Trials and Temptation: A New Perspective James 1:2-18

James 1:2-18 [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.[9] Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, [10] and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. [11] For the sun rises with it’s scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. [12] Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

[13] Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. [14] But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. [15] Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. [16] Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. [17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. [18] Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Overview Trials: a common occurrence Trials and the Divine tool Trials or temptation? “Count it all joy...”

Trials: a common occurrence The word not there: IF! Trials: def. Situations which test our faith 1 Peter 4:12 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” Trials produce steadfastness “...that you may be perfect...” brought to it’s end; finished Wanting nothing necessary to completeness, or nothing else needed.

Trials and the Divine tool Wisdom “...ask and it shall be given to you” Matt 7:11 “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” James 1:6 “...ask in faith without doubting...”

Trials and the Divine tool “To doubt is to be a person of a fundamentally divided mind and a fundamentally inconsistent attitude toward God. It is a reckless and wavering distrust- a refusal finally to trust God. The point is not that a Christian never has doubts; it’s that a Christian never allows his mind to become so divided and self-disputing that it welcomes those doubts. (James, by Greg Gilbert)

Trials or temptation? Verse 13: “Let no one say...I am being tempted by God.” Temptations: those things that cause us, when we succumb or give into them, to sin. verse 14 “...lured and enticed by his own desire.” Trials: due to living a Christ centered life. Temptations are to due to living in a fallen world Earthly rewards are temporary and fragile. The Godly intent and aim of trials: to procure us a heavenly reward: verse 12 – “...the crown of life.”

“Count it all joy...” Count it all Joy? Jer 12:1