This post by christinecoltman was originally published at GRACE PLACE
INTRODUCTION
Last month Sharon introduced us to our Bible Study for this year- James: Wisdom for Living in the World. She gave us a wonderful overview of this letter and its author, James, the half-brother of our Lord Jesus Christ. (If you missed it, go to GRACE PLACE and read her notes. You definitely want to access this opportunity!) James was one of the key leaders and pillars in the earliest days of the Christian Church. His punchy, direct letter was originally written to the scattered, persecuted Jewish Christians who were very young in their faith. James was telling these new Christians what a life of genuine faith looks like in peoples’ lives. He was not accusing them of having an inauthentic faith, but giving them and us, what authentic faith looks like as we mature in the real world. So, in this letter (or book), we have James’s teaching and wisdom, much like Proverbs and Jesus in the sermon on the mount.
Tonight’s study consists of James 1: 2-18. The entirety of chapter 1 sums up the main ideas of the entire letter which then will be addressed in further detail in the rest of the letter. Interestingly, James echoes Jesus’ great commandment; to love God and to love your neighbour as yourself.
My hope and prayer is that the fruit of studying James will transform us more and more into the likeness of our Saviour. We should be heartened that, as the original readers, it takes time for our actions to match the change of our hearts. Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” This study is in part, then, fanning the flames with our minds-not to take in knowledge for knowledge’s sake but to KNOW GOD. Jen Wilkin says, “to know God is to love Him. The heart cannot love what the mind does not know.” So, as we learn with our minds, then our emotions and hearts will follow-through the power of the Holy Spirit. So let’s pray before we dig in:
Prayer
There are two large progressions. The first progression is James 1:2-8, and second progression is James 1:12-15, and thirdly, there are warnings and declarations of God’s character in vv16-18 (verses 9-11 are not part of tonight’s study due to time limits. It will be further addressed in later studies).
James 1:2-8
A. James 1:2b WHENEVER YOU FACE TRIALS OF MANY KINDS
We will come back to the first part of this verse, but I want to begin with “when you face trials of many kinds.” The original readers were experiencing poverty, persecution, injustice, conflict, sickness and grief. But James keeps it general, saying, “of all kinds.” I am certain that everyone in this room is going through some kind of trial on some level. There are trials in each season of our lives, yes? We could spend the rest of our time together talking about our real-life trials and all the messy dynamics and relationships. I don’t know about you, but half the pain and suffering I experience is not from the trials themselves, but my false expectations and unbiblical attitude toward them and God. “God, I thought you loved me! I thought you cared. I thought since I became a Christian, I would be spared this. And if not spared, you would take it away by answering my prayers according to my will. Why is this happening to me?” Can you relate?
So, what is God teaching us? I want to suggest three things. First, James is assuming that God’s people will experience trials. Our Lord tells us all through the gospels to be prepared for this. How? By hearing and obeying God’s Word. In the parable of the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7:24-27. It doesn’t say, make sure you build your house on higher ground to avoid the storms! The storms and flood are taken for granted. In so doing, we are building our lives on a solid foundation that no amount of trials or suffering will shift, and we will stand firm in our faith which is being tested through these trials, bringing glory to God! Notice it doesn’t say IF. It says when! It is SO crucial to get our theology straight in our thinking. Trials and suffering are part of life because we live in a fallen, broken world when sin entered the world. We as Christians are not excluded from trials. James is echoing Jesus; that trials should be an expectation as followers of Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus says in John 16:33 “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” So firstly, we should expect trials.
Second, if Jesus, our Saviour, Lord, King, Master lived a life of suffering, we will too. John 15:18-20, Jesus says, “if the world hates you, remember it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you… A slave is not greater than his master.” And as His children, Romans 8:17 says “we will share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” Do we believe this? Because if we do, we will begin to think differently about our trials.
This brings us to the last point about trials: Christianity is realistic. It is not selling something as the world does. It is giving us SOMEONE in the second person of the trinity, Jesus Christ, who gives life and purpose and rescue if we repent and believe in Him. If you are not a Christian yet, don’t let this put you off. Let this encourage you! It is realistic! And in and through this reality, it teaches us His Fatherly love and mercy in ways we could never learn or grow had we an “easy, no trials” life. If we did, we would become self-sovereign, self-indulgent, self-centred, and proud… and lost. How do I know this? Because I know my sinful heart tendencies because of my remaining sin, and I think you are the same. But God doesn’t leave us alone after he saves us! He trains us, and one way is through our trials, heartaches, circumstances, and yes, even persecution.
