JAMES 1:2-11
Perhaps, we ourselves are uncertain about God and his place in trials, we question where he is, or whether he’s there at all?
What we’re feeling and experiencing has no bearing on the presentness of God…there are not degrees of separation between us and God dependent on the specific nature of the trial we might be facing…as if the apparent worst the situation the more God is absent.
I want to remind us all of two important theological truths. First, this is not our world that has God in it, this is God’s world and we’re a part of it. “The earth is Lords and everything in it…”.
2nd truth, God has already made all the movement toward us he needs to in the person of Jesus…it’s to us, to move toward him…God, has already done all and given everything in the person of Jesus…it’s to us to move toward him, voluntarily.
(READ Passage James 1:2-11)
Sometimes we need the truth to be spoken to us in a way, yes that is loving, but also matter-of-fact, no beating-around-the-bush, don’t we? James does that!
Overview: So in verses 2-8 James answers the unasked questions: why am I going through this? Why me? Why is God…? What is this for? What have I done to deserve this?
He gives the tools necessary to navigate our way through trials: prayer, the wisdom of God, which gives the perspective of God. And in verses 9-11 he talks about the trials associated with poverty and/or wealth and finding Christ despite this.
So let’s look at…A Christian Response to Trial/s…in more detail…
This first part of James’ letter is a well-developed moral and theological argument encouraging Christians in the face of trial…similar to that of Paul in Rom. 5:3-5 and Peter in 1 Peter 1:6-7
In the context of James’ encouragement he gives 4 separate but inter-related teachings: Joy in Trials; Benefits result from Trials; Wisdom gives God’s perspective in Trials and lastly poverty and wealth in trials.
- Joy in Trials
James’ encouragement is for Christians to rejoice when facing trials, in fact he says, “consider it pure joy…”
Is it even possible for the Christian to rejoice, to have pure joy in the context of trial? Yes it is and here’s why, because it’s in the context of pure joy, born out of a fully devoted life in Christ, and mature relationship with Jesus Christ, that we have trials…trials are not our lot, Christ is our portion (Lam. 3)
It seems an odd and counter-intuitive thing doesn’t it to have joy in trials, yet that is the resolve we are taught to have. “Pure joy” here is whole, complete and utter joy, as in “the joy of the Lord is my strength”. It is “a joy that is the result of a deep sense of being in the presence and the will of God”[1]
How many gazillions of dollars are spent (movies, books, websites…you name it…) on this planet every year with people attempting to find joy, true fulfillment, “finally I’ll be happy”, and that would include professing Christians. There is a “joy” and a “happiness” to be seduced into, but it is counterfeit. Consider the modern notions of Joy…how Joy is found in self, when true joy is found outside of self, in fact giving self away. Joy, true Joy comes from no other source apart from God.
There are no degrees of severity or seriousness or complexity of trial that determine whether we have joy, or not. No matter their source, or severity, James insists that we should respond with utter joy.[2]
- Benefits result from Trials
Trials are inevitable; Christians are not exempt or immune from unwelcome or unanticipated trials. James says “when”, not ‘if’ we face trials.[3] They, however, when faced into with spiritual maturity, are spiritually maturing, because the testing of our faith produces perseverance, and perseverance, leads to maturity.
But, whether we are able to grow in character through trial and testing is determined by the perspective we have of God and the state of our relationship with God, as we face into trial. Because we can either resent the trial/circumstance we’re facing (or worst still resent God), or persevere with joy, knowing there are benefits.
One classic OT verse to support James:
Psalm 66:10 – 12
It might seem that James is proposing some sort of morbid fascination with trial, but James is no triumphalist; he’s simply espousing what living a faith-filled Christian life looks like. His encouragement is to seek God’s face when life seems darkest.
Trials will only produce godly character in us if the attitude and perspective we have, is one of trusting and focus on God, in it. Trials will produce godly character in us when we know that despite what we‘re facing, God has the situation in hand.
Why should we rejoice in the face of trials? Because the perseverance that is added or grown into our character is a crucial trait for our Christian walk. We might think of perseverance as something we do, like a tolerance thing while we’re handling a difficult matter, but note here, perseverance is a product of the testing of our faith. So when we look at James’ original idea we see Christian perseverance is not simply bumbling our way from one situation to the next, it is not a one-off exceptional act of fortitude…it means staying power and determination under extreme and constant adversity.[4]
James says…Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James does not mean mature and complete in the sense of perfection, he is talking about something that is totally achievable for the person whose life is fully dedicated to the purposes of, and single minded in their devotion to, God…this person lacks nothing! Leads to the 3rd aspect of responding in trials…
- Wisdom gives God’s perspective in Trials
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God…believing and not doubting, as James says in verse 6.
