Count it All Joy!

Intro

Are you joyful? Note, I didn’t ask if you were happy every second of the day. Are you joyful? Are you joyful right now? Even though its preaching time, are you still as joyful as you were when you were singing?

How about when you go back to work tomorrow? Will you be joyful? Will you carry with you the joy of Jesus Christ no matter what life may throw at you?

Does that sound intimidating to you? Maybe, maybe not.

What if you lose everything overnight, can you still be joyful?

What if you get diagnosed with cancer tomorrow? Will there be any joy in your life?

What if you lose a close loved one? How, oh how will you remain joyful?

The Scriptures inform us how this is possible, very possible.

The first step, before we even turn to James 1, is to understand the difference between joy and happiness.

Joy v. Happiness

In a court of law, two individuals go against each other to prove their point, to see who is right, to see how they may be different.

Today, I present to you the case of Joy v. Happiness.

Happiness

On one side today you have happiness. Happiness is known by its traits. By a laugh, a smile, a behavior change. Happiness is something we are all familiar with and know well. Happiness is something that each of you have felt, most have even felt it today.

What are some things that make us happy?

Nice things

Nice people

Good food

A good turn out to a bad situation

getting what we want

These, and many other things, make us happy! But, so often, the moment we feel happiness, we know that it is fleeting. We know that something could come and steal our happiness away at the drop of a hat. We know that happiness is not based on anything but circumstance alone.

Joy

On the other side of the court room you have joy.

Joy is known by more than just temporary feelings, but by a lifestyle, by intentionality, by the choice to follow God no matter what.

Joy is caused primarily by the blood of Jesus that was shed for our forgiveness. It is caused by Christ. It comes from Christ. It was modeled by Christ. It is not circumstantial, therefore, even when things aren’t nice, people aren’t nice, food isn’t good, bad situations stay bad, and we don’t get what we want, we can still have joy. We can still have trust the God is totally in control. We can, as the write of James so boldly proclaims, count it ALL as joy!

But… how?

Know that God is in Control

James 1:1-12

The term James uses for “count it all joy” indicates a commandment. This is not a request, but a command to allow the Spirit of God to change our thinking. It isn’t about a feeling, it is about a mindset.

How do we count it all as joy? The same way we live the rest of our Christian life, by learning. Nothing worth doing will come easily, it takes work, and work will take practice. As we practice, what are we doing but learning?

Trials are not joyful, but we can learn to remain joyful in them when we know that God is sovereign and in control. And, as we learn that, we will grow in his likeness.

Learn to Grow in His Likeness

Hone in on those first few verses with me, James 1:2–4 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

God doesn’t allow meaningless trials in your life. Everything God does, everything God allows is full of meaning and for your betterment, for your good. That includes trials!

The ultimate purpose for your trials is your growth, your maturity, stronger endurance in your faith.

This is not a natural response as your flesh still exists. This type of thinking requires a totally God centered mindset and lifestyle that sees God in everything, and trusts Him all the more. When Christlikeness is our goal, and trials lead to Christlikeness, then they can be counted as joy. So, look at your trials as opportunities for growth, no they may not make you happy all the time, but you can remain joyful in them when you trust God is growing you into His likeness more and more.

Learn to Trust His Wisdom

James 1:5–8 KJV 1900

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. 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. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

The implication in verse 5 of this passage is that, we are without much wisdom, therefore, ask for it! When in the context of a trial, we know that we don’t have the full wisdom to know what to do, we don’t know the outcome, we don’t know what steps we will have to take on the way. We lack.

So, ask God.

What does this mean? This means that no matter what we are facing, we must trust God’s wisdom to take us through. We must trust that it is God’s will that these trials are happening, we must trust that these trials are meaningful, we must trust that God knows the steps and the outcome and will work it for our good.

What does that type of trust lead to? Joy.

We can heave peace and joy, true joy, when we trust that God is in control, He has the wisdom to handle the situation, and he will keep us grounded.

Anything else, James tell us, makes us double minded, like a wave, tossed to and fro, from doctrine to doctrine, church to church, pleasure to pleasure, unsure what is next and unwilling to trust Gods wisdom to bring us thruogh. Unwilling to single mindedly focus on God’s wise ability to lead us through a trial to a good outcome.

Learn to Trust His Provision

As we learn how to trust in God and His control, James tells us that we will begin to learn to trust in His provision

James 1:9–11 “Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.”

This passage does not mean that if you have money than you are hellbound, rather James is telling us that our trust cannot be in our resources, but in God and His provision in our life.

Did you know that one of the leading causes of divorce in the US is financial problems? Why do you think that is? The rich man, or the man who puts his trust in his riches, is fading away into his ways. His or her pursuits are not God, but resources. This statistic goes to prove that we struggle to trust in God for our provision, this leads us to lack joy.

