James 1:2–8
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Today we’re going to look at what James has to say about patience, about endurance. What do we do in the midst of life’s trials?
What do we do in the midst of life’s pains?
In the book of James, he likens patience to the idea of “being content as you endure” through what God wants us to go through in our lives.
There are many times in life when we really struggle, but as Christians, God wants us to know that we are not alone in those times.
He goes with us through them.
Psalm 23 is one of the most-quoted passages of Scripture, and verse 4 says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Sometimes in life, people become impatient and they miss out on the fullest blessings that God intended for us.
We live in a fast-paced world, where we want everything to be done yesterday.
“I want it now! I want it fast! And if I don’t get it from you, I will go to someone else who will serve me now and fast!”
It’s the fast food philosophy of life.
Because this is the way we live now, we lack the ability (or the desire) to “be content as you endure.”
But because God is all-wise, all-powerful, and never-changing, He knows what is best for us, and having everything NOW is not always the best thing.
1. Four Facts on the Trials of Life:
A. Life Is Not Easy.
In verse 2 James says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.”
Simply becoming a believer in Christ doesn’t make life easier. Life does not become amazingly easier for Christians. In fact, for many it is the exact opposite.
However, as Christians we know that we have both God and godly friends to walk this path with us.
As I mentioned last week, there will be times in your life when you will need to be supported by fellow believers, and there will also be times when it will be your turn to minister to others in need.
And when we patiently endure the hard times, we have the opportunity to be a powerful testimony of what it really means to trust in God.
B. Our Trials Have a Purpose.
Verse 3: “You know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”
The word “testing” in this verse is always used in the Bible to describe a challenge or situation that provides the opportunity for the recipient to prove him or herself. It’s always spoken of as a positive thing to happen to us, not negative. This same word for testing was used to describe the refining process of metals like gold. They would melt the metal into liquid form so that impurities would rise to the top and be skimmed off. The precious metal was then much more valuable. That’s the purpose of our testing too.
God removes impurities from our lives as our faith is tested.
C. You Don’t Have to Worry.
James tells us to count it pure joy when we face trials.
Jesus says in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Of course it’s very easy for me to stand here and tell you not to worry, when you might be in the middle of one of the biggest crises of your life.
But what Jesus and James are talking about here is that occasionally we need to just step back and see things in the light of eternity.
D. You Can Count on God.
God has a purpose and will bring us through the trials of life. Jesus reminded His disciples before His ascension of the same thing. He said in John 14: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
I have a commentary which says this about those two verses: “In the original Hebrew, ‘in all your ways acknowledge Him’ is more literally ‘in all your ways know Him.’ This fundamental statement of how to relate to God implies more than mere reverence. Nodding in God's direction is not enough: you must know Him by living closely with Him, relating to Him personally in every aspect of your life.”
So those are four facts on the trials of life. 1 – Life is not easy. 2 – Our trials have a purpose. 3 – You don’t have to worry. And 4 – You can count on God.
But what does patience actually do for us? Having patience is one thing, but there must be a purpose for it all.
A. Patience Perfects Us.
Verse 4 says, “Let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
The NKJV translates that same verse as “Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
The word ‘perfect’ here should catch our attention. James is teaching us that patience is our tutor. If we stick with it we will enjoy all that God wants us to learn through patience.
Becoming more and more like Jesus does not happen instantly. You can’t apply the fast food principle here.
We like to think we’re quite intelligent, but the truth is that we are notoriously slow learners.
B. Patience Completes Us.
Verse 4 again: “Let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
The word ‘complete’ here means whole, well, physical or spiritual well-being. This same word is often used to describe people Jesus healed during His 3 or so years of public ministry.
What James is doing here is referring to the day when our patience will be completed and we will be rewarded. In verse 12 he writes, “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” (NLT)
Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
C. Patience Prepares Us.
The phrase ‘lacking in nothing’ in verse 4 is talking about us having no deficiencies with regard to our spiritual strength.
With each trial that we endure, we’re that much stronger and more capable to endure the next one – even though it might feel sometimes that you’ve hardly had time to catch your breath and recover before the next wave hits you!
Even though it is really hard to see God’s purposes in the middle of our struggles, James encourages us to look at examples from Scripture. In 5:10-11 he says, “As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.”
I found this wonderful quotation a while ago: “Victory is not always found in fighting back or taking vengeance. Long-suffering, patience and perseverance has its rewards. Job received twice as much as he had before. God will vindicate and reward us in His time. The true test of your character is seeing what it takes to stop you. Keep pressing on.”
This entire life, with all its joys and sorrows and highs and lows, prepares us (or even trains us if you like) for the complete and perfect life which awaits us in eternity.
What trials are you facing today? Trust in Jesus and lean on Him. He promises to bless you in the end.
