Even trials are good for us
As I’ve said, on Sunday mornings I plan to go through the letter of James. James is a wonderfully practical letter, full of stirring commands and challenging application.
There are lots of James’ in the New Testament, but the James who wrote this book was almost certainly the brother of Jesus Christ. The gospels tell us that originally Jesus’ brothers didn’t believe in Him, but later they came to faith. And James became an important figure in the New Testament church. In particular he was known for his fairness and his holiness – people used to call him ‘James the Just’. And something of this characteristic comes out very strongly in this letter. James was also a very humble man. Notice that in the opening verse he doesn’t boast about his relationship with Jesus – he just calls himself a ‘bondservant’.
James wrote his letter written to Jewish Christians. He describes them as ‘scattered abroad’, the Greek text says in the diaspora. So it’s likely that the letter was sent to lots of different churches – perhaps passed on from one church to another, or maybe copied and sent to many churches at the same time. However it was done, the fact that it went to many churches is a great help to us. It means that in it James deals with problems and difficulties that face the average church, not just one church in particular. It describes the typical battles and struggles that almost every true church has. And therefore it has much to say to us.
This morning, we’re looking at just the first 12 verses. In some ways, it’s a nice simple start for us, because James has just one point to make. It’s this: even trials are good for us. Even trials are good for us.
It seems that the Jewish Christians that James was writing to had the same sort of attitude that most of us do today. They didn’t like difficulties and trials! To a point, that’s fair enough – nowhere in the Bible are we told to look for trouble, far from it! Indeed, here James says that they “fall into” various trials. When I was in sixth-form I went on a 24-hour challenge. We had to hike, and camp, and solve all sorts of problems, and hopefully get home before the other teams. Early on in the challenge we were walking across a moor, and I was talking to my friend Sam. Suddenly, mid-sentence, Sam disappeared! We turned round to find that he was standing waist-deep in water in a three-foot hole that had evidentially been right in his path! The rest of us thought it extremely funny, but Sam definitely considered it a trial! And trials are often like that, aren’t they? We seem simply to fall into them, completely unexpectedly.
But James’ concern is not to teach us how to avoid trials – as if such a thing is even possible. Instead, he wants to teach us how to respond to trials. Many of our trials we cannot avoid, but in all of them we need to respond in the right way. And it seems that the Christians James was writing to had failed to do that. They’d started to see trials as only bad, and it’s that outlook that James wants to address.
He does so by explaining to us the very clear benefits of trials. That means we have five points this morning. First, from verses 2 to 4, we’ll see that trials lead to maturity. Then, in verse 5, we’ll see that trials lead us to God. In verses six to eight we’ll see that trials lead us to a stronger faith, in verses nine to eleven we’ll see that trials lead to contentment, and finally in verse 12 we’ll see that trials lead to glory.
Firstly then:
Trials lead to maturity (vv 2‑4)
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
It is quite clear what James is saying, isn’t it? However difficult and trying trials seem to be, God is more than able to use them for our good, and for that we should be thankful, even joyful.
But before we look in too much detail at the positive aspects of trials, we need also to thank God that the Bible is honest with us. Nowhere does God promise Christians an easy life – far from it. Job’s friend Eliphaz said, “For man is born for trouble, as sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). Job himself said, “Man, who is born of woman, is short-lived and full of turmoil” (14:1). David cried out to the Lord, “Be not far from me, for trouble is near” (Ps. 22:11). Jesus assured His disciples that “in the world you have tribulation” (John 16:33). He was “deeply grieved, to the point of death” over the prospect of taking the sin of the world upon Himself (Matt. 26:38; cf. John 12:27). Paul testified that he was “afflicted in every way” (2 Cor. 4:8). Jesus said, “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20), and Paul reminded Timothy that “indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12).
Because we live in a world that is so totally affected by sin, trials and suffering are inevitable. It’s true, isn’t it? Trials are constant.
But at the same time, the Bible promises that “all things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28). And it’s that knowledge that lies behind James’ insistence that Christians are to “count it all joy when you fall into various trials”.
So why should we count it as a joy when we’re overworked and underpaid? Why should we count it as a joy when our children cause us heartache and worry? Why should we count it as a joy when bereavement and loneliness strike? Why should we count it as a joy when we are suffering trials?
James tells us very clearly in verses three and four. It’s because of the future. Did you get that? It’s vital that you do. When we’re suffering trials, why should we count it all joy? Because of the future.
Do you know what I mean? Look at verses three and four. James is showing us a process, isn’t he? The first stage of the process is the trials. But the trials lead on to the second stage, that our faith is tested. And the testing of our faith leads onto the third stage, that we learn to be patient. And our learning patience leads to the fourth stage, that we become mature (mature is a better translation that perfect). And becoming mature leads onto the fifth stage, that we lack nothing.
