The Goodness of Thankful Living

James 1:2–18 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 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. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 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. 12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Andrew Brunson, a Christian pastor from North Carolina spent 20 years in Turkey. He had a quiet but deep ministry there until 2016, when after a failed military coup, the government arrested him along with journalists, activists, military officers, and others. The Turkish government labeled Brunson a spy.

Brunson was held for more than a year without charges. He spent nearly two years in prison, often enduring long trial sessions. At one point, it looked like he could spend years or even decades in Turkish prisons. Finally, after pressure from the Trump administration, Brunson was released from prison and returned to the United States. In a Wheaton College chapel talk, Brunson candidly said that he did not feel God’s overwhelming presence during his stay in prison. Instead, he experienced something even deeper. Brunson said, “[After a few days in prison], I completely lost the sense of God’s presence. God was silent. And he remained silent for two years.” When he was finally brought to trial, things were even worse. He says: There are some who go into the valley of testing and some do not make it out … I was broken.

I lay there alone in my solitary cell, I had great fear, terrible grief, and I was weeping. And the thought kept going through my mind, Where are you God? Why are you so far away? And I opened my mouth as I wept aloud, and I was surprised at what I heard coming out of my mouth. I heard, “I love you Jesus. I love you Jesus. I love you Jesus.” I thought here is my victory. Even if you’re silent, I love you. Even if you let my enemy harm me, I love you. [As] Jesus said, “But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

Big Picture: The big picture is to understanding what it looks like to be thankful for the goodness of God begins with: Finding our joy in our Trials; Establishing the wisdom that comes from God and not the world; Understanding Temptation and when it comes; and Trusting in the unchanging goodness of God.

How do we establish a life of thankfulness in the Goodness of God?

It Begins with.....

1. Understanding that Trials Lead to Perfection.

“To Count”, we count something as good or bad.”

How do we find joy in our Trials and suffering? I believe it starts with understanding the purpose of the Trial we are currently going through and seeing the final outcome of the Trial.

Cause and Effect

Trials come in different forms and different ways. We are not always sure of what caused your trial. Some trials occur by God’s own hand; other trials happen because of the fallen sinful world in which we live; and yet others happen because of the fallen state of other human beings. Whatever, the case, trials are a very real part of the human experience. However, we know that in God’s sovereign plan He uses trials for our good.

You cannot get away from trials in your life. Trials hover over our head, and at any moment the trial could swing our way and is upon you. However, we believe in a sovereign God who holds our lives in His hand and does not take a break from His engagement from His creation.

Notice James states that “when you face trials.” This is a statement of fact that we will all face trials of one kind or another. Even though we are not always certain of what caused your trial James makes it perfectly clear of the effect God is working out in our lives.

“All Joy,” James identifies that the kind of joy that comes through suffering is an all inclusive joy. It’s not a fickle, fake, or fleeting kind of joy. It’s not the kind of joy we experience in other areas of our lives.

It is a deep seated Enduring faith in the God who holds our future in His hand.

“For you Know”

The word to know in Greek is Ginosko - this is an intimate vivid understanding. Knowledge is primarily related to experience and relationships. The biblical concept of knowledge was largely shaped by that of the ancient Near Eastern cultures that surrounded Israel. In the ancient Near East, knowledge was intricately linked to a civilization’s view of the divine and of human origins.

The expectation for Christians as Jesus warned would be trouble. John 16:33 “In this word you will have tribulation (trouble).

Paul likewise told converts that they would ‘go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God’ (Acts 14:22). So it has always been for the followers of Christ. Trials may be relatively easy (social, verbal) or very difficult (severe illness, even death) - and the church worldwide experiences all these kinds of trials.

We cannot avoid them but, we can make the decision how we face and respond to our trials.

TRIAL: is a legal preceeding where evidence is presented to find someone innocent or guilty of a crime. It is an intense investigation. Both Jesus and Paul refer to the suffering they have endured; while human hostility is probably foremost in view, natural calamity cannot be excluded from our trials.

Jesus prayer for Peters faith was that it would not fail him, perhaps this also explains the petition in the Lords Prayer, “lead us not into temptation.”

James immediately goes beyond the potential cause of our suffering to the end desired affect.

*A Faith tested by trials produces Endurance.

The kind of faith that produces perfection in our lives is one that is steadfast. Someone who is steadfast is resolute, unwavering. They are convinced that what they are doing is right and they refuse to change it or to give it up. We see this same call to perfection in Matthew 5:48

Matthew 5:48 ESV

48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

When Jesus gave the Lords or model prayer, he added that we pray that God would not lead us into temptation, or trial, but to deliver us from such an evil in our daily lives. There is a chain of virtues that mark a believers life. One of the virtues that is mentioned often in the NT is the idea of persevering to the end.

