Testing As Joy

Intro: James is a really controversial book

It is one of the books that theologians debate the most over.

In fact, it’s one of three NT Books that a lot of people didn’t even want in the Bible.

Martin Luther famously hated this book because he didn’t like what it had to say

It’s also one of the most quoted books of the NT.

It’s practical, it gives actual advice on what to do

It’s pretty easy to understand.

There’s less context to go through

It was written, not to one person, but to a group of people or a big group of churches.

And I believe that James can show us some of what it means to be a real Christian.

James 1:1–4 NASB95

James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Count Your Trials as Joy

James 1:2 “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,”

A trial can be anything that can pull you away from God.

Addiction, tragedy, sin, difficulty.

So, you will experience trials. Everything isn’t just going to work out for you.

So what do you do?

“All joy” doesn’t mean that you don’t suffer, or that you don’t experience sadness or pain in suffering. You’re not supposed ot be some Christian robot.

It means that throughout all of your pain and struggling, there’s a joy in knowing that there’s a reason for this, and that God is with you

Elizabeth Elliot.

Missionary starting in the 50’s

Husband Jim, her, and her young daughter went to Ecuador to preach to the Auca Natives

Her husband was killed on first contact with the natives.

After two years, she was able to meet with the Aucas. She lived with them, and saw a bunch of them come to faith in Christ.

SHE SUFFERED! She wen’t through the loss of a husband, the loss of her daughter’s father, and yet she used that because she knew that God had plans for her, for her daughter, and for the Auca natives.

Count it all joy doesn’t mean shut out feelings, it means love God more than you love your circumstances.

Know that You’re being Tested.

James 1:3 “knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”

Going through something can be scary or make you mad, but it’s helpful to know that this isn’t just a random thing, you’re being tested.

Testing doesn’t eman that God is testing you to see if you’ll break. He’s testing your faith like someone refines gold, God’s getting out the impurities to bring you closer to Him.

This testing gives you endurance to go through trials better

You get stronger because God is growing you.

The Final Benefit of Testing

James 1:4 “And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

V. 4 is hard.

Some people look at it like you’re supposed to eventually be perfect, which can’t be true. You won’t be perfect while you’re still here.

The ultimate goal of testing is that you can eventually come to the Father complete, because you have been made so by the Holy Spirit and through the sacrifice of Jesus.

This will happen one day. You will be perfect and complete. When you die, and are before the throne of God, I fully believe that you will finally be made complete, a whole creature, because of the sacrifice God made for you.