James 1:1-12 It's Time to Grow Up Part 1

James 1:1-12

Intro

I. As a baseball fan I have always laughed at Larry Andersen's comment your only young once, but you can be immature forever. I embrace that comment in some areas of my life. But as a Christian, there are too many long time Christians that are immature.

II. It's time for the body of Christ to grow up. It's great that we are saved. It's great that we are going to heaven.

III. But God wants to do a work in us so that we can live our best lives now and throughout all of eternity.

IV. Please stand for the reading of God’s word - Read James 1:1-12

V. James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 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. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 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. 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.

II. Verse 1:

A. The author was James, the brother of Jesus

B. It is believed James was an unbeliever during Jesus ministry but came to salvation by way of a post resurrection appearance of Christ to him.

C. James message was for holy living for Christians. In this series entitled “It’s Time to Grow Up”, we rediscover this theme again and again.

D. What can we learn from this book? Many things. But Christian maturity is certainly at the top of the list.

III. Verses 2-4

I. We all want the perfection, but do we want the tests and trials?

II. We all want a ten cent problem and a million dollar solution. We want things handed to us on a silver platter. The path of least resistance and most reward.

III. But what does verse 3 say? The testing of your faith produces endurance.

What does that mean? It means it will help us grow in our faith.

It also means it will help us grow in our intimacy with the Lord. Have you noticed in your life after a tough time that you are closer to Jesus?

IV. Think about someone you know who is a mature Christian. They have problems, but they always seem to remain calm. It's because they have been tested and realize that God is in control.

a. Dare I say it, they have a peace which surpasses all understanding.

V. God does not promise a smooth ride, but he does promise a safe landing.

a. Trials are coming!

b. Tests are coming!

c. The storm is coming! But God will see you through and give you voctory!

VI. When we go through trials, we need to step back and regain our perspective. Again, God is always in control. He is not in heaven wringing his hands drinking Malox. He is on his throne and is the king of kings and The Lord of all. When we remember this in the darkest hours we find that peace and that calm that the mature Christian has. Then we reach what James calls in verse 4 the perfect result where we are complete and lack nothing.

a. God provides for those who trust him and obey him. The Old Testament is riddled with times when the Israelites disobeyed God, with disastrous consequences.

b. But when they were tested, when they returned to the Lord, gave up their pagan idols, and put their faith in Him, he always gave them a blessing greater than they could have asked or imagined. Ephesians 3:20 “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,”

III. Verse 5 - Ask God for wisdom. Proverbs 3:5,6 says Trust in The Lord...

I. Do we do that when we are in the midst of a problem? Do we seek wisdom from The Lord or do we try to find our own solutions. Do we seek The Lord or our own wisdom? How many times are we in a problem and we let it churn and churn in the pits of our stomach. We replay all kinds of different scenarios in our mind and try to rationalize how to work through the problem.

What does Philippians 4:6 say to do? “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

II. What did Jesus teach us?

What did Jesus do when he was tempted? It was a model that we should use not only when we are tempted, but also when we are tested. Jesus replied with, "It is written". Luke 4:3-13 He gave us a model of how to deal with the tough times in our lives. Instead of leaning on our own understanding and trying to think our way out of a problem, we should be trusting in The Lord and his word.

III. For example, if you are in a crisis at work and worried about your job. Instead of replaying scenarios in your mind, say it is written and quote Matthew 6:26-30: Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!.

It is easier to say this now then when we are in a crisis, but as we mature as Christians we need to put our faith into practice.

God gave us the solution to every hard time in our lives. We need to look to his word to find it. James 1 gives us the model to become that mature Christian.

We need to make the choice of maturing or remaining a babe in Christ.

IV.  Verses 6-8 Some read verse 6 “I believe” out of context.

I. Why weren't you healed? You didn't have enough faith. No. The faith being discussed here is the trust in the relationship you build with God.

II. When you are in the trial, do you truly believe what Gods word says. Instead of worrying and trying to think your way out of a problem, do you have the faith and maturity of a Christian that says "It is written"? Or do you whine and wallow in your situation like the double minded man who is unstable in all his ways?

Where is your mind? On Jesus or on your situation?

We all struggle with this during tough times. But we need to remember as the old hymn says to turn your eyes upon Jesus.

Set your focus on him. How do we do that?

By studying his word. By spending time in prayer. By listening to his voice.

Or are you replaying your problem in your mind? Trying to find your own solutions. Only to have anxiety and fear rule the day.

Give it all to God! He’s got you! He will provide for you! He loves you and has your safe and blessed ending ready.

V. Verses 9-11

I. Verse 9 reminds us that there is struggle for both the poor and the rich. For the person in struggle, and the one in blessing.

Poverty and prosperity both have their own set of challenges.

As do good times and bad times.

It is easy during good times to set God aside. Everything is good, I am just loving life! Matthew 19:24 “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Why? when things are good, many of us forget God, or we put him aside.

What about the bad times? Why have you done this to me Lord? How can I beleive or trust in a God that would allow this to happen to me? Sadly most of us have been there at least once or twice in our lives.

What should we do when face with that feeling? Declare it is written? And go back to James 1:2 from earlier in the chapter. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,”. Then praise the Lord for the struggle and for the incredible miracle he is going to provide.

Want one more? Declare Psalm 46:1–3 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah”

II. Verses 9-11 remind me of Matt 6:26-30 that we just read.

I. So, what are these situations as humans that we really worry about? What do we waste our time worrying about? Dwelling on? Being consumed with?

Think of a time in your past, 5 years ago maybe, where you went through a terrible time that you thought you would never get through. Look back at that time now. Was it really that bad? Didn't God see you through?

All of the things that we pursue and are so important right now.

Where do they stand in relation to eternity?

How important were they really? What effect did they really have on your life?

II. As we mature as Christians, we learn that only the things that are done for the kingdoms purpose matter in the long term and that God sees us through the bumps in our lives. He has own paths ordained. Proverbs 3:5–6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” He will lead us to victory. We just need to humble ourselves, submit, and follow him.

III. Verse 12 shows us God's promise for seeing our way through the trial His way.

The crown of life here refers to life here and now. A life full of abundance! A life full of blessing and great joy!

Be steadfast under trial. It’s not always easy, but its the way to get through life’s issues faster, with less bumps, and with a great reward of God’s provision on the other side.

I. So not only does God show us a better way to go through a trial, he rewards us for doing it. How great is God's love!

VII.  Conclusion

I. God wants us to be mature Christians. He has called us to be salt and light to the world. When we are calm in the face of adversity, those around us see that. And when someone asks how you can be so calm in a tough situation, what a great time to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

II. Now is the time to become more mature Christians. It's time to grow up!

Closing prayer