The Making of a Diamond
The Making of a Diamond
SHM 6/01/03 - James 1:1-6 – A Series Study in the Book of James
A diamond is one of the most expensive and precious of gems. Do you know how a diamond is made? It starts with a piece of coal, just like this. How could this piece of coal ever become a diamond? Deep in the earth, extreme pressure and time compresses and makes a diamond. A diamond is the toughest of gems and is just as useful to industry as it is useful and beautiful as jewelry. If we want to become a diamond kind of person, then we must willingly put up with the trials and tribulations that shape and form our character.
I. The Pressure of Suffering
A. The Sources of Our Suffering
Ø 1:2 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;”
Ø 1:12 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation…”
We see here two kinds of suffering:
1. Trial Sufferings – allowed by God to bring out the best in us
a. The testing of Abraham (Gen. 22:1-2) “God did tempt Abraham…”
1. Tempt (to prove, or to try)
· The Gold Rush of the 1840’s-50’s (Iron Pyrite – Fool’s Gold – Assayer needed)
· Two ways of testing: 1) By Acid; 2) By Fire
· “Abraham, can you give me your ‘promise’, your ‘destiny’, your ‘legacy’…can you trust me with that? - GOD
b. The trying of the children in the wilderness – Deut. 8:2-3
Ø “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, [and] to prove thee, to know what [was] in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every [word] that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.”
1. Brought humility – “to make them totally dependant on God.”
2. “To prove thee” – for a two-fold reason
a. To prove “what they were” - “To know what was in thine heart” (so that they would know what was in their heart)
· Jer. 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?”
b. To see what they would do – “To see whether they would keep his commandments or not.”
c. Lk. 22:28 – “Ye are they who have continued with me in my trials.”
2. Temptation Sufferings – These come from the devil (using the world / flesh) and are sent to
bring out the worst in us.
a. James 1:14 “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”
1. Note the “method” of sin in its proceedings.
a. First, it draws away, then entices.
1. Drawn away from God by degrees into sin (exalko = to lure away – i.e. the turkey w/a call).
2. Enticed = (deleazo – to bait in order to lure away).
3. “There can be no temptation unless something within us causes a sinful desire.” Peop. Com.
· Bream on a bed grabs the bait out of frustration. (His anger would hook him).
· The turkey attracted by a call.
a. Sin could never prevail if not for its guile and cunning – it always comes disguised.
B. The Characteristics of Suffering
1. They are often “sudden” – when ye “fall”.
a. Sometimes unexpected (peripipto – “to light upon”).
1. Acts 27:41 – Ship hit a sandbar and ran aground…became stuck…and began to break apart
2. They are “sure” - “when” ye fall, not “if” ye fall
a. We’re all human and are apt to fall – 1 Jn. 2:1
3. They are “sorted”
a. “Divers” trials – (various) – financial, physical, spiritual, mental, social
C. The Purpose of Suffering
Ø God either causes or allows all sufferings to fall into our lives. WHY??
1. Suffering produces endurance – Jms. 1:3,4
a. Paul endured
1. 2 Tim. 1:8 – “…be thou a partaker of the afflictions of the gospel.”
2. 2 Tim. 2:3 – “…endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” (SEALS – Hell Week)
· “He who finds diamonds must grapple in mud and mire because diamonds are not found in polished stones. They are made.” 1
3. 2 Tim. 2:10 – “…I endure all things for the elect’s sake…”
2. Suffering promises rewards in heaven
a. Jms. 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.”
D. The Attitude in Suffering
Ø How should we respond to trials and tribulations?
1. Jms. 1:2 “My brethren count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.”
a. Prosperity is the blessing of the “old covenant” and adversity is the blessing of the new.
1. Temptations should be regarded as not only testing what we are, but designed for moral
discipline and improvement.
b. James says that we should rejoice amid tribulations
1. To the worldly, this is unnatural
2. We are to rejoice because He is working all things towards our good, though we may not see
the good in it at the present time.
a. Sometimes, we are too nearsighted…seeing only at close range: we’re not looking at the total
picture…as God does.
b. Jer. 18:3-4 “…He made it again…as seemed good to the potter to make it.”
Ø “…all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” – 2 Tim. 3:12
Ø “…In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Jn. 16:33
If we want to become a diamond-kind of person, then we must willingly put up with the trials and tribulations that shape and form our character. There are no shortcuts in the development of Christian character….Time X extreme pressure = A Diamond.
1 ThinkExist.com
