An Unusual Attitude

James 1:2–4 ESV

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.

Intro

Have you ever been given a piece of advice that seemed completely inapplicable which you found out down the road was helpful and true?

An example of this is part of my athletic development.

My dad was my soccer coach for my entire life, and part of his attempt to help me be the best athlete I could be was teaching me how to head the soccer ball. For those of you who may be detached from the sport, soccer is a game that involves eleven players from each side trying their very hardest to rocket the ball into the opposing team’s goal. While this may seem simple, it can only be accomplished by using any other bodily extremity but the arms and hands. When the ball is kicked into the air, it is common for one to head the ball so it can be directionally influenced without the other team getting to it. Heading the ball is a very helpful tool in soccer, but it is something that I could never figure out… much of which I attributed to my lack of depth perception related to my poor vision.

The trick to heading the ball is to hit the ball with your central forehead before it hits you. If you do not lunge at the ball, you will most often connect with your head at the wrong spot, leaving you with a splitting headache or seeing stars.

The piece of advice my dad would always give me was “Hit the ball before it hits you.”

I often failed to heed this advice because I hated to head the ball. It seemed completely counterintuitive. Why would I want to hit the ball instead of letting it hit me?

Needless to say, after many times of letting the ball hit me, I found the advice to be legitimate.

Yet, I still failed to hit the ball before it hit me.

The reality is, we are often given advice that we do not think will be helpful in the moment but is in the long run.

Context

Place yourself in the shoes of a Jewish Christian in the early 40s and 50s scattered across the Roman empire.

You secretly gather in a friend’s home with a small handful of fellow believers. Though there are less than ten, these are the only believers of the Way that you know of in the entire region. Persecution would come from every side if it was discovered one was a follower of Christ… both Jews and Romans alike would scorn them. They lived in a pagan society seeped in idolatry and moral filth.

These brothers and sisters had no doubt suffered pain and loss- friends crucified, alienated, or at least scored.

A slur had arisen among some circles, beginning to call followers of the Way “Christians” after their affinity to be little Christs.

As the weary but excited believers gather to open the letter from the leader of the known Church, they all no-doubt are shocked by the first instructions after the greeting.

“Count it all joy… when you meet trials of various kinds.”

Today, we will discuss this “unusual attitude” that James encourages the scattered church to emulate.

One’s Attitude Through Trials

James instructs his addressees that they were to have FULL JOY when they encountered situations in life that would cause the world to despair. This is a strange thought for those who look to Christianity as a way to escape the sufferings of the world. Christ told his followers that they would face hard times in John 16:33

John 16:33 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

The joy in this passage is described as “all joy” or “full joy,” depending on one’s translation. This wording emphasizes joy that is high-quality; one that is not superficial. This joy is not one that is wavering. Though we may not be joyous for trials, we can be joyous in the trials.

This is a completely unnatural response to what one would typically face. Yet, this is a recurring theme among those who follow Christ. Peter records this same idea in 1 Peter 1:6-8

1 Peter 1:6–8 ESV

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,

Paul also gives us this admonition in Romans 5:2-5

Romans 5:2–5 ESV

Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

This passage also discusses how there are many types of trials, some of which James goes on to specifically address in latter portions of his letter. Regardless, we see that despite our trial, we are to have joy.

As one commentator wrote, “

James (1) Joy for Maturity (1:2–4)

“Trials form an essential part of God’s plan for his people. The God who will save us from the fate of the world will sustain us with joy in the midst of it”

How can this joy exist in the life of one who is facing hard times? This fruit can only come from encountering Christ and coming to know Him as Lord.

One’s Growth Through Trials

One can only approach trials with joy when he looks through the lens of an eternal mindset.

James writes that the testing of our faith through trials produces steadfastness, endurance, and patience; the same mindset that Job possessed when he lost everything. He was not writing to an audience unfamiliar to the sufferings of life, explaining why he begins verse three with “for you know...”. These saints had experienced the troubles of this life.

Trials help test and refine our faith because they display who is on the throne of one’s heart. Times of struggle display where one’s affections truly lie.

The testing that James cites is the same Greek word used to describe the process of a metal worker refining gold or silver to be used for a greater purpose; the strengthened faith which results from testing produces something willing and ready to be used. This can be seen in the Septuigent in Psalm 11:7, 12:6, and Proverbs 27:21.

The Product Through Trials

Though steadfastness is a product of trials, it is not the finish line of the Christian life. James goes on to write that steadfastness will grow into its full effect: being perfect (mature) and complete.

Becoming perfect (or mature) is direct obedience for a Christian, according to Matthew 5:48

Matthew 5:48 ESV

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

One might ask how one can be perfect and complete despite living in a sin-cursed world? The picture pained in James’ epistle portrays gradual growth in the fruit that can only come from Christ. It ultimately points to the end of our lives when we will one day be complete and perfect as we stand before Christ.

Closing

As I stand here today as a young man, I look into the eyes of those who have weathered the storms of life and perservered. Though times have been tough, God has been good. “We can rely on his future goodness because of his past faithfulness.”

What is your attitude in times of trials?

Questions to Ask:

What is my attitude in times of trials? What does this reflect?

How can I see my own growth through the trials I am going through?

How can I help bring joy to a brother or sister who is going through a trial?