The Story of Joseph

We find this markedly pointed out in the story of Joseph. Joseph was stripped of his beautiful coat, sold into slavery to a caravan heading to Egypt. Joseph could have assumed that all was lost, however, he accepted his situation and God rewarded him for it. Even after the deception of Potiphers wife and Joseph’s stent in jail. Joseph persevered and was in the process of being perfected through his suffering.

Perseverance is a powerful medicine and produces endurance that proves many things in our lives. Endurance is also tied to those who are truly saved. Matthew 24:9-13

Matthew 24:9–13 ESV

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

So, the one who remains firm in a commitment to be true to the commandments of God despite temptation, opposition, and adversity. We find literally 100’s of verses in the NT that speak of enduring faith till the end.

The Goodness of God is Displayed in our Trials.

Remember that God uses every trial we endure with end goal of perfecting us and making us more like Him (Philippians 1:6).

CULTURAL PROBLEM TODAY

Cultural Christianity

Most people want and desire the good things that come from God’s table. However, they do not want the suffering and trials that come with the good things of God.

Many cultural Christians think church is a good thing, but they are not committed.

They are not involved in any ministry.

They don’t sacrificially give.

They couldn’t tell you the last time they told someone about Jesus.

They come to church about once every couple months, because they are “just so busy.”

(Plus, their extended family has a beach house and so they try and get down to it for the weekend whenever the weather is nice.)

For these people, church is a good thing, but they’re just not interested in making it a priority.

Ask any of these people if they are saved, and they will say “yes.” They will tell you about a time when they prayed a prayer and got baptized. But they don’t live their lives as if Jesus is Lord.

Aren’t these like the branches that God removed from Israel?

Romans 11:17–21 ESV

17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

If we see that God was willing to cut off branches from his own original tree because of their unbelief, why would we (who have been grafted somewhat unnaturally into this Jewish tree) ever think we can get away with the very things that got them removed?

The same transgressions that got Israel removed from the tree—compromise, taking their salvation for granted, giving lip-service to God, and going through religious motions without their hearts really belonging to him—are rampant within the church today.

I am especially concerned for children who grow up in church, are raised in Christian families, and live up to expectations by, at some point, “getting saved.” They avoid most major sins—at least, the ones they think are major. But in their heart of hearts, they know Jesus is not Lord.

Having a faith that endures to the end is evidence that you possess the salvation you could never lose. Not enduring to the end is evidence you never had it to begin with.

Saving faith is staying faith.

*Our perfection is a Future Perfection

In the eschatological sense the perfection that is achieved lies in the future, when God’s judgment establishes His new creation. Christians are its first fruits as we read about in James 1:18 and Romans 8:23 “We ourselves who have the firstfruits of the spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”

The bigger picture as it was for Joseph and even job was that the trials have an expiration date. The trials will end sooner of later. We read in Romans 8:18 that we should consider our present sufferings as not worth comparing to the glory of the kingdom of God that is to come.

BIGGER PICTURE

Our goal should never be to just get through the trial or hard time the best way we can. Trials should always remind us of our unwavering dependence on God alone in the trial.

The bigger picture is how do we respond to the watching world during out times of struggles.

There is a danger of apathy in the modern acceptance of “things as they are.” James opens with a striking reminder that Christians are not willing simply to get through life. Disciples look to God for standards of behavior that challenge the conventional standards of society. The perfect work that stems from endurance under trials is a characteristic that will be exhibited in the good works described in the letter.

*The End Goal is our Maturity

“That you be complete Lacking Nothing.”

Testimony to Remaining Steadfast under Trials (Rollie with Mighty Oaks)

2. Understanding that True Wisdom comes from Above

Even King Solomon understood the value of the wisdom that comes from God. When God asked Solomon what he wanted from God he asked for wisdom.

Even though after reading Ecclesiastes we find out that there is a great difference between the wisdom that comes from God and the wisdom that comes from the world. At the end of King Solomon’s searching, after indulging in all this world has to offer he calls this pursuit, meaningless and a chasing after the wind.

The catch word in the following text is “Lack” which links the section with verse 4. “Lacking nothing”

Those who claim such perfection should remember that wisdom is a gift from God, not a human achievement. There is no true human perfection apart from God.

2 Obstacles

There are two obstacles which stand between believers and God. The first is a suspicion about God’s nature.Perhaps God has somehow just blessed a few with wisdom.

The Second is a flaw in those who claim to have asked for wisdom. They are ambivalent in their choice. We read in Solomon’s prayer for wisdom in 1 Kings 3 that wisdom must be loved and cherished more than all other goods that God could give. James contrasts the integrity of God’s character with the hesitant wavering propensity of human wisdom and understanding.

