Part 1: True Faith is Joyful in Every Circumstance

Martin Luther exclaimed that the book of James was “an epistle of straw.” He goes on to say, ““I cannot include him among the chief books, though I would not prevent anyone from including or extolling him as he pleases, for there are otherwise many good sayings in him.” [quoted in Douglas J. Moo, The Letter of James, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2000), 5.]

Introduction (1:1)

James 1:1 NASB95

James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.

James (the author)

Mark 6:3 “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him.”

Judas => wrote Jude

James => “Jacob” in the Greek; our English “James” comes from a variant of the Latin “Jacomus.”

The Twelve Tribes (to whom James writes)

“to the twelve tribes disbursed”

“12 Tribes” brings to mind the tribes of Israel in the OT.

“dispersed” is the idea of scattered.

Put together the phrase “the twelve tribes of Israel” = the diaspora = those Israelites who had been scattered among all the nations after they had been taken captive and exiled by the Assyrians.

In the NT, however, the phrase takes on a new meaning. It now is used to refer to anyone who is a believer in Jesus. In fact, every time the noun or verb form of the word “scattered” is used in the NT, it always refers to Christians (whether Jew or Gentile).

What we can draw from this in regard to the book of James: James is writing not to any specific church, but to Christians scattered among the nations, esp the Roman Empire.

James addresses Christians everywhere. He does so with one primary motive: to explain what true, genuine faith really looks like.

And so James’ letter is a very practical one. It deals with specific ethical and moral actions and guidelines. What does faith look like in action? More foundationally, faith is never along: faith works.

James begins with explaining to Christians that true faith is joyful in every circumstance.

1. True Faith is Joyful in Trials (1:2-4)

James 1:2–4 NASB95

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

“Consider is all joy . . . when you encounter various trials?”

It’s one thing to be joyful when life is going well, but it’s quite another to be joyful in trials.

But that’s the command we have here: to consider it joy when we fall into various trials.

“Trials” = any kind of difficulty that challenges or threatens our faith in Christ. E.g., ridicule, verbal persecution, cultural persecution, or physical persecution. It could even be illness, disease, loss of job, doubts, questions.

Joyful not for the trial in and of itself, but for what God will do through it, namely, the testing of our faith produces endurance and completeness.

Endurance

“knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”

James says knowing that . . .

“Endurance” = steadfastness; it is the power—the fortitude—to hold up under stress or hardship

In turn, as we endure, we shall become perfect and complete:

Perfect and Complete

“And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Note here that the goal is not endurance itself. Endurance is merely a means to obtain the goal. The goal is perfection/completeness. What is meant here is spiritual maturity; it is complete moral integrity.

We should also note the significance of how James states that this completeness is obtained: “let endurance have its perfect result . . .” I.e., completeness/spiritual maturity comes only when believers respond the correct way to the testing of their faith. They must allow endurance to work in their lives.

Illustration: steel hardening process (with slide)

Heating: The steel is heated to a temperature above its critical transformation temperature, which varies depending on the type of steel. This temperature is typically around 1,400 °F (760 °C) for many types of steel.

Soaking: Once the steel reaches the desired temperature, it is held at that temperature for a period of time. This allows the steel to fully transform into an austenitic structure, which is necessary for the hardening process.

Quenching: The steel is then rapidly cooled, or quenched, in a medium such as water, oil, or brine. This rapid cooling traps the carbon in a solid solution, forming martensite, which is a very hard form of steel.

Tempering: After quenching, the steel is often tempered to reduce brittleness and improve toughness. This involves reheating the steel to a lower temperature and then cooling it again, which allows the steel to retain some of its hardness while becoming more ductile and less likely to break.

Application:

Just like the hardening process for steel, we must let endurance work on us to complete in us the image of Christ.

Unfortunately, sometimes, the process is like forging steel. Sometimes we’re very stubborn and it’s like cold forging, a cold piece of metal trying to be shaped at room temperature.

2. Persevering Faith needs Wisdom (1:5-8)

James 1:5–8 (NASB95)

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

At first glance, what James says here appears somewhat disjointed from what he just said. However, if we think more deeply, we can see the connection.

When we encounter tests of our faith, we have the need to endure or persevere. But to do this, we often need wisdom. This is why James turns to the point of lacking wisdom and asking for it.

Faith Asks

The first thing that James tells us here is that if we want to persevere through trials and we lack wisdom of how to endure, we need to ASK God for it.

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God.”

But we must ask in a particular way: We must expect it!

Faith Expects

James 1:6–8 “But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Two things to note:

(1) Is James saying that we are to expect God to give us whatever we ask for? Not at all. Rather, it means we ought to expect God to give us wisdom when we ask for it. That is specifically what James is talking about—that’s the context.)

This is not the health and wealth gospel.

(2) Is James saying that if we question or doubt whether God will give wisdom that God will not give us wisdom?

