Consider It All Joy...

Introduction

There are many sermons out there that focus on the first verse in James and pulls apart what it means for this half-brother of Jesus to consider himself as a slave rather than brag about his familial affiliation. There is also a lot space that discuss who this audience really is. Is this letter to only Jews? Or is “the twelve tribes” a metaphor to refer to believers?

I would love to spend a lot of time in verse 1, but because I’m sure you aren’t prepared to spend 3 hours hearing me speak, we are going to set that conversation to the side tonight. But I will leave you with this: we know that this pertains to us believers because of 2 Timothy 3:16

2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

Now, I love James 1 and there really isn’t a verse from this first chapter that I can say is my favorite. This was one of the first chapters I tried to memorize. I’ve spent a lot of time in this chapter. It’s a great chapter. It has both a New and Old Testament feel. I love the whole chapter, but If I had to narrow it down to one verse, it would be verse 2.

My favorite verse is verse 2, but it must be understood in light of the surrounding verses such as verses 3-8, but also in light of verses 12-18 and we will get into those later. Right now, follow along with me as I read verses 1-18

James 1:1–18 (NKJV)

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

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.

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation,

but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away.

For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

Consider Your Trials as Joy

I only have two points to show you all from James this evening. The first time I preached was in Romans and I think I had two points then too. Clearly, I fancy the two-point sermon.

The first point is for us to consider our trials as joy. When the text tells us to “count” it all joy, the idea is for us to “consider” or “regard” the trials as joy. These “various trials” are “pressure-filled circumstances” or moments of “calamity” or misfortune. Look at verses 9-11. It gives situations where someone who is poor is exalted, and someone who is rich is made low, yet they both are told to boast in these changes of position.

What would cause these changes? For the brother of low degree who is made rich, great fortune and favor. For the brother of high degree who is made low, I would say some form of calamity or misfortune. Not always, but I think in this context, the reason he is brought low is because something has happened to him. These are different life situations but verse 2, my favorite verse, tells them to consider or regard it as joy.

Why should they consider it joy? In fact, when you are going through various trials such as receiving a scary diagnosis, or having a heavier load put on your plate, or your heartbreaking from a wayward son or daughter: why should you consider these trials as joy? Look at verse 3: “knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” Do you see the word “knowing”? Now go back to verse 2, do you see the word “count”? There is something really cool going on here. The reason, or the cause behind why they can count various trials as joy is the fact that they know that it produces patience.

Now, why is patience so important? Look at verse 4. It’s because if patience has it’s completed work, or full effect, YOU will be complete, or mature, or whole, lacking or wanting nothing. You see, James is telling us that the reason we can count these trying moments in our lives as joy is because they are ultimately purposed to make us content, complete, and mature.

What if you have gone through a break-up, or your child has a life-threatening disease, or your car just died, again? Are you telling me that those moment had a purpose? Yes, that’s what I’m saying. It isn’t pointless. It isn’t that these happened to you because you were marked some time ago with a “bad moments” marker or “hard life” paint. It means that God is in control and has a purpose in bringing these things into your life. Look with me at a blast from the past at Romans 8:28-29

Romans 8:28–29 (NKJV)

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

This purpose is for you to look like Christ and in looking like Christ, you will be content and mature. The “lacking nothing” is referring to needing something other than the Lord when it comes to your satisfaction in life. As the Lord is making you new and renewing your mind, you can find your satisfaction in him.

This is possible because God is that satisfying. He is so satisfying that James can confidently say, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that your patience, in it’s perfect work makes you complete, and whole, being satisfied by the father who, by his right hand, freely and willingly gives his children eternal pleasures. This is the amazing God who has purpose in these trials and brings you to a place where he becomes your greatest satisfaction. Church, taste and see that the Lord is good. He’s good, and you can find your full satisfaction in him.

Not only can you find your full satisfaction in him, but you can also receive from him the wisdom you need to navigate the waters of these different trials. Here is the cool thing about our God who gives wisdom. He gives liberally, or freely. This means that he wants to give you wisdom. He isn’t upset that you asked for wisdom. In his presence is the fulness of joy and at his right hand are eternal pleasures (Psalm 16:11).

Don’t miss this church. You aren’t alone in your trials. Do the nights seem dark and lonely when you go back home after your spouse leaves you? What if you are a widow or a widower? What if your child has passed away before you? Perhaps you’re someone who sees the shootings that take place on the news and you’re worried about that happening here. Do you feel overwhelmed with fear because of that possibility? Maybe you typically feel like the odd one out and that you don’t have many friends. Do you get a sense that no one likes you or understands you? In all these situations and ones that I haven’t mentioned, God is near you. He’s close and he’s ready to give you wisdom and help you deepen your love for him and grow to become more like Christ. Come to him in faith. Consider your trials as joy.

Consider the Blessings in Temptation

Not only should you consider your trials as joy, but also consider yourself as blessed if you endure temptation. Now, don’t miss the reason for this. Look with me in verse 12. James 1:12

James 1:12 NKJV

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

It’s the one who endures temptation who will receive the crown of life. Our end, our prize is our God who will give us crowns of life if we endure though these temptations.