We might assume that these two sections are unrelated, however, upon further investigation we show that it is sandwiched between the first section and verse 12 that returns to the them, “blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial.”

Therefore, we should assume that the kind of wisdom that is being sought is how to handle and deal with our trials and sufferings.

One of the #1 objective arguments against Christianity is how can a good, loving, and benevolent God allow suffering and pain in the world today. Unfortunately many people are not prepared to answer such a difficult question.

How often to you pray to God to give you understanding and wisdom to endure a trial or hardship that you are currently facing?

Most of the time our prayers are that God will remove the trial or suffering not that He will give you the wisdom to endure the trial.

Why is this our first instinct when we pray. So, it is human nature to try and escape any struggles in this life. In fact the pervasive message in Churches today is that God does not want you to struggle or suffer, God desires for your health, wealth, and well being. However, this does not square with the message we read throughout all of scripture. Especially the history of the nation of Israel.

*God Gives without Reproach

Reproach: Rebuke, Shame, humiliation.... typically in scripture is associated with Sin.

James is reminding his readers the difference between the gifts that come from God as apposed to how humanity as a whole gives gifts. God does not exhibit the flaws of human gift giving. God is more than ready to answer the request for wisdom.

When we give gifts even with the best of intentions they are tainted with sin. The motives of our hearts cannot be completely pure because of the sin nature that resides inside of our flesh.

*Human responsibility in our Prayer

There is a human responsibility evident in the prayer that is addressed to God.

“With Faith and Without Doubting”

With no Doubting: This phrase does not mean certainty on our part of how God will answer our prayer, but only that he will surely answer. It is certainty concerning the nature and love of God, not certainty of our ability to understand and comprehend God’s plan and specific ways of dealing with us.

Because we know and trust Him completely, we can accept what he sends or allows even when we cannot understand it. We cannot dictate in prayer exactly what He must do; only that he must be concerned and care for our needs.

Next James gives several verbs to describe the person who is double minded:

“Wave of the Sea” that is driven and tossed by the waves.

STORM TOSSED: Wavering, uncertain Christian is a storm-tossed wave that governs it’s own direction when it comes to trusting God.

This section presents a paradox. On the one hand, those without wisdom are to ask God for it. On the other, God only responds to the prayer of those whose hearts are committed to God’s way.

Such single-hearted devotion already exhibits the perfection that is the object of praying for wisdom. Such paradoxes are inherent in the life of faith. Matthew 6:8 enjoins Christians not to heap up prayers like the pagans because a loving God already knows their needs before they ask. God’s grace is already active in those who pray faithfully to receive it.

Poverty and Riches

James adds a section in verses 9-11 that might appear somewhat detached from the over all theme of the text preceding and after it about trials and suffering. However the motif of the rich and the poor is played out throughout the rest of James in Chapters 2, 4, and 5.

It is seen that James treatment of the rich is somewhat harsh in comparison with the poor and powerless.

However, Jesus has a similar way of describing the disparity between the wealthy and the poor.

“Blessed are the poor for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20-26)

“The Rich man and Lazarus” (Luke 16:19-25).

“It is easier for a came to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!” (Matt. 19:24).

Of course this is not an indictment on all who are wealthy, however, it is a strong statement of those who have great wealth being tempted to build up a false sense of security that is always associated with wealth and power.

The bigger picture that James is painting is the frailty of life and how it is here one minute and gone the next. James tells us in James 4:14

James 4:14 ESV

14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

James gives the picture of all of the original creation that is passing away. The reminder that beauty is fleeting and will eventually die with the rest of the corruption of God’s creation that was subjected to sin and death because of the fall.

3. Understanding God’s Role in our Trials.

THE LITTLE BEATITUDE: Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial......

James believes in setting goals for us to follow: He begins in 2-4 and it continues here again in verse 12.

*The reward for passing the test is the greatest passing score you could ever imagine, “The Crown of Life.”

*God Gives Good Things not Trials

2 False Views of God

That God is the source of the temptations that come with our Trials.

That good gifts might come from some source other then God.

Cultural Problem

The assumption might be drawn that if God uses our trials to test us then He must be the one who is responsible for the trials that we are undergoing. The Bible does speak of God “testing” the righteous.

Both Abraham and Job were said to have been tested by God. The logic of the counter thesis is in verse 13 is unclear. James says that God is free of evil, not tempted by evil. The word does not take place anywhere else in the New Testament.

TRUTHS ABOUT OUR TRIALS

1). God is Sovereign in our Trials

Our trials can be a joy. But James wants to protect us against something here, which he explains in the second major truth in this passage.

