"When Life Gets Tough"
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“When Life Gets Tough!”
James 1:2-12
One who is righteous has many adversities, but the Lord rescues him from them all.
(NASB) – “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all."
Anyone born of woman is short of days and full of trouble.
The apostle Paul spoke of being "…perplexed, persecuted, and struck down."
Many of us here today could testify to lives of affliction and trials.
One of my favorite passages in regard to troubles is (Psalm 84:5-7)!
Happy are the people whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a source of spring water; even the autumn rain will cover it with blessings.
They go from strength to strength; each appears before God in Zion.
How does the “happy” person, whose “…heart are set on pilgrimage,” (which, according to v.7, we will succeed), make it “…through the Valley of Baca (weeping)?”
While Psalm 84 certainly provides an answer, so does James!
Led by the Spirit, James addressed this issue in a way that enables us to find HOPE...when life gets tough!
James outlines five strategies to employ when times of testing come upon us:
I. CELEBRATE THE REASON BEHIND TRIALS! – (1:2)
I. CELEBRATE THE REASON BEHIND TRIALS! – (1:2)
“Consider it a great joy…”
Q: Do you know the difference between “happy” and “joy” (other than one being an adjective and the other a noun)?
A: The spelling…
RIGHT AWAY we can see there are going to be some challenges to the way we think in the epistle of James!
It seems reasonable that God is NOT expecting us to burst out laughing—to get a case of the giggles when we are faced with difficulties, so what does this mean?
I'd like you to notice several words in this verse:
"…whenever"
Not "if" or "perhaps", but "whenever!" - DON'T ACT SURPRISED!!
In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
"ALL" will experience trials & sufferings!!
"…you experience” – lit. - "encounter!"
It's the same word used in (Luke 10:30) of the man who "…fell into the hands of robbers"
THE POINT: You don't have to go looking for trials...they'll find you!!
“…various trials”
In the original language this is the word (polkilois) from which we get "polka dot."
It means "spread out; of all different shapes, colors, varieties, and sizes."
In other words, James spoke of life as being dotted with trials!
And when these inevitable trials come, our first strategy is to, "Consider it a great joy!"
Q: What could he possibly mean?"
A: To consider it a great joy during our trials is to respond with a deliberate, intelligent appraisal of our situation!
Consider the following: (Matthew 5:10-12) (Acts 5:41) (2 Corinthians 7:4-6) (1 Peter 1:6-7; 4:12-14)
We can rejoice because the "Spirit of glory and of God rests on you."
KEY: The ABILITY TO REJOICE comes from the PRESENCE OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD—from knowing you DON’T FACE TRIALS ALONE!
II. CALCULATE THE RESULTS OF TRIALS! – (1:3-4)
II. CALCULATE THE RESULTS OF TRIALS! – (1:3-4)
The believer must look above the immediate unpleasantness of the trial and find joy in what God will accomplish INit!
(v.3a) – “because you know…” from γινώσκοντες – lit., ‘knowing through experience’
A. TRIALS PRODUCE PATIENCE! – (v.3) – “…the testing of your faith produces endurance.”
A. TRIALS PRODUCE PATIENCE! – (v.3) – “…the testing of your faith produces endurance.”
"Endurance" is not a passive term but an active one!
It is not a resignation to whatever happens, but a strong resolution during adverse circumstances!
And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance,
endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.
This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Trials in the lives of believers refine their faith so that the false is stripped away, and the genuine faith that continues to trust God can develop endurance!
William Barclay writes, "It is not simply the ability to bear things; it is the ability to turn them to greatness and glory. The thing which amazed the heathen in the centuries of persecution was that the martyrs did not die grimly; they died singing!"
B. TRIALS PRODUCE MATURITY! (v.4)
B. TRIALS PRODUCE MATURITY! (v.4)
James uses two expressions here to define maturity in the life of the believer:
1. Mature believers are COMPLETE! – The word means "to be fully developed."
2. Mature believers are LACKING NOTHING!
Lit., ‘lacking in nothing,’ refers to something "having all its parts and therefore is whole!"
The reason we can consider it all joy is that we know what the RESULT will be!
[A challenging thought is that until we have suffered, we are still incomplete!]
III. CALL UPON GOD'S RESOURCES IN TRIALS! – (1:5-8)
III. CALL UPON GOD'S RESOURCES IN TRIALS! – (1:5-8)
James takes the word "lacking"from verse 4 and ties it to verse 5, reminding us that the prerequisite to obtaining help with troubles is to realize that we lack sufficient WISDOM to sort them out!!
The argument is this: "When facing trial, it is important to know how to cope with them. The only way that we will be able to understand these trials and respond to them properly is to ask for the wisdom which God alone can give."
Someone once wrote, “Unless there is within us, that which is above us, we will soon yield to that which is around us.”
As James motivates trouble believers to seek wisdom, he describes God in such a way as to make us wonder why we wait so long to ask for His help!
A. GOD IS GOOD! - "…who gives"
A. GOD IS GOOD! - "…who gives"
I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
God is the source of all wisdom!
B. GOD IS GENEROUS! - "…who gives generously to all"
B. GOD IS GENEROUS! - "…who gives generously to all"
The word generously has two meanings associated with it.
1. "To stretch out" - to lavishly pour out the full supply of that which they need!
2. "Singly"- as opposed to double-minded—there’s no hidden agenda!
God gives His wisdom simply, plainly, straightforwardly, and individually to all who will ask of Him!
C. GOD IS GRACIOUS! - "…ungrudgingly” – “…without reproach" (NASB)
C. GOD IS GRACIOUS! - "…ungrudgingly” – “…without reproach" (NASB)
Lit., “…not reproaching.” The word reproach means to "insult, or harm."
When we ask God for wisdom, He never scolds us for coming, no matter how often we approach Him!
D. GOD IS FAITHFUL! (vv.5d-8)
D. GOD IS FAITHFUL! (vv.5d-8)
Before you “…ask God,” make sure you believe God will answer! – (vv.6-8)
Because God is good and generous and gracious, no seeker should approach Him with doubt!
Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
IV. CONSIDER YOUR REACTION TO TRIALS! (1:9-11)
IV. CONSIDER YOUR REACTION TO TRIALS! (1:9-11)
When you experience trials, you often catch yourself re-evaluating life!
If you happen to be rich, you realize that trials can bring to down to poverty.
Most of James' readers were poor and had become even poorer through the persecution against them.
But James would not let them be discouraged! (v.9)
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
One writer put it this way: "God's testing’s have a way of bringing about equality in His family. When testing comes to the poor man, he lets God have His way and rejoices that he possesses spiritual riches that cannot be taken from him. When testing comes to the rich man, he also lets God have His way, and rejoices that his riches in Christ cannot wither or fade away!"
Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, was talking to a young missionary who was about to start work in China.
"Look at this," Taylor said, and then proceeded to pound his fist on the table. The teacups jumped and tea was spilled all over the table. While the startled young man was wondering what was going on, Taylor said, "When you begin your work, you will be buffeted in numerous ways. The trials will be like blows. Remember, these blows will bring out only what is in you."
V. CONTEMPLATE THE REWARDS OF TRIALS! (1:12)
V. CONTEMPLATE THE REWARDS OF TRIALS! (1:12)
“Blessed” now, and a recipient of the “crown of life” in the future!
It’s more than a cliché, but “in the end, we win!”