Let your rally cry be 2 Timothy 4:7-8: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Today we’re going to look at what James has to say about patience, about endurance. What do we do in the midst of life’s trials?
What do we do in the midst of life’s pains?
In the book of James, he likens patience to the idea of “being content as you endure” through what God wants us to go through in our lives.
There are many times in life when we really struggle, but as Christians, God wants us to know that we are not alone in those times.
He goes with us through them.
Psalm 23 is one of the most-quoted passages of Scripture, and verse 4 says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Sometimes in life, people become impatient and they miss out on the fullest blessings that God intended for us.
We live in a fast-paced world, where we want everything to be done yesterday.
“I want it now! I want it fast! And if I don’t get it from you, I will go to someone else who will serve me now and fast!”
It’s the fast food philosophy of life.
Because this is the way we live now, we lack the ability (or the desire) to “be content as you endure.”
But because God is all-wise, all-powerful, and never-changing, He knows what is best for us, and having everything NOW is not always the best thing.
1. Four Facts on the Trials of Life:
A. Life Is Not Easy.
In verse 2 James says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.”
Simply becoming a believer in Christ doesn’t make life easier. Life does not become amazingly easier for Christians. In fact, for many it is the exact opposite.
However, as Christians we know that we have both God and godly friends to walk this path with us.
As I mentioned last week, there will be times in your life when you will need to be supported by fellow believers, and there will also be times when it will be your turn to minister to others in need.
And when we patiently endure the hard times, we have the opportunity to be a powerful testimony of what it really means to trust in God.
B. Our Trials Have a Purpose.
Verse 3: “You know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”
The word “testing” in this verse is always used in the Bible to describe a challenge or situation that provides the opportunity for the recipient to prove him or herself. It’s always spoken of as a positive thing to happen to us, not negative. This same word for testing was used to describe the refining process of metals like gold. They would melt the metal into liquid form so that impurities would rise to the top and be skimmed off. The precious metal was then much more valuable. That’s the purpose of our testing too.
God removes impurities from our lives as our faith is tested.
C. You Don’t Have to Worry.
James tells us to count it pure joy when we face trials.
Jesus says in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Of course it’s very easy for me to stand here and tell you not to worry, when you might be in the middle of one of the biggest crises of your life.
But what Jesus and James are talking about here is that occasionally we need to just step back and see things in the light of eternity.
D. You Can Count on God.
God has a purpose and will bring us through the trials of life. Jesus reminded His disciples before His ascension of the same thing. He said in John 14: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
I have a commentary which says this about those two verses: “In the original Hebrew, ‘in all your ways acknowledge Him’ is more literally ‘in all your ways know Him.’ This fundamental statement of how to relate to God implies more than mere reverence. Nodding in God's direction is not enough: you must know Him by living closely with Him, relating to Him personally in every aspect of your life.”
So those are four facts on the trials of life. 1 – Life is not easy. 2 – Our trials have a purpose. 3 – You don’t have to worry. And 4 – You can count on God.
But what does patience actually do for us? Having patience is one thing, but there must be a purpose for it all.
A. Patience Perfects Us.
Verse 4 says, “Let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
The NKJV translates that same verse as “Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
The word ‘perfect’ here should catch our attention. James is teaching us that patience is our tutor. If we stick with it we will enjoy all that God wants us to learn through patience.
Becoming more and more like Jesus does not happen instantly. You can’t apply the fast food principle here.
We like to think we’re quite intelligent, but the truth is that we are notoriously slow learners.
B. Patience Completes Us.
Verse 4 again: “Let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
The word ‘complete’ here means whole, well, physical or spiritual well-being. This same word is often used to describe people Jesus healed during His 3 or so years of public ministry.
What James is doing here is referring to the day when our patience will be completed and we will be rewarded. In verse 12 he writes, “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” (NLT)
Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
C. Patience Prepares Us.
The phrase ‘lacking in nothing’ in verse 4 is talking about us having no deficiencies with regard to our spiritual strength.
With each trial that we endure, we’re that much stronger and more capable to endure the next one – even though it might feel sometimes that you’ve hardly had time to catch your breath and recover before the next wave hits you!
Even though it is really hard to see God’s purposes in the middle of our struggles, James encourages us to look at examples from Scripture. In 5:10-11 he says, “As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.”
I found this wonderful quotation a while ago: “Victory is not always found in fighting back or taking vengeance. Long-suffering, patience and perseverance has its rewards. Job received twice as much as he had before. God will vindicate and reward us in His time. The true test of your character is seeing what it takes to stop you. Keep pressing on.”
This entire life, with all its joys and sorrows and highs and lows, prepares us (or even trains us if you like) for the complete and perfect life which awaits us in eternity.
What trials are you facing today? Trust in Jesus and lean on Him. He promises to bless you in the end.
Let your rally cry be 2 Timothy 4:7-8: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.”