Know that God is in control. Trust Him when He tells you to give, what He tells you to save, where He tells you to spend. Do you pray about what God would have you do with your resources? Do you trust His provision even when your resources are dwindling?

The only way to live a joyful life is to trust God and that includes His provision, that includes your money.

Learn to live for His reward

As we learn to trust God and His control in our situations, we know that we have free will to choose. This is why divorce rates are so high, this is why so many are tossed like a wave, we don’t choose to trust God. The Christian life is all about intentionality, what are you intentionally doing for the Lord?

James 1:12 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

As we walk the Christian life, as we run the race to the end, we must keep our eyes on the prize, intentionally seeking the things of God as we look to the reward of God.

The original readers of this passage would not have seen a gold crown bedazzled with jewels, rather they would have pictured a wreath placed on the head of an athlete who won a big race. And, this is the imagery here. A prize for a race intentionally run for the Lord. And, we must learn to live daily for that reward.

What is the crown or prize of life that the Lord has promised to those that love Him? Eternal life with Him in heaven.

This is promised to every believer. This is promised to all who place their trust in God for their life and intentionally live for Him.

How can you have joy in every trial? Know what awaits you. Look for the prize. Know that God is in control. Know that He loves you. Learn to trust Him.

We Are Responsible for our Sin

Joy awaits the believer who learns to trust God and see God in every situation. Joy also awaits those who take responsibility for their own sin and don’t blame God.

James 1:13–15 KJV 1900

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

This truth will help us to see that trials will work for our good. When we lack in this, then when we lose a loved one, we will begin to question God’s goodness. When we run into financial downfall, we will begin to question God’s provision. When we experience injustice, we will question God’s justice.

But, when we trust this passage, then we can know that our sin is our responsibility and trials, even from the Lord, are not His tempting us to sin, or sin from God as God cannot sin.

When we find ourselves in sin, or when we see that a trial has led to sin of some sort, we can trust that we are responsible. You sin. God does not. It is that simple. Don’t blame God for your sin.

Every trial brings with it temptation, it is up to you to trust the Lord in those moments and remember, He is sovereign, He knows what you are going through, He may allow you to suffer for a while, but, when we fight the fight well, goodness awaits on the other side.

Your happiness is contingent on your circumstances and feelings. Your joy is contingent on the goodness of God. How can you maintain joy? Remember your responsibility and remember God’s goodness is FOR you!

God is Good

James 1:16–18 KJV 1900

Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Finally, how do we count is all joy? Even in times of great trial? We know that God is consistently good. Every good thing that happens to a believer can be counted to God. Give credit where credit is due and take blame where blame is due. Blame shouldn’t lead to constant shame, for we have a good and gracious God.

God’s goodness is perfect, never changing, and unending. And it is for you, believers in Him.

His will for you is goodness. That means that even in the midst of the worst trials you have ever faced, God is still good. Even when someone you loved died, God is still good. Even when your wife leaves you, God is still good. Even if you are wrongfully accused, God is still good. Even when your life seems to be falling all around you, God. Is. Still. Good.

And we can find joy in that.

Exalting Jesus In James God Is Faithful for Our Salvation (1:16–18)

What God has done in our lives to change our hearts by His goodness is only a preview of the day to come when He will make all things new in all creation. And the work He has done in our new birth will one day lead to a new heaven and a new earth where there will be no more trials and no more temptations.

In the meantime, take heart, Christian. He has saved us from our sin. And if He has saved us from our sin, then we can know beyond the shadow of a doubt that He will see us through our sorrow. Contemplate the truth of this gospel, of a God who conquers sin and suffering through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ so that today you and I can consider trials pure joy and face temptations with steadfast confidence.

SONG

Conclusion

You will never be happy all the time. Happiness is based on temporary feelings and circumstances. And, you aren’t called to be happy all the time.

Joy, though, joy isn’t based on temporary anything, but on an eternal God who is good, always good.

So know this morning that God is in control, learn to trust Him in and for everything. Look to God and eternity always as your mark and goal. Know that the sin and temptation in your life is not of God, why? For God only wants your goodness. He provides your righteousness. He provides your Joy as He is the giver and sustainer of all things good. Trust God this morning.

Maybe you don’t know God yet, maybe your life is null and void of all joy. Do you feel conviction for your sin? Would you come pray?

*Salvation plea*

Church, maybe you are struggling to find the joy in all trials, maybe you haven’t counted it all joy for quite some time, would you come seek the Father? The goal is to be molded more and more into His likeness daily, maybe He is working on you now, molding you right now. I encourage you, be reminded this morning that God is for you, so look to Him, cling to Him, find joy and solace in Him. Come pray.