What James is saying: If we doubt that God can give wisdom, then we will not give wisdom to us.

James says in 1:6: “But he must ask in faith without any doubting . . .” James is making a contrast here. At one end of the spectrum is asking God by faith; at the other end is asking God not in faith (or doubting).

We are to do everything by faith.

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

Very similar to James’ idea of faith without works is dead: a person who prays for wisdom without faith is a doubting, double-minded man.

Application:

How many times have we had a test of faith and we did not know how to respond or navigate it? We can have confidence that God will give us wisdom to get us through the text. This is actually a promise here, not a kind of wishful thinking.

Why do we so often fail to just ask God for help? Too many times we think we can just figure things out on our own, or somehow find the fortitude and strength from within ourselves.

Our world tells us we must dig deep within ourselves and find inner strength to overcome the trials of life and faith.

Albert Camus, existentialist: “In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”

Oprah Winfrey: “I’ve learned to rely on the strength I inherited from all those who came before me — the grandmothers, sisters, aunts, and brothers who were tested with unimaginable hardships and still survived.”— Oprah Winfrey

We have heard numerous stories of athletes and olympians stating how they just reached down into themselves and found the strength to overcome obstacles and trials in life.

As Christians, we realize we cannot do it on our own: we realize it is the exact opposite. When trials come, we must go to Jesus in faith.

We’ve often heard the American religious idea that “God does not give us more than we can handle.” This is false is numerous ways. First, not all trials come from God. Sometimes he allows them to occur. Second, when God allows them to occur, he often allows more than we can handle—so that we come to him in prayer and rely upon his strength.

2 Corinthians 12:9 “And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”

Do we lack the wisdom we need to stand a test a of faith? Then we must ask Christ to provide it. Do we lack the fortitude and strength to power through? We ask the Lord to provide it. When we do ask for wisdom, do we expect it? If so, the Lord will provide it. It is a promise:

Jam 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

(Note: it does not mean God will give you anything; it means he will give you wisdom. That is specifically what James is talking about.)

3. True Faith is Joyful in Rich or Poor Circumstances (1:9-12)

James 1:9–12 NASB95

But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away. Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Poverty is a High Rank

Did you catch this?

James 1:9 “But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position”

“humble circumstances” = those in poverty

How we know:

James 1:10 “and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.”

Seems odd to the human condition, esp when every American is in the top 1% wealthiest in the world. If you live in America, you are in the top 1%.

Why does James (and, in fact, the entire NT) teach that to be in poverty is to have a high rank?

It’s not so much that poverty in itself is good. It’s that the state of poverty in this world can often (or should) fuel our desire for the next life. This is what James means when he says that those in poverty are to glory in their “high position.”

The poor in this world are to keep their focus upon the glory to come and the spiritual riches of heaven.

“high position” described well by Jeremiah 9:23–24 “Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.”

James 2:5 “Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”

Just as poverty is a high rank, to be rich is a low rank:

Rich is a Low Rank

Why?

James 1:10–11 “. . . because like flowering grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.”

I.e., because it is not important to be rich in this life. It is not important because the rich die just like the poor, and the wealth of the rich will fade away.

We also know from other passages of Scripture how wealth is often a temptation for all sorts of evil things. Money is even a temptation to wander from the faith:

1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Application

What do we take from this? => That true faith is joyful whether you are rich or whether you are poor. Your circumstances ought not govern whether you are joyful in the Lord.

Philippians 4:12–13 “I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

This is a real challenge to us as Americans. As mentioned earlier, as Americans, we are the top 1% for wealth in the world. By the teaching and standards of Scripture, we have a lot of temptations that we need to be aware of because of our wealth.

We have the temptation to think we have genuine faith because we are so rich when we just might not have genuine faith.

We face the temptation of whining when we cannot have the newest toy that comes out. We face being comfortable, and when we’re not, then blame God and give up our faith.

Conclusion: True Faith results in Victory

James 1:12 NASB95

Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

James comes full circle. He began with the idea that we ought to consider it joy when we face trials, and he concludes this thought here with how blessed a person is who endures trials.

In essence, James is telling us that true faith is joyful in every circumstance, esp trials, because God uses trials to strengthen us and to make like Christ. These trials are used by God produce endurance and perseverance so we can reach the goal of becoming like Jesus.

And heres’ the conclusion: the person who has true faith and endures through trials is blessed: “Blessed in the man who perseveres under trial.”

Why? James answers, “because once he has been approved [i.e., past the test of this life] he will receive the crown of life which the the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

Not only should we maintain our joy in trials, but we need to understand that we are objectively blessed by God when we endure them because God has promised to give us eternal life.

“Consider it all joy . . . when you encounter various trials, know that the testing of your faith produces endurance,” and endurance forms us into the image (complete sanctification) of God’s Son.