2). God in His Sovereignty will Test our Faith

Scripture makes it clear that God will continue to test his children for their own good. This truth can be found all over scripture. Hebrews 12:5-6 “God disciplines those He loves.” Or we read in Romans 8:28 that for those who love God and are called by God that all things work together for our good, or benefit.

However, we must be very careful not to take the next step in our minds and begin to assume that God tempts us to turn from Him. This is such a slippery slope.

3.) Every Trial Brings Temptation with it.

When we face financial trouble we are tempted to distrust God and His provision. When someone close to us dies, we are tempted to question God’s love. When we experience unjust suffering, we are tempted to question God’s justice. But know this: God may test us, but according to verse 13, He does not and cannot and will not tempt us. We are fully responsible for our temptations.

THE ORIGIN OF SIN

James now describes how Satan tempts us with sin. The word desire is a strong feeling of wanting to have or possess something.

Even to wish for or crave what you want and you will almost do anything to get it.

Our desires are our own, it is not someone else’s fault when we fall into sin. We own our own sin. Satan lures or drags us away by our desires. To lure is to offer something to someone with the offering of a reward in the end. This started in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve were offered a better reward in the end.

So what Satan offers is with the hopes of a payout at the end. So, the lure is our own desire of a reward in the end. Entice is similar it is to tempt or offer pleasure with something they like.

THE PROCESS SIN TAKES

Desire when it is conceived gives birth:

Birth is the act or process of bringing forth something. Like conceiving a child after nine months the birth happens. Perhaps the conceiving of desire sometimes starts slowly and builds to the birth.

The sin that is birthed starts small like a newborn infant.

Fully Grown Sin/Brings Death:

Sin like an infant if allowed to remain and hang around will eventually grow past the infant stage into full grown rebellion against God that brings us death.

(If you want to see what this looks like we have to go not further than Romans 1:22-25 “They became futile in their way of thinking and god gave them up to a debased mind.”)

The picture of what happens when we go it alone!

Peirasmos meaning trials also means “temptation,” and trials become temptation when we approach them in our own strength rather than relying on God.

When we accept them as God-given tests and address them through prayer and trust in God, they lead to spiritual victory and divine approval

GOD HAS PROVIDED THE WAY OUT OF OUR TEMPTATION

So if we are connected at all to God, we must oppose evil and have nothing to do with it. This is stated well in 1 Corinthians 10:13: “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” When he sends a trial to test us, he always sends a way to endure it and the strength to rise above it.

The wisdom literature uses the Seductress as the example of leading God’s people into a spiral of adultery. Whose words seem sweet as honey, however, gives out deadly poison instead.

Revelation 17 builds on this idea, “speaking of the great prostitute” who seduces the nations and leads them into the wrath of God.

Temptation does not have to lead to sin; when tempted we can turn to God and his wisdom, thereby attaining victory

SIN BLINDS US

“Do not be Deceived”

Every good gift: There is not a gift that comes from God that is not good, because God is absolutely perfect good and holy.

Every Perfect Gift: There are not gifts given that are perfect except the one that is given from God in the person of His son Jesus Christ. (all human gifts are tainted with sin, therefore, there cannot be a motive or intention that is not affected by our sin.)

Coming down from the Father of Lights: James now draws the picture of the good gifts of God descending on his people. This could also be a picture of the spirit descending on his people as we are being filled with the spirit of God. In the place where His goodness is coming from there is not darkness only light.

The Best News You Can Imagine

“There is no Variation or shadow due to change.”

God has given you every single good thing in your life. There is nothing good that does not come from God. Who God is does not change when our circumstances change.

This is a difficult concept for our culture today to wrap it’s mind around. Simply because we live in a world that is fickle and changing constantly. We say one thing but do another. We change our mind all the time. When is the last time you went shopping with one of your kids. You you ask your kid what they would like to buy. From the car to the store their resolve as to what to buy may change 15 times. And even after they get their toy home, they may play with it for awhile and then it collects dust in the corner. Why, because they have changed their mind as to what they think they really want to be happy.

Or, we give gifts all the time with strings attached to them, with backhanded motives or with stingy reluctance, but God is not like that. He gives because it is his nature to do so. Unlike Satan who is called the “thief,” who comes only to kill and destroy.” God cam to earth “that people may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

vrs. 5 “God gives generously to all who ask for wisdom.”

The bonus to the asking is that God will ultimately give you a “Crown of Life.”

CONCLUSION

Trials are inescapable in the human experience. It is not if, but when we face trials in this life. The deeper question behind our text this morning is how are we going to stand the test when it does come our way. How are we going to respond to the watching world.

What trial or struggle are you currently going through? Have you prayed and asked God for wisdom to endure your trial? Have you learned to find joy in your trial knowing that God is using it grow and mature you to perfection.

What do our trials say about how we view God and how we see ourselves? How is God perfecting you today?