Hard times. We've probably all been through hard times at least once. It may be a financial loss that caused the hard times. It may be a job loss that caused the financial loss. It may be a relational loss - breaking up with someone we thought would be a lifelong friend. When these hard times come, what do we do? Sometimes we might shake our fist at God and blame Him. What should we do? We say that we have faith in God, but what happens to that faith during those hard times? What happens to our joy?
It's difficult even to think of joy in those trying moments, yet James wrote that believers should consider trials joyous. It's not the trials themselves that are joyous, but we can have joy even as we go through those hard seasons. Today, we will be using the first 12 verses of the first chapter in the writings of James.
PRAYER
James 1:1-2 – James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ:
To the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings. 2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials,
James didn't beat around the bush. After a very brief introduction, he gets straight to the point in his letter. He called his readers, (that's us), to face our various trials with great joy. To be a joyful Christian is not an option. In fact, to consider it a great joy is a command.
Did you know that as Christians we're uniquely equipped to face adversity and challenges? 13 other times in this letter, James referred to his readers as my brothers and sisters. That may not sound very important but it is important to remember as we hear this unusual command to consider it a great joy whenever you experience various trials.
When the world comes upon trials, the world sees no joy during those trying times because it can be a time of isolation and separation. At times, when we are going through a trial and we want to withdraw from the human race for a while. But for those who follow Christ, we are not alone. We have fellowship with other believers that might even be going through the same trying times that we are. In Christ, we can have joy. Joy is one of those supernatural responses, it's empowered by God. James wanted us to think about our trials in a Christian way, not complaining, whining, or grumbling, but with great joy. And that's not always that easy to do, is it?
In verse 2, James uses the phrase “various trials”. “Various trials” includes all of the challenges that all people face and the unique trials believers experience because of the persecution for their faith. You see, Christians can experience joy in everyday life challenges, as well as in the more serious misfortunes.
Any and all trials can test our faith, that's true. But in the process, those trials can strengthen our faith. Our trials act as a certification process, if you will, for the genuineness of our faith. In other words, you can just feel the strength of someone's faith as they hold their head high and still show the joy that Jesus gives them even though they may be going through a serious trial.
James 1:3-4 - 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
In other words, don't look at the trial as a tragedy. Instead look at the trial as an opportunity to strengthen your faith. Easy for me to say, right? But the truth is, trials can strengthen our faith and develop within us a deeper confidence in God and His power. Adversity and trials are a refining process of our faith. Through trials, believers develop the ability to endure the hardships. We become more steadfast.
Trials can strengthen our faith just like the exposure to wind strengthens trees. The strongest trees are those that are on top of the mountain that are whipped by the wind. Those in the peaceful valleys are not near as strong. ***********Scientists constructed a biosphere, a miniature version of the earth, to learn more about how our planet's systems work. But they made an unexpected discovery. In the process, they learned about the value of exposure to wind for the trees. While the trees grew more quickly in the biosphere, they fell under their own weight before they could completely mature. Without the resistance of the wind, they didn't develop adequate strength.
In much the same way that is how the trials strengthen our faith. Just as the wind makes a tree stronger, giving it the strength to hold up its own weight, trials also strengthen believers, giving us the ability to bear the weight of life. This isn't a test of our personal strength or wisdom. Instead, it's a test of our faith in the strength and wisdom of God to see us through. Faith is like a muscle. Faith is a muscle that must be exercised to gain strength.
I imagine most everyone here could testify to a past trial that actually strengthened your faith as you look back on it. And now, in hindsight, you can thank God for that trial because of the way it strengthened you.
James 1:5 - 5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.
What this verse is telling us is that trials require the wisdom of God. During our trials, we don't need worldly judgment. We need the wisdom of God, wisdom that He generously gives. And yes, I will agree with you, that we need perseverance to effectively face our trials. But that's not all we need. We also need wisdom.
Many times when believers go through trials, it leads some Christians to think that their suffering is punishment for wrongdoing. Have you ever felt like God was punishing you for doing something you shouldn’t have done? And sometimes our friends, bless their hearts, add to this impression by implying or outright accusing those going through these trials that they deserve the suffering that they are experiencing.
You might remember that is what happened to Job who had three friends who came to his side soon after they heard about the trial that Job was going through. We are told these friends came to sympathize with him and comfort him. But then they started talking. Job's friends gave long speeches where they blame Job for his problems. According to his friends, Job's suffering was his own fault. He deserved what he was getting, so they said.