You see, even when things look grim at the present, the Christian is able to consider it as joy, because of what he knows God will do in the future. This section then, is all not about gritting your teeth and just putting up with things. It’s not about cliché’s like ‘every cloud has a silver lining’. This passage is about something much more important, and much more real. It’s all about hope. The things that give James joy, are not things in the present – that’s just the trials – but the things in the future.
This is what those of us who are suffering trials need to learn. Sometimes we will struggle to find anything positive in our present situations. Even if we manage to sit down calmly and rationally, we may still reach that conclusion: there is nothing good in this. Yet even then, even in our darkest hour, the Christian still has hope.
But what is the Christians’ hope? It takes two aspects, and we won’t meet the second until verse 12. But for now, let’s concentrate on verses two to four. What is the Christians’ hope?
Several years ago I was leading a discussion group with some people in their early twenties about the difficulties they faced. I asked them whether they found it easier to live as a Christian in university or in work. “Oh, in university” most replied. “It’s much harder now we’re working”. “Not so”, said another group. “University is much harder than work.” We could have left it there, but I pressed a little further. Do you know what I discovered? All those who said that work was harder had gone to university straight from school and were now working. All those who said that university was harder had had some years in industry, and were now at university having gone there much later! In other words, both groups were saying the same thing – what I’m experiencing now is harder than what I was experiencing a few years ago.
And I’m afraid that life is nearly always like that. Let’s go back to my question of a minute ago. What is the Christians’ hope, from verses two to four? My point is that the Christians’ hope is not that things will get easier. The Christians’ hope is that he will become better able to cope with the difficulties – perhaps the greater difficulties – he will face in the future.
And so it should be for all of us. It is hope that keeps us going. Did you know that God will use your present sufferings to make you more like Jesus Christ, more useful in His service, more worshipful, more delighted in our Saviour?
What is all important then, is our attitude towards the trials and problems that face us. Did you notice in verse two James says “count it all joy”. The NIV says “consider it pure joy”. Your trials won’t naturally appear to bring joy, but regardless of that, we are to consider it as joy. You see, the very same situation, the very same problem, can turn one man into someone who is bitter and twisted, and turn his friend into someone who devotes his life to helping others. It is our attitude that counts, and responding to trials in the right way always helps us to mature.
You see, our trials and our difficulties will leave their mark. They will change us. But it is our attitude that determines whether they will change us for the better, or for the worse. The Christian should be able to respond in the right way, because he knows that God is in control. The Christian knows that the God who is in control is a God who cares. And the Christian knows that the God who cares, is a God who cares about me. And the God who cares about me, is the God who has given me these trials. One writer said, “There is no virtue that trials cannot build. There is no defect trials cannot remedy, no strength trials cannot impart”. So “consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”
So, that’s James’ very simple opening section, showing us that trials lead to maturity. Now we move to the second section, where James tells us
Trials lead us to God
Look at verse 5:
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Now many of you will be familiar with that verse. It’s a really encouraging one – particularly for those of us who are not very wise! It’s encouraging because of the promise it contains. There is no excuse to be foolish James says, because if you lack wisdom God is willing to give it to you. And look at how hard James works to make sure we’ve understood the point.
He tells us that God gives to all. That’s encouraging, isn’t it, because no-one is left out. Then he says he gives liberally. The Greek word means literally ‘simply’, or ‘openly’. That’s even more encouraging, isn’t it? Then he says without reproach, and that’s even better! Do you know what reproach is? Well imagine a child coming to his father and asking for some extra driving lessons. “Well, seen as you seem quite incapable of passing your test without me, I suppose I’d better help you!”. The father is willing to help, but you almost wish he wouldn’t. That’s reproach. James says God never does that when you ask him for wisdom.
And if all that wasn’t enough, James finishes the sentence “and it will be given to him”. That really hammers the point home, doesn’t it? We can have real confidence that God will give us wisdom if we ask for it.
But what has all this got to do with trials?
Well, look at the end of verse four and the beginning of verse five. What do you see? Verse four says that if you respond in the right way to trials you will become mature, lacking nothing. And James then goes on to say, “If you lack wisdom…”
So why do those addressed in verse five lack wisdom? Is it because they haven’t had enough trials? Almost certainly not. Trials don’t automatically ensure you lack nothing. The reason these people lack wisdom is not because they haven’t had enough trials, it’s because they haven’t responded in the right way to the trials they’ve already had.
You see when we’re in trials, very often we do ask God questions. But we tend to ask God questions like “Why me?”, and “How is this fair?”, and “Can’t you make this go away?”. Those questions are not wrong, and the Bible gives us many examples of people who have asked just those questions. But if they’re the only questions we ask, then we do have a problem. We’ve a problem because no-one became wise by asking God for their difficulties to go away, or endlessly pondering “Why me?”.
