James 1:2-11 The Testing of Faith, Pt. 1

James Introduction: Recap

Ask: Who is James? Who is he writing to? What is our main idea for the book of James? What is faith? What are works?

Main idea for James 1:2-11: Our faith will be tested through trials. We must ask God in faith for wisdom and joy as our faith produces completion in us.

Trials & Faith (v.2-4)

The unshakable truth of life: trials come.

Trials are the general sufferings and challenges a person experiences.

Trials test our faith. They show us where we have our ultimate hope in.

Trials are a way that God shapes and molds us and our faith in Christ.

The good news is that trials make our faith in Christ stronger because He brings us through them and He increases our faith by them.

James 1:2 ESV

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

James tells us that in every various kinds of trails we meet, we can and should have joy.

Joy is a consistent experience of gladness.

It is a spiritual response to having received salvation.

James is not telling us to be a fake kind of happy, nor is he asking us to run around and tell everyone we are suffering and it’s amazing. He is telling us to have the mind of Christ…that what we are going through is worth it, because it’s making us more like Christ.

James 1:3 ESV

for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

Steadfastness is patient endurance.

When we experience trials, we must have a mindset of patient endurance.

(ILLUSTRATION)

The result of joyful patience amidst trials?

James 1:4 ESV

And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James has in mind that the person who has joy in Christ through the trials of life will be a mature, complete Christian.

Jesus is perfect, and these trials are making us more and more like Jesus, who patiently endured every obstacle with sinless perfection through all of them. Our hope is not that we might be an MVP for God, but our desire is that we might be more and more like Jesus.

Wisdom & Faith (v.5-8)

James 1:5 ESV

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Wisdom is knowledge applied.

God is the Generous Giver who gives wisdom and understanding to all without disapproval or disappointment.

God does not mock you or is not mad at you for asking for guidance.

God grows your faith through wisdom.

When you ask for wisdom, “it will be given”.

James 1:6–8 ESV

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

God gives a clear understanding as to how we must approach Him in our asking of wisdom. We must have faith in Him to lead and guide us with total hope and belief in God.

If we doubt that God will give us understanding, we are really saying our faith is elsewhere. And we are like a wave in the sea…we go wherever our minds, hearts, and the world would lead us. We are unstable!

We all know our own track record: we may have moments of success, but often times we let ourselves down and prove that we aren’t great gods after all.

Written prayer response time (Lord, help me to look to you in faith when I don’t understand. I believe & trust You.)

Comfort or Warning & Faith (v.9-11)

James 1:9–11 ESV

Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

Comfort for the poor: he has nothing , so it is easy to treasure Christ.

I will boast in Christ because He is all I have.

Warning to the rich: he has everything, so it is difficult to treasure Christ.

I will boast in Christ because He is all I want & need.

Is being rich sinful? No. Pursuing anything other as ultimately satisfying as Christ is.

In faith, regardless of what we do and don’t have, Christ is our ultimate Treasure.