WHAT TO DO WHEN TROUBLE COMES UNTO YOU

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations

PREMISE : A person of “true religion”—genuine piety—recognizes God as the generous giver of all good and acts accordingly, even joyfully trusting God in the midst of difficult trials and temptations.

count it[HOW WE JUDGE OUR TROUBLES}

Spiritual things are worthy in themselves; other things depend upon our opinion and valuation of them. So we must make a right judgment. In this lies our misery or comfort; things are as you consider them

Do not judge by sense

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” ((Romans 8:18).

Judge by a supernatural light

Christ’s eye-ointment must clear your sight, or else you cannot make a right judgment

No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11). It is by God’s Spirit that we come to discern and esteem the things that are of God

ALL JOY

Do not rejoice in evil:

If you suffer as a Christian … praise God” (1 Peter 4:161

Do not accuse God with murmuring thoughts but glorify him1

Ye fall into (περιπέσητε). The preposition περί, around, suggests falling into something which surrounds

THERE ARE MANY UNFORESEEN THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN THAT WILL CAUSE YOU TO GET OVERWHELMED AND FALL BACK INTO SINFUL HABITS.

Whenever you face. This signifies such troubles as come upon us unawares, as sudden things upset the mind most. But, says the apostle, when you are suddenly attacked, you must look upon it as a trial and a matter of great joy; for though it seems to be chance to us, it is under God’s control.

Many kinds. The Jewish nation was infamous and generally hated, especially the Christian Jews, who, besides the scorn of the pagans, were exercised with various injuries and attacks from their own people. This is clear from Peter’s letter, where he speaks of suffering “grief in all kinds of trials”

Temptation (πειρασμόν). It is a mistake to define this word as only solicitation to evil. It means trial of any kind, without reference to its moral quality1

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Abraham is the first person in Scripture to be tested (Gn. 22:1) and God rewarded his faithfulness.1

And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

Job was also tested by Satan, and in the stories about Job circulating in first-century Judaism he was the supreme example of perseverance1

JESUS WAS TEMPTED BY SATAN.

Christians by a living knowledge or spiritual discourse, by acting their thoughts upon the nature and quality of their troubles.

falling into trial is a means of putting to proof one’s faith

God has consolations

presence of the Word

1 THESS 1:6

And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost

minds are so wholly swallowed up with the things that are not seen that they have little thought or sense of the things that are seen.

2 Corinthians 4:18.1

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

“WORKETH” lays stress on the result, as distinguished from the process, of the action

2 Corinthians 7:10f For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

“PATIENCE”

steadfast endurance,” denoting “an inward feeling, as well as outward conduct, but directed only towards aggression1.

endurance Expresses a growing determination in the face of adversity, based on hope. Those who suffer can express joy (v. 2) during times of trial because of their confidence in the day in which Christ will vindicate them (1 Pet 4:13).11 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Jas 1:3.

Perseverance is like holding a fine steel sword blade in the fire until it is thoroughly tempered. In this case the sword is the believer, the fire is testing and the ‘tempering’ is that the believer becomes mature and complete, not lacking anything1

Perseverance is an important Christian virtue, mentioned often by Jesus

(Lk. 8:15;

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

21:19;

In your patience possess ye your souls.

cf. Mt. 10:22

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

1 PETER 1:6-7

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Heb 10:36

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing

Remember that in the apostle’s time there were various people who had a great deal of zeal and who bore the first attacks. But they tired, either because of the variety or the length of evils, and they yielded and fainted. Therefore, James wanted his readers to persevere and be complete. The best grace is maturity.11 Thomas Manton, An Exposition of the Epistle of James (WORDsearch, 1900), Jas 1:4.

Perfect perseverance is a resolute perseverance, holding no regard for the length, the acuteness, or the continual succession of various afflictions. One trial revealed Job’s perseverance; but when evil upon evil came, and he bore everything with a humble and quiet spirit, that revealed a mature perseverance.11 Thomas Manton, An Exposition of the Epistle of James (WORDsearch, 1900), Jas 1:4.

Complete and mature individuals show integrity and single-minded devotion to God; they are characterized by godliness.11 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Jas 1:4.

As a pilot’s skill is discerned in a storm, so is a Christian’s grace in many and great troubles. So in everything that happens to you say, “Patience has not yet been perfected.” The apostle says, “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood” (Hebrews 12:4)1

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

PROV 2:6

For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Prayer. But what is a person supposed to do if they are not ‘mature and complete’? What if one fears failing the test?11 Peter H. Davids, “James,” in New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, ed. D. A. Carson et al., 4th ed. (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 1357.

Paul’s answer would have been that they should live, or be led, by the Spirit

Gal. 5:16–18,

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Patient endurance and its ‘perfected work’ depend upon wisdom

Wise people can identify the nature and purpose of their trials and understand how to overcome them.

when praying, one must ask for what is ‘good’ and to ‘a holy purpose

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord

Different people lack different things

This wisdom is for bearing afflictions

wisdom must be found in God. He is wise, the fountain of wisdom, an inexhaustible fountain

dependence brings awareness

Wisdom is needed in several respects: (1) to discern what God’s purpose is in this; (2) to know the nature of the affliction, whether it is to build up or destroy; (3) to know what to do in every situation; (4) to check the desires of our own passions.

Become wise if you want to become patient. People of understanding have the greatest control over their affections: see Proverbs 14:29.

He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

Become wise by patience and calmness of spirit. A person who has no command of his passions has no understanding. FAITH

James describes faith that manifests itself in action. God hears the prayers of those whose lives demonstrate that they have faith in Him. The wording used here does not imply that people must have a certain degree or standard of faith for God to hear their prayers

active trust and belief displayed through obedience

Faith is typically understood as involving the whole self—mind, heart, and body—in a relationship with God that expresses trust and a grateful response to His loving initiative

8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways

Describes someone who tries to live two contradictory lifestyles

a doubter is the person who is not wholly committed to God, but ‘plays safe’ by praying. Their real interest is in advancement in this world, but they also want to enjoy some of God’s blessings now and go to heaven when they die.

To Be Unstable as To Be Easily Influenced

Uncertainty about the truth and reality of spiritual things.

THIS IS WHAT UNBELIEF ILLUSTRATES

the trait of not trusting in and relying on someone or something; especially used of not trusting in or relying on God and Jesus as His Messiah.