can be assured that what James has to say to us is vital, since the Holy Spirit of God directed him in all that he wrote in his letter.
I am sure that if you are a committed Christian, you will have had many problems, temptations and trials to face. That in the normal course of life for every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. But what a surprise James has for us in these verses.
(v.2-3) "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."
That takes some courage, and much faith in the Lord. You see, even trials can be used by God to strengthen us. Persevering in trials builds us up and makes us into mature Christians.
(v.4) "perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Each one of us must seek to develop like that to the glory of God.
(v.5-8) "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given him. 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. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."
In order to win through in the trials of life, we need a deep understanding of God's will and God's purpose. Such wisdom is not gained in our own strength. We are not skilled enough to understand all things, so we must turn to God in believing prayer. The devil will do all he can to make us doubt, but we must triumph over this and have absolute trust in the Lord. Doubts will never receive blessings from the Lord. True faith in Him is the one thing God asks of us as we seek His wisdom in our lives. Then we can be assured of the promise found in verse 5: "And it WILL be given him."
James now considers human circumstances in verses 9-11:
"The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 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 even while he goes about his business."
The Christian in humble circumstances is fully loved by God. God will give him all the grace he needs to overcome. He should be thankful to God that he is free from the temptations of the very rich. The Lord can lift him up to a worthy and high position of faith and trust, and will supply his every need.
The Christian who is wealthy will also be grateful to God if he has learnt to trust wholly in the Lord and not in uncertain riches. In this way he learns to be humble and can use his riches for the glory of the Lord. The rich man is as deeply in need of the Lord's pardon as every other person, and the Lord can deliver him from all the trials and temptations that riches may bring.
We saw in verse 2 that trials are to be faced with joy, in God's strength, and now in verse 12 we are reminded of a further blessing:
"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."
James speaks here of the persevering Christian receiving a crown of life. This is the Scriptural way of describing God's wondrous gift of full salvation which is salvation from the penalty of sin, from its power, and ultimately from its very presence.
Trials - or testings - may be permitted by God to come into our lives in order to test and strengthen our faith, but God NEVER tempts anyone to do evil.
(v.13) "When tempted, no-one should say, 'God is tempting me'. For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed."
We cannot overcome the sinful desires which come from within us, except by the power of the Lord working in us. That power is the Holy Spirit of God who dwells in all true believers. That is why we must continually turn to Him for help to overcome in EVERY trial and temptation. Without His power evil desire turns to sin and the consequence of sin is a broken relationship with the Lord which only brings unhappiness and a sense of failure.
How precious beyond words, though, is the grace of God towards us who believe in that forgiveness is ours when we confess our sins and repent of them:
1 John 1 verse 9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
(v.16-18) These verses remind us that we cannot earn our own salvation by our own efforts, nor can we by our own efforts win the victory over trials and temptation.
"EVERY good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth...."
The extent of God's love is seen in His choosing to give us new life through faith in the Lord Jesus. He is the only way of salvation and the only mediator between God and man. No-one else could ever provide eternal pardon for us, for Him it was who bore the punishment for our sins in His own body on the cross.
Just as it is impossible for us to attain salvation by our own efforts, so it is only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that we can gain the victory in trials and temptations, and so grow in our Christian lives.
The Apostle Peter, in speaking of the trials that come upon believers has this to say, in 1 Peter 1 verses 6-7:
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined with fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed."