The Benefit in Trials

James 1:1–5 NKJV

1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Introduction

Tests

James draws a close parallel to this with his view of spiritual tests.

Knowing our weaknesses, we may fervently and appropriately pray that God will exempt us from them.

Regardless, we should know that trials area spiritual discipline essential to the maturing of the Christian life.

They are designed to:

Purify our faith,

Produce patience, and

Perfect our character.

Trials are no evidence of being without God, since trials come from God! - Charles Spurgeon

1. Testing Purifies Faith

James begins with a vivid picture in v3 to describe a purification process. Metal in those days was purified by heat. The metal would melt and impurities would foat to the surface. Our faith, according to James, undergoes much the same process under the heat of testing. The test may be painful, but impurities are removed.

In the late 1960’s, one of the women nominated for an Acadamy award was Patricia Neal, for her performance in “The Subject Was Roses”. It was thought to be a high point in movie history when the spotlight focused on her, for her history was so moving. In 1960 she was wheeling her baby son in a carriage accross a NY street when a car slammed into the carriage. The baby lived but endured several operations and months of hspitializations. Two years later Patricia’s daughter got the measles and died unexpectedly. Then in February 1965 Patricia herself almost died of massive hemorrhages. Her speech, vision and mind were imparied, but she fought back. As if to culminate her victory in these tragedies, she won the Oscar. One press writer asked her the key to her courage. She pointed to a plaque that read:

Fear knocked at the door.

Faith in God answered.

No one was there.

Fear is dissipated by faith when put to the test.

2. Testing Produces Patience

A major problem we all have with testing is dealing with the time factor.

We know good will come from an unpleasant circumstance...

We just wish it would hurry up!

For this we need patience.

Patience is the second result of testing.

But patience is not simply the ability to endure until our hopes are fulfilled.

It is

That steadfastness,

That endurance,

That fortitude

Patience is what gave life to the testimony of the martyrs.

Some died with a smile on their faces — smiles that reflect what one martyr said, “When I looked into the fire, I saw the glory of the Lord.”

This is not a shallow victory; it is a meaningful victory in the most profound sense. Spiritual trials become spiritual victories in just the same way when patience is allowed to have its perfect work in us.

3. Testing Perfects Character

Patience is sometimes hindered from exercising its influence and achieving its crowning triumph in our lives.

This happens when we grow weary of trials and resort to questionable ways of extricating ourselves.

But if permitted to run in the full course, patience, through the trials of life, will do two things for a person.

First it will make a person perfect.

James does not use the word to imply sinlessness.

The thought is one of maturity, or of being fully developed.

It is reaching the end for which one is created.

For Christians it refers to a spirit mature in judgement and in understanding.

Second, patience will make the person complete.

This completion refers to being perfectly equipped.

The same words are used in the OT of an animal completely fit to be sacrificed.

It was blemish free.

Such constancy gives us a growing strength that we might conquer old sins.

We become entirely fit to serve — fully grown, fully equipped, deficient in nothing.

Conclusion

By our persevering in trials, God completes a remarkable work in our lives.

If through these trials we depend on the grace of God, we become

entirely fit to serve,

fully grown,

fully equipped, and

deficient in nothing.

Let us then turn to Him as our source of strength.