Something that I think is valuable to point out is that at the beginning of the chapter James is talking about the temptation of trials and calamities that we experience in life. These are events that can sometimes be “evil” in the sense of it being “bad” in respect to our situations in life, and I think we saw this in verses 9-11. Here, beginning at verse 12, I think James is slightly turning the page to temptations of sin and we see this in verses 13-15. Let’s look at James 1:13-15

James 1:13–15 (NKJV)

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

God brings us through trials in life. He is the God who sends rain on the just and the unjust. He is the God who can show mercy on whom he wants and can harden whom he wants. However, the temptations we face with sin are not from God, but are from our own desires.

The text says that we are “drawn away”. This is the idea of being lured, like a fish. The man who is struggling with pornography faced loneliness, or restlessness of being single, or wanted comfort or flattery and was drawn away by those desires until he found something to indulge those desires. He was drawn away. The person who gets drunk faced disappointment in life, or crumbled under the weight of demands from work and family and instead of turning to the Lord was drawn away by these desires and indulged them in alcohol. Or if you if you struggle with bitterness: your desire is wrapped around your hurt and you seek relief and comfort. Instead of seeking the Lord, you are drawn away by these desires and fall into bitterness. This is the idea being communicated here.

So, it isn’t God who is tempting us, but it’s our own desires being led away. In fact, according to verse 13 God cannot be tempted by evil and he doesn’t tempt anyone. He is not like Satan who enters the garden to question the words of God. He is not like the strange woman that we see in Proverbs 5 and Proverbs 7 who lure young senseless men away to their death. He is the God who gives good gifts and perfect gifts. He is the unchanging God who has no variation or changing of shadow. He is the God who has brought us forth by his word.

So then, I give you the same warning, church, that James does: when temptation comes your way, do not look up to the sky with a raised fist and shake it at God and question his goodness as if he is to blame for the sin in your life. Let me exhort you to look within yourself and see the wickedness of your own desire that is leading you astray from the God who is unchanging.

Okay, Taylor. I’m to blame for my own sin. Am I hopeless with my temptation? Is there no way to escape? If you are a Christian, a believer, then I think there is a way to escape and I think you do have hope. If you’re an unbeliever here tonight, your only hope lies in exercising faith in Jesus and following him. The Bible promises that if you turn to Christ and believe that he is God the Son and that he rose from the dead, you will be forgiven of your sin and can start on a path of resisting your sin. Without that life with Christ, without his forgiveness and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, any steps to resist sin is futile. So repent, and turn to Christ tonight.

If you are a Christian, look with me at verses 13-15 again. James 1:13-15

James 1:13–15 (NKJV)

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

The temptation initially is a combination of something that is an object of worship that isn’t God and your own desires. Your own desires are led astray by something that isn’t God that is wanting your worship. You see, you are wanting something, and instead of going to God and submitting to his will, you let your desires lead you to something else to worship so that you can get an artificial satisfaction of whatever this desire is. Then, when that desire is able to worship whatever that idol is, now you have sinned. And like all sin, the end is death. This is what I believe this passage is saying.

Here is where the hope is though. Look at verses 14 and 15. There is a moment where the desire is there, and a moment when you are tempted and being drawn away by your desire, but it hasn’t conceived into sin. Do you see it? I think this is a great picture of how we are led astray and James is showing us that there is a moment in the process where we have a desire and might even be tempted by that desire, but have not sinned. That’s great news. That means if you are tempted, you may not have sinned yet.

So, if you’re in this situation what do you do? Do you just “muscle it out”? Is that what “endure” means in verse 12? I don’t think so. Look at verse 17. Our good and perfect gifts come from God. I think James wrote this to show us where our focus should be in the midst of temptation. When worry comes your way, turn to the promises of God who will never leave you or forsake you. If greed comes your way, turn to the material gifts that God has already given you and be thankful. If doubt holds onto your heart, turn to Savior who saves you and lean on him. If lust flies in your face, turn to your spouse and thank the Lord for them. If you’re single, thank the Lord for your singleness and be content.

This is what I think “endurance” means. It isn’t just standing like a pole in the midst of storm and standing up to the storm by your own bootstraps. Endurance, here I think is the active pursuit of God and the good things he has given you.

Conclusion

At the beginning, I said that my favorite verse was verse 2. Even though the ideas are slightly different between verses 2-8 and verses 12-18, I think there is a constant theme of joy in the midst of both. We can have joy when faced with trials and calamities in life because it is used to make us complete and whole. We can also have joy in the midst of temptation of sins because if we respond correctly, we can have better appreciation of our spouses and the things God has given us. In both of these, trials and temptations, we can grow in our relationship with the Lord and have a greater dependency on him and become more like him. I think that the the exhortation is the same for both situations: Lean on God and trust his goodness. Will you pray with me?

Gracious Father, you are a good God who does good things for your people and you give us good gifts. Forgive us lord for letting our desires be captured and captivated by the second class beauty and satisfaction of this world. Help us to see the goodness and beauty of you in the face of temptation and trials. Let us not blame you for evil if we are led astray, but help us to be honest and acknowledge our own wickedness and confess it. Help us to lean on you and remember these powerful truths of James and to trust you. Help us to count these things as joy and to endure temptation, keeping our eyes fix on you as our unmoving God. In Jesus’s name we pray, Amen.