Remember one of James’ key themes is faith in action, so doubt and double-mindedness here, mean a hesitancy to believe, a hesitancy of faith, a hesitancy to move forward in faith, unbelief even, results in, inaction…which leads to instability in our Christian walk
Note Paul’s teaching in Eph. 4:13:14 that compliments James’.
The absence of wisdom suggests, we are not anchored to God and his truth, (prayer) and are like the “wave tossed about by the wind”….the wisdom of God is our datum; it tethers us to him and his truths, leaving no room for doubt
Look again at what James says here about wisdom “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God”(v.5). We ask God for wisdom in prayer, it is available by our request, and he gives generously…without finding fault. One commentator I read says “Wisdom as the gift of God logically leads to our asking for it”[5] …so when we ask for it, best we utilise it!
Wisdom then is more than what’s in the cerebral. Wisdom, given by God, asked for in prayer, given generously, is living the life Christ wants you to live.[6]…Wisdom reminds us that what the world may perceive as bad luck, or a raw deal from God, is for Christians an opportunity for God’s purposes to be advanced.
Because wisdom through prayer gives us God’s perspective, it not only affects our resolve in trials but there is a missional aspect here also. God’s wisdom, God’s perspective challenges our self-centeredness and causes us to have compassion and grace for others facing trial.
How would the wisdom of God have us respond to others facing difficulty – pointing the finger, taking the moral high ground, criticizing…OR…showing grace and the compassion of Christ…read the parable of the Sheep and Goats, meditate on verse 40…whatever we do for the least, we do for Jesus! To love others is to treat others as precious in the sight of God. That’s what Gods wisdom and God’s perspective does!
In my research on this text I discovered this story about Maria Skobtsova. Maria was a prisoner at the Nazi concentration camp called Ravensbrück. The horror is well- documented and unimaginable, as is the despair in such circumstances. Yet through the wisdom of God she saw her situation not as misfortune, but as opportunity, Maria wrote: “I am Thy message, Lord. Throw me, like a blazing torch into the night, so that all may see and understand what it means to be Thy disciple.”[7]
- Poverty and Wealth in Trials
It might appear at first reading that verses 9-11 of our passage are somewhat disconnected, but James is still very much on the same thought track. The connection is in the fact that James is addressing people at both socio-economic extremes, the rich to the poor. Both groups were represented in the recipient-churches of his letter, and James has a specific yet simple teaching for both groups of people
To those in poverty he says in Christ you are rich, you have everything, even though you have little. To the rich who for whatever reason face the trial of losing their wealth James says “take pride in your low position” which means you’ve lost wealth but you cannot lose Christ, in whom you are truly rich.
The principle here is: the wisdom of God is the common ground irrespective of social or financial status. In both cases, the wisdom of God shows us that poverty and wealth which can both bring about trials, are temporal, Christ is eternal. That’s where the investment needs to be made!
TAKEAWAYS
- Self-Assess your JOY
- KNOW that God is present (READ PS. 139)
- ACQUIRE the tools to navigate your trials (A biblical perspective on trials)
- Ask God for WISDOM
- Aim for STABILITY
As we consider how James’ teaching and communion link together this morning I’m mindful of Jesus, who faced the greatest trial of all, we can recall his words in the garden, “take this cup away from me, yet, not my will, but your will be done”, he, willingly went to the cross to make an exchange. His sacrifice, death and resurrection, for our sin. Grace and forgiveness is available today as we confess our sin, because of Jesus. He’s given all. He’s done it all. What movement will we make toward him today? What do we need to say to him? What do we need to ask of him?
[1] Nystrom, David P. “Contemporary Significance” In NIV Application Commentary, New Testament: James. By David P. Nystrom, 64. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, © 1997.
[2] Nystrom, David P.
[3] See Luke 10:30 for same Greek = peripito
[4]Nystrom, David P.
[5] David P. Nystrom, 50.
[6] https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/passing-the-tests-of-life-c-philip-green-sermon-on-godly-wisdom-209666?page=4
[7] Adapted from: Nystrom, David P.