FAITH THAT WORKS
TESTING OF OUR FAITH
James 1:1-18
Chippie the parakeet never saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage. The next he was sucked in, washed up, and blown over.
The problems began when Chippie’s owner decided to clean Chippie’s cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the attachment from the end of the hose and stuck it in the cage. The phone rang, and she turned to pick it up. She’d barely said hello when ssssopp! Chippie got sucked in. The bird owner gasped, put down the phone, turned off the vacuum, and opened the bag. There was Chippie – still alive, but stunned.
Since the bird was covered with dust and soot, she grabbed him and raced to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and held Chippie under the running water. Then, realizing that Chippie was soaked and shivering, she did what any compassionate bird owner would do... she reached for the hair dryer and blasted the pet with hot air.
Poor Chippie never knew what hit him. A few days after the trauma, the reporter who’d initially written about the event contacted Chippie’s owner to see how the bird was recovering. Well, she replied, Chippie doesn’t sing much anymore – he just sits and stares.
It’s hard not to see why. Sucked in, washed up, and blown over... That’s enough to steal the song from the stoutest heart.
Sucked in, washed up, and blown over. That about sums up how many of us feel at times isn’t? It describes the certainty of trials and feelings of powerlessness that trials bring.
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to 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.
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 away even while he goes about his business.
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.
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. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. James 1:1-18
Ancient letters always put who it was from at the beginning, James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
James who? James was one of the four brothers of Jesus mentioned in the Scriptures (Matthew 13:55 and Galatians 1:19). Mary and Joseph had four sons, James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas, and daughters (not specified how many) after Jesus was born.
When we first find James in Matthew and Mark, he along with the family are not in favor of Jesus’ ministry. Matter of fact, they want him to come home.
The next time we find James is when Jesus appears to him after the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7). I would have loved to hear that conversation as James’ opinion of his brother radically changes.
James is then with the 120 on the day of Pentecost as they are filled with the Holy Sprit. Then, by the middle of the book of Acts (chapter 15), we find him as the leader of the church at Jerusalem.
Trouble had come to the church! After the stoning of Steven, great persecution had broke out, and the believers had been dispersed.
It is to these believers that James addresses his letter. They are under persecution for their faith in Jesus. This letter was intended to confront members of the church with the responsibilities of the Christian faith. For James the ethical implications of following Jesus extend to every aspect to the Christian life.
It is to these believers that are being persecuted that James immediately makes his first point...consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds... vs 2
Consider it pure joy
In these opening verses James addresses the issue that was prevalent on everyone’s mind, trials. There are two kinds that all of us face. In verses 2 through 12 James deals with what I call the outward trials. These are the kinds you fall into, find yourself in, those uncontrollable things that happen in life that are not of your own making.
Verses 13 through 18 has to do with the inward trials, this has to do with our emotions and feelings.
Let’s first look at the external or outward trials
Outward trials
The Christians to whom James was writing were having problems not of their own making. They fell into them. These problems included severe persecution from both Jews and Gentiles.
James wanted the early believers to consider it pure joy when these trials came! The first thing I want to say is, Why? Then, how do I do it?
You and I are affected by problems that are not of our own making. They impact our lives! How should we face them? What should we do about them?
I believe we need to ask four questions when facing these trials.
1st Question - What inner life quality is being cultivated?
God is more interested with what is happening inside us, than what happens on the outside.
I have found that quite often God doesn’t touch the outward circumstances until the inward purpose is accomplished.
What is God cultivating? vs 3 perseverance
I don’t like this answer! Our culture doesn’t either. We spend millions of dollars each year on drugs for pain-relief. Millions more on alcohol and tranquilizers for emotional relief. Many fill their lives with material things to dull the pain of life.
We over work, in order to not face the issues at home. It seems we always look for ways to dull our pain, instead of dealing with it.
James brings us right to the issue. How do you deal with the pain in your life? Do you deny it? Do you do something to try to dull it?
God wants us to deal with it! That’s why we do everything we can to create a family atmosphere here in church. We need to help each other!
i.e. Story of deacon whose daughter got pregnant and he sent her away to live with an aunt, because of the embarrassment.
i.e. Pastor friend (George Gregg) resigning because of his son being arrested.
