From blows to blessings.

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

I have titled my talk: from Blows to blessings.

When I was young I did bodybuilding (don’t laugh). I was a skinny rake and wanted to look like the guy in a bodybuilding mag. Although a vain misguided pursuit I learnt that if I was to beef-up then I would have to train and have pain in order to gain. The same is for our spiritual life. We have to discipline ourselves and be obedient to gain the prize of life.

At first glance this really seems like a real pummelling by James but maybe there is more than meets the eye. where is the gain?

Tim suggested two words in his preach on the same passage a few Sundays ago, pain and gain. I thought the same but in addition I’d like to add “train” as well. because that’s what I want us to focus on to enable us to receive our blessings. I’m not talking about “name it claim it” Charismatic blessings but spiritual blessings like perseverance, wisdom, the crown of life, for example. I know automatically from this passage it’s hard hitting and challenging but let’s not lose sight of the plus side to our trials and temptations.

To quote: 1 Corinthians 9:26–27

I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

The prize is also referred to as a imperishable crown or wreath. in other words victory, which is God’s call through Jesus Christ to the life above. By discipline, we will obtain the prize! to be a kind of firstfruits of all he created and have the crown of life. A direct reference to our future with Christ. if we are obedient we will receive the blessing.

There is a blow with every statement in this passage. What are these particular disciplines in which we should be training in order to obtain the blessing:

The discipline of Considering it pure joy when facing trials: V2

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

How on earth do we do this, we can’t, we can only do this with the help of the Holy Spirit who enables us to push on with hope in our future glory. Forsaking now and looking forward, and ultimately remembering God is the author of our trials. Intending also to grow and mature us even in this life. This is the blessing

The discipline of Asking God for wisdom and having steadfast faith: V:5-8

But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Having the wisdom to live our lives out according to scripture when it goes against the grain and not doubting the outcome. Remembering God is faithful in the outcome, whatever that may be. This is the blessing.

The discipline of Taking pride in our humble situation: V:9

Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.

The word in Greek for humble here is tapĕinŏs, it means basically not doing to well in life in terms of status. A person in this position is actually in a good position spiritually (This is the blessing as opposed to the blow of being of low status) and should take pride in it. Now that takes some training not to lust after the “success of the world”.

The discipline of Taking pride in our humiliation V 10

But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. or as the NLT version puts it “Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honoured them. And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them”

This sounds rather harsh for the rich but this humiliation brings down to the same spiritual level as the humble therefore they are equally blessed. It takes some “against the grain” training for this too.

The discipline of Standing the test: V:12-15

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Trials are never pleasant, nor temptations but they can strengthen a believer and training is well done when you are able to stand up to them. The blessing is the crown of life which means eternal life.

The discipline of Not being deceived: V:16-18

Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

This is a discipline to see if you will be deceived or not and whether you will hold fast to the truth and not be swayed. The blessing is giving us “birth” through the word of God and ultimately through what Christ did on the cross.

All these hard-hitting challenges take some uncomfortable training but we should always be looking Heavenward to our prize in view of our present difficulties. The blessings outweigh the trials and temptations and remember God is answering us through them which is always reassuring. We can do all this through the help of the Holy Spirit, helping us to be obedient, guiding and comforting, us through prayer and scripture. Next time you feel the blow of a trial or temptation, remember there is always a blessing at the end if we have done our correct training.