Sermon Tone Analysis

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|bible:James 1:2-4]], we’ll see that *trials lead to maturity*.

Then, in [[verse 5|James 1:5]], we’ll see that *trials lead us to God*.

In [[verses six to eight|bible:James 1:6-8]] we’ll see that *trials lead us to a stronger faith*, in [[verses nine to eleven|bible:James 1:9-11]] we’ll see that *trials lead to contentment*, and finally in [[verse 12|bible:James 1:12]] we’ll see that *trials lead to glory*.

Firstly then:

!! Trials lead to maturity ([[vv 2‑4|bible:James 1:2-4]])

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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|bible:Job 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|bible:Jam 1:12]].

But for now, let’s concentrate on [[verses two to four|bible:James 1:2-4]].

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”.