Trials and suffering are here to stay. FOR. ALL. OF. US. Lord, help us to do away with our false expectations and unbiblical thinking.
Now, let’s go back to the first part of verse 2:1a:
B. COUNT (CONSIDER) IT PURE JOY whenever you face trials of many kinds…
Okay, this is a paradox, isn’t it? They don’t naturally go together! I would not put joy in the same sentence with trials. When I am distressed, I don’t think of being joyful, do you? But it is here in the God-breathed Word to us in scripture! James starts off with this first exhortation to these baby Christians, so it must be critically important. But is James saying that we should be joyful IN our trials? No, of course not. Trials hurt. Watching loved ones suffering with illness, bullying, hard hearts or bad choices; knowing there are struggling marriages, relationships, unhappiness in one’s job, school… these are not a cause for joy. But as we will go on in this study we are told they will ULTIMATELY BE for our joy and why.
It is important to pause and point out what James is not saying; that we should go looking or asking for trials and suffering or enjoying them. That is a sign of a disordered mind.
1. Count (Consider) it all joy -> PERSPECTIVE IS KEY
James is not saying to FEEL a certain way but to THINK a certain way (renewal of our minds!). Keep in mind God does not ask from us what He is unwilling or unable to provide for us. Alistair Begg says, “We need to consider our trials from a particular perspective and in a deliberate way in order to respond in God’s way to bring fruit out of our lives.” The Bible Project describes it this way, “James believes that life’s trials and hardships are actually paradoxical gifts that can produce endurance (steadfastness) and shape our character. God can do amazing work inside of us in the midst of suffering.”
Sisters, this is a perspective that is not something we conjure up and do in our own strength or positivity. As ever, it is God’s love and grace filling us with this capacity where this divine joy gives proof of God’s power in us. This joy has its source beyond earthly joy.
2. Preach the Gospel to yourself
What do I mean by this? To help explain, a scripture I feed on repeatedly is of our Lord Jesus Christ our example and author of Christian joy. The gospel spoken in Hebrews 12:2exhorts us that we should be “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before Him he endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of God.”
Christ has voluntarily given up his own joy and taken upon himself the shame of the cross. Only looking to him can we obtain the right thinking and perseverance and steadfastness in trial and temptation. He looked forward to the joy of being resurrected and restored to the place of glory that He had with the Father in the beginning. Because of Christ, we can look forward to the restoration of all things where there will be no more tears, sin, and suffering.
I call this ‘preaching the gospel to myself’ to draw from this perspective that James is teaching us. Sue Larkman, Ed’s first wife who died of cancer when she was 36, wrote to a friend about 2 months before her death and shared this: “The Lord sacrificed His Son-given us everything, all through his love and grace; he didn’t HAVE to do anything! Yet, he doesn’t begrudge us what cost him most. In serving such a God, is it not a privilege to be able to have the chance and opportunity to trust and serve Him in suffering-as a way of showing Him how much we love Him, how grateful we are that He secured our reconciliation and eternal life which starts here?” That is what ‘preaching the gospel to yourself’ looks like. But for the joy set before Him. But for the joy set before you and me. Yes, it is counter-cultural. Upside down from the world’s thinking. Yes, this happens only through the power of the Holy Spirit. Let’s practice biblical perspective. Let’s preach the gospel to ourselves all the time, but especially in times of trials. If we believe this it will change the way we respond to our trials.
C. …Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance, (steadfastness ESV) let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
We have just talked about the importance of biblical perspective. But it doesn’t stop here.
This is a process or a progression: Trials → Testing of our faith → produces perseverance. End result → mature and complete.
This is the best kind of life we can have here on earth, where we view the world correctly and we act in ways that are obedient and honouring to God. In your bible study, you were asked look up perseverance and steadfastness to bring you breadth and depth of meaning. I like Alistair Begg’s definition: to develop staying power. I want to develop staying power, don’t you? What a compelling impact of a life that goes through struggles and trials while loving and trusting God, even through tears. What a witness to a watching, broken, world! And through this, God brings about maturity in His people, a church community who bears one another’s trials, praying and walking alongside one another. Today I lift your head, tomorrow you lift mine!
There is an abundance of cross references to highlight the importance of this progression. I want to share just one. Ponder:
1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT: “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold – though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honour on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.”
Do you believe this? If we do, then it should change how we think in this process, one day at a time. Let’s go on.