So how many of us, in the midst of trials cry out not “Why me?”, but “Lord, I need wisdom to know how to deal with this!”.
You see, the man in verse 5 is a man who is currently undergoing a trial. That’s why he needs wisdom. I’ve never prayed for the wisdom needed to survive an interview with John Humphreys. I’ve never prayed for the wisdom to know when to kick for touch, and when to try a reverse pass to the inside centre. I’ve never prayed for the wisdom needed to keep a business afloat. That’s not wisdom I need because those are not trials and I’m experiencing. But I have prayed for the wisdom needed to lead a church – because that is a trial I’m currently experiencing! (A joyful trial, of course…). And perhaps some of you have been praying for wisdom to know how you can best help a young inexperienced pastor – because that’s a trial you’re experiencing!
In other words, trials expose our needs, and the right way – the only way if you’re a Christian – to respond to our needs, is to bring our needs to God. That’s what happens in the example James gives in verse five. As soon as the man feels his need of wisdom, James says, he should go directly to God.
That’s why trials can be such sources of joy, because ultimately trials ought always to lead us to God, and back into his presence. Many of you are living testimonies to exactly that. Your own personal difficulties – in some cases your own tragedies – have strengthened your relationship with God because they’ve forced you to cling to Him in a far more trusting way than ever you needed to before.
So that was a short point, but an important one. Trials lead us to maturity, and trials lead us to God.
The third point James brings to us is in verses six to eight, and it’s this:
Trials lead us to a stronger faith
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
James is telling us that when we go to God, we must go in faith. It’s a great illustration he uses, isn’t it. The man who doubts, James says, is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. It’s a great illustration, because it’s so true. People who doubt lack any solid foundation. They’re up one minute, down the next. Today they’re taking one course of action, tomorrow you know they’ll have second thoughts I try something else.
The Christian is not to be like that, James says. A Christian is to ask in faith, without doubting.
Now, that’s easy to say, but sometimes very hard to do. But let’s be clear what James is saying. Firstly, we should note that James is being very gracious to us. Because immediately before he tells us we shouldn’t doubt, he gives us a promise in verse five. And really God’s promises are the weapons that keep out the enemy of doubt. We really do not need to doubt that God will do what he has said he will do.
But again we need to ask, what has all this got to do with trials? Well, remember that the man who is told to have faith, is a man who needs wisdom, because of a trial he is currently facing. He needs faith precisely because he is in a trial.
As most of you know, a few weeks ago we were leading a camp for 11-14 year olds. One day we took them to a climbing centre called Ropes and Ladders. As part of the course there’s a variety of obstacles you have to find your way around. On one, for example, you have to balance on a narrow log, and work your way along to safety. The complication is that the log is 30 feet in the air! Now, of course, there are all kinds of safety harnesses and things that you have to wear. We were told how to put them on, they were checked for us, and the instructor demonstrated how they worked. It really did seem that they were foolproof, and none of us doubted the instructors verdict that we were all hooked up and ready to go.
Of course, that’s when we were on the ground! 30 feet up, with the log to conquer, things felt quite differently. It was easy to believe the equipment worked when we were down on the ground. Up here, well, up here, it was different!
On the ground, everyone had faith. Up there, some had none. Some just couldn’t do it. But most –tentatively, slowly, and very carefully – put their trust in their equipment and got across the course.
What’s this got to do with our passage? Well, you’ve probably already seen it. Down on the ground, faith wasn’t really required. It was only needed when the obstacle was in front of us and the drop below us! The trial, the test, proved we had at last some faith in the equipment, and not only that, it enhanced our faith, too.
And that’s what James is saying. The fact that we do get through trials with God’s help, that we do come out the other side, not only proves our faith, it builds out faith, too. That’s another reason that we can count it as joy, even when we fall into trials – because trials lead us to maturity, trials lead us to God, and trials lead us to a stronger faith.
James has got two more things he wants to tell us. The next, his fourth point, from verses 9 to 11, is this:
Trials lead us to contentment
Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.
Now at first glance, it’s very hard to see the link between this section and what has gone before. But there must be a link, because the very next verse, verse 12, returns us to the theme we have just been discussing. So why did James add this little section here?
Before we answer that question, let’s just explore what James is saying. He’s using what we call a paradox. The Oxford English Dictionary describes a paradox as:
A seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition which when investigated or explained may prove to be well-founded or true.
But I think G K Chesterton had a better definition. He said:
a paradox is truth standing on its head shouting for attention
That’s what James is doing here. He’s standing truth on it’s head, in order to show us just how important it is. He tells us that the lowly is exalted, and the rich is brought low. Of course, we should be used to paradoxes if we know our Bibles, which tell us that the weak are strong, the empty are full, the slave is free, the cursed are blessed, and that death brings life.