Our culture doesn’t want to deal with it.
Now patience produces perseverance - staying power - long term obedience. It is dealing with the pain and not giving up on God. Letting the pain test my faith.
Perseverance means my behavior will be dictated by my values, my principles, not my hurts!
The fruit of perseverance is found in vs 4. Mature and complete, not lacking anything.
If God always took our pain away we’d never grow up. The key to maturity is to face our pain, not deny it or try to dull it.
Perseverance is one of the greatest characteristics we can follow in our life. There are so many uncontrollables in our life that God will not remove, so how are we going to deal with it? That is the question!
How do you respond to pain? This is the test of maturity.
2nd Question - How should I pray?
My first reaction is: God get me out of here! And get those who got me into this!!!
If you want perseverance (patience) to take it’s course, the right way to pray is to ask for wisdom! vs 5
What is wisdom? Not just information or knowledge, it is the correct application of knowledge. The beginning of wisdom is learning to fear the Lord. Wisdom centers our life on God. Pain side tracks us, that’s why we need wisdom.
Wisdom will cause us to walk in righteousness.
The verse we just read said that God gives wisdom generously without finding fault.
i.e. as a father I often have said: “I told you so...”
God doesn’t!
One condition to our prayer (vs 6) do not doubt. You must believe, don’t waver between two opinions.
3rd Question - Who is affected by these trials? vs 9 - 11
All are affected by the trials. There is no difference, rich and poor alike will face them.
Money cannot buy you a way out of the trials.
4th Question - What’s the purpose? vs 12
The crown of life.
Have you ever noticed how slow time passes when you’re in pain?
We become preoccupied with the present while in pain. We need to focus on God’s values. There is a crown of life that’s waiting for those who persevere.
As Christians our real living begins when we die! That’s why we need to pray for wisdom, it will keep us focused on Him, not on pain-relief.
These are the outward trials, let’s look at the inward ones.
2nd The inward trials - our emotions
Verses 13-15 explain that God does not tempt us. It is our own evil desires. God cannot be lured by them.
Let’s make it clear, we are tempted by our own evil desires. These desires lead to deeds or acts, which in turn leads to death.
I had a man come to me and say: Pastor, if God didn’t want me to do this, then he needs to take away the desire! So many people feel that way! If it were only that easy.
The inward trials are usually much stronger that the outward trials we face.
We need to deal with these trials on the desire level. If not checked, our desire will compromise our value system. Deal with our desires. God will give you the will power.
Verses 16-18 deals with God’s answer.
First, God is good and He only gives good gifts. Second, everything around us is changing, but He is constant, never changing.
James is not saying, call everything that happens in your life good and perfect. I am not a person who when the hammer hits my thumb I’m not going to look up and say, Thank you Lord for helping me miss the nail today and for the wonderful sensation that my thumb now feels.
James is not asking us to play those kind of stupid mental games. He is saying however that when these bombs are dropping on your life, God is also parachuting down some good and perfect gifts. They’re landing in the same field. Our problem is when we’re going through the adversities is that sometimes all we see is the bombs and don’t immediately spot the gifts that are coming down. But they are coming down.
There are times when each of us feel absolutely pressed to the wall. Yet God is calling us up to take another step and get on with life and not get stuck and not become bitter.
We’re always touching lives. Whatever our response to trial is we’re always touching people. We’re touching our children. They’re seeing how we’re responding. They’re seeing if we’re flaking out or not. They see if we’re being morally true or morally untrue. Our family and friends see it. We’re influencing people.
God says, I’m demonstrating My power in your life. So look around. I’m putting some good and perfect gifts there. I know there’s a lot on the landscape of your life that isn’t good and perfect. But I’m putting some things that are good and perfect. Maybe they’re only in seed form. But they’re there. They’re going to grow up and they’re going to produce life in you.
We are on display for the world. We are not running from pain and trial. We are going to stand the test and receive the crown of life. I don’t always understand everything that is happening around me and in me, or why God would permit it.
But I chose to put my trust wholeheartedly in Him. He will see me through.