D. James 1:5-8 NLT “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.”
First of all, this is a promise. God will give us heavenly wisdom if we ask without reproaching or rebuking us! Thank you, Lord. But second, there is also a heart stance which James exhorts us to take; that your faith is in God alone. In the NIV: “believe and not doubt,” and ESV: “let him ask in faith and not doubt”. This doesn’t mean we will never have doubts. It is human to have doubts, like that father of the son in Mark 9 who asked Jesus to heal his son, “if you can, take pity on us and help us.” v23-24 “‘if you can?’ said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for one who believes.’” The father then says, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” No, the kind of doubt James is referring to here is double-mindedness where, in effect, we are questioning the integrity and character of God. Like Adam and Eve in the garden where it all started. Sam Allberry terms it as ‘split loyalties’; vacillating from our worldly wisdom to God’s wisdom. We will become unstable with one foot in the kingdom and one foot in the world.
I was this way for years; I experienced trials and then made it worse through my disobedience, and didn’t really take God’s word or character seriously… or my sin. I was self-deceived. I was buying into the counterfeit rubbish of the world and Satan. I put the emphasis on my emotions and what I thought I deserved and needed. I didn’t take in God’s wisdom because I wasn’t taking in the knowledge of God’s word. I had built my house on the sand, and the walls came tumbling down. But thank God, He is my Romans 8:28 God, and He didn’t leave me to myself! He helped me rebuild my life on Christ, my ROCK. He pruned me and shaped me and continues to through the wisdom and integrity of Father God and His Word. I can see that more clearly now as Holy Spirit changes my perspective in this process of walking with Him. God’s desires are becoming my desires as I delight in Him. And, if you know me, you know that I stumble and mess up! I have my ‘L plates’ on all the way to glory. But sisters, He is the better way, isn’t He? He created us to walk with Him!
So, He will give us wisdom when we ask for it. Why? He is generous! How does that work, you ask? It is the power of the Holy Spirit through His word, prayer, fellowship, service. It is a process, not ordinarily an epiphany or mystical. Perspective. Process. End result.
E. James 1: 12-15 NLT “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterwards they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, ‘God is tempting me.’ God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. So don’t be misled (deceived), my dear brothers and sisters”.
James talks about a discussion of trials and then immediately goes into discussion about temptation. Sisters, temptation is a certainty as well. When we hit a trial, we are immediately hit with temptation. Here James brings out another progression, but this is one that is not good if we follow its trajectory:
Desire → temptation → sin → spiritual death.
There could be another whole bible study in this. For the sake of time, we will consider this with heart sins linked with trials. Some hypothetical examples: temptation to hold a bitter grudge when I feel I have been wronged; temptation to resentment and self-pity when I don’t have enough money to buy needed items for my children’s schooling or activity, but my unbelieving neighbour is going to Hawaii on holiday and taking the whole family; temptation to complain or grumble when God doesn’t answer my prayers the way I think they should be answered and in the time frame I think.
Remember the Israelites in the desert? God led them there. They succumbed to temptation. They doubted that God is who He says he is, and as a result they lost perspective. They began to look over their shoulder and say, “we should have stayed in slavery in Egypt! At least we had food!” Temptation turned to sin and self-deception. May God grant us the willingness to see these attitudes in our lives that are robbing us of the good life and to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in changing us.
F. James 1:16-18 “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possessions.”
James reminds us that God is the highest source of light and we should not be deceived into thinking there is something other than God who gives us good and perfect gifts. Here light is a spiritual metaphor for truth and God’s unchanging nature. It is repeatedly used all through the Bible to help us understand that God is wholly good, truthful, gives us hope and purpose, and where love abides. He puts light into our hearts so we can see and know Him and understand truth. Conversely, Satan is the father of deception and lies. 2 Corinthians 11:14 tells us that “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light in order to deceive us”. He appears as a creature of light to draw us to himself and his lies. We are in a spiritual battle. We know the victorious end. But as we are in the middle of God’s redemptive story, we are given, along with the first Christians in James, everything we need to live a godly life until that time! God in his patience, goodness, kindness and Fatherly love gives us every opportunity to grow to maturity and to be made like Christ. He gives us wisdom to discern through His Word and His character; the difference between the true light of Christ and counterfeit light of Satan. Our hope in the gospel is we worship a God who does not change, but changes us. God is in the business of transforming us to be more like Christ. Why would we trust in anything less?
“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterwards they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12
So, let us encourage one another with these words; to be joyous and confident waiting for the day of Christ as we put our present experiences into true perspective; that on THIS day we know our joy will be complete! Let’s lift each other’s heads; let’s progress with the staying power of the Holy Spirit to make us mature in living the good life! Let’s see this passage tonight as an opportunity to trust in our limitless Father God of love and light.