So what exactly is James doing? He’s doing exactly the same that you and I would do in his situation, though with considerably more aplomb than perhaps we could manage! He’s giving different application to different groups of people, rather than assuming everyone is the same.
Let me take you back to the Ropes and Ladders course in Llanberis. Most of the children on the course had to be encouraged. “Look it’s OK!” we would say. “You’re perfectly safe. You just keep going and you’ll be fine”. On the other hand, there were one or two hot-heads to which we said the complete opposite. “Be careful!”, we would shout, “You’re going to break your neck! Slow down a bit!”.
In other words, let the fearful brother glory in his security, but the confident in his danger. Those who were fearful needed to be reminded of the things they had, but they had forgotten – the ropes, the helmet, the safety equipment. And those who were confident needed to be reminded of the things they had, but had forgotten – like the 30 foot drop!
That’s what James is doing here. Those who are poor need to be reminded of the things they had, but have forgotten. They need to be reminded that in Christ “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free”. They need to remember that “you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people”. They need to remember that they are “heirs of God, and join heirs with Christ”.
And the rich? Well they need to be reminded that riches are as much a trial as poverty. The writer of Proverbs prays:
Give me neither poverty nor riches—
Feed me with the food allotted to me;
Lest I be full and deny You,
And say, “Who is the Lord?”
Or lest I be poor and steal,
And profane the name of my God.
The rich need to be reminded that in their riches bring the danger that they will not see their need for God, and therefore fail to realise the trials they are in, and lose out on the blessings that James has been discussing. Rather than maturing and growing, James says, they are likely to wither and die.
But I want us to be careful to understand exactly what James is saying, and particularly what he is not saying. Not that he does not promise riches to the poor, nor poverty to the rich. He is not telling the poor that if they work hard enough they can become rich. He does not hold out the American dream to them. James is not saying that the poor can become rich. He is saying that the poor are rich, and of course, that the rich are poor.
So what is the difference between a poor man who is rich, and a rich man who is poor? Nothing, nothing at all! And that is James’ point. Do you remember the heading for this section? Trials lead us to contentment.
How does the poor man know he is rich? He knows because when his trial of poverty strikes he realises he has nothing, and yet – somehow – he survives, stronger and better than before! And he realises that in God he has all he could possibly want or imagine! And his trial has led him to be content with what he has.
And how does the rich man know that he is poor? He knows, because one day a trial comes his way, and he discovers that his money can buy many things, but it cannot buy happiness and health and satisfaction. And he begins to realise that there are more important things that his home and his car and his job. And he starts to value those things that really matter: his family, his friends, and his relationship with God. And his trial has led him to become content with what he has.
Trials then lead us to maturity, trials lead us to God, trials lead us to a stronger faith, and trials lead to contentment.
Finally, then, from verse 12
Trials lead us to glory
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
James started this section by explaining to his readers that trials would bring benefits in this life, he ends it by explaining that trials bring benefits in the life to come, as well.
Earlier we said that it is hope that drives the Christian on, and here we see that demonstrated to its fullest extent. I’m afraid the New King James doesn’t translate this verse very well. So don’t be put off by the word temptation in verse 12, as we’ll see next time, it’s exactly the same word ‘trial’ (peirasmos) that James has been using until now. And the word ‘approved’ should really be translated ‘stood the test’, which captures the sense of the original much better.
Did you look forward to tests in school? Those really big exams, upon which everything depends. Did you eagerly anticipate them? I did. I’ll tell you why. Firstly, I dropped all the subjects that I wasn’t any good at, so I was never really worried that I might fail a test. But much more importantly , what I like about the test was that it marked the end. I still remember the date. June 28th 1993 – my last ever exam in school. If I could get through the test, then, I was free! Oh, how I looked forward to that test!
Of course, it was crucial to endure, to finish the test. I couldn’t walk out halfway through, complaining it was too hard, or unfair. If I had, then it wouldn’t have been the end, would it? I’d have been dragged back next term for extra lessons, and for re-sits.
Sometimes, I think that happens in life. When we’re unwilling to endure, to go through with the tests and trials before us, often we simply extend the agony, and force God to put us through ‘re-sits’, later in our lives.
But verse 12 tells us that those who do endure, those who by the grace of God stick at it, those who know that trials lead us to maturity, trials lead us to God, trials lead us to a stronger faith, and trials lead to contentment. For those there is a crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
In other words, James says, it is worth it, it really is!
And finally, we must not forget James closing words in this sentence. This crown of life will be given to those who endure, yes. But another way of saying that is to say it will be given to those who love Jesus Christ. It is only be depending on Christ that we can endure, and as he see him help us and lift us, as we see his promises being kept, he will love him all the more.
Blessed is the man who endures trials; for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.