Job's friends were outspoken with their criticism. But honestly, sometimes our friends can be the same way. But even if the accusations are more subtle or implied, it can be easy to get the message that we deserve our suffering. “Well, you reap what you sow.” “Serves them right.”
And then on top of being tired because of the trial itself, these accusations can start to wear us down. And don't get me wrong, sometimes our trials are the results of poor decisions and immoral behavior, but not all of the trials we go through are corrective punishment. And it takes discerning wisdom to know the difference. We need God's wisdom to help us sustain the joy in our hearts through these trials. But we don't have to doubt God's faithfulness to us.
James 1:6-8 - 6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, 8 being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.
Believers don't need to be hesitant. We can approach God boldly. When we approach God, we can ask for wisdom with the full assurance that God will provide it. God doesn't give us His wisdom because we're worthy. We can approach God, asking Him for wisdom because of His character. God invites us to come to Him and ask, seek, and knock.
I think we can all agree that God is faithful. He won't keep wisdom from believers who ask with unwavering faith. Solomon is a perfect example. His name is synonymous with wisdom. Solomon didn't become wise simply by studying the decisions of others or learning from his own mistakes. Solomon became wise because he asked God for wisdom, and God generously gave it to him.
But even as Christians who believe in God can become paralyzed at times by our ceaseless, internal arguments that make us spiritually seasick, we begin to doubt. In one moment, we can trust that God will respond to our request. In the next moment we don't trust. So, we're tossed back and forth by the swelling waves of doubt and we have no solid footing. That’s what James was saying.
Christians that doubt at these times believe that God exists, but they don't trust Him to respond to their request. God will respond, but only if their request is accompanied by a firm, unwavering confidence in God - a firm belief that God will supply wisdom. Those that have wavering faith won't enjoy the fruit of God's faithfulness. This wavering faith doesn't doubt the existence of God, it wavers because they doubt the faithfulness of God.
I wonder how many Christians doubt God sometimes. It's like I said with the children last week; if God doesn't respond right away, we begin to doubt if he heard our prayer. But remember, we were told to continue to pray to God and never give up. God wants to hear our requests, even if it's over and over and over. And God will always answer. His answer might be yes, or no, or wait. But we should never have to doubt God's faithfulness to us.
Take a moment and think back over your life and remember some of the trials that you have gone through. Am I wrong in saying that the trials were temporary? In most cases the trials we face are temporary, but our faith in God will endure.
James 1:9-12 - 9 Let the brother of humble circumstances boast in his exaltation, 10 but let the rich boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field. 11 For the sun rises and, together with the scorching wind, dries up the grass; its flower falls off, and its beautiful appearance perishes. In the same way, the rich person will wither away while pursuing his activities.
***********12 Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
Poverty is a trial for obvious reasons. People need clean water, nutritious food, adequate shelter, and warm clothing. If they don't have these things, they suffer. And James commanded the poor believer to boast in his exaltation. What do the poor have to boast or rejoice about? James will answer that more fully later in chapter 2. In fact, in:
James 2:5 - 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Didn’t God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?
Their poverty is a constant reminder of their dependence upon God and that gives us an excellent opportunity to exercise our faith. The wealthy make a dire mistake if they think their greatest resources are what they own. When James speaks of the rich here, he's speaking about those that rely solely on themselves and their money leaving God out of the picture.
The resources of the rich are temporary at best. The wealthy shouldn't boast in what they have because their wealth will wither and pass away just like the grass and flowers. But the wealthy also need the grace of God. As they realize their great need, they'll be led to seek and find eternal riches in Christ.
Let me give you a true example and then I will close. Jillian learned about the trials of wealth the hard way. She thought all her problems were over when she won $148 million pounds in a British lottery in 2012. 15 months later, her marriage was over. She said the wealth tore her family apart. Instead of the happiness she expected to find, Jillian said her marriage ended and she no longer spoke to her parents or her brother. You see, money doesn't fix everything, it breaks some things.
The ultimate reason for both the poor and the wealthy believer to celebrate is not found in this life, but in the life to come. The trials we face in this life are temporary - they will not last forever. Just like wealth fades into eternity, so do our problems. But faith always endures. Faith is permanent. In this world, trials strengthen our faith, and that Faith remains with us as we live with Christ for eternity.
So I am hoping that God has made it pretty clear for us to look at the trials of our lives as an opportunity to strengthen our faith. In their own way, trials can be a blessing. So, face those trials head on. You may not thank God now, but when you look back up on the trial and see how it strengthened you, you will give God the glory. And remember:
James 1:12 – “Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
So let's endure our trials so that we may receive the crown of life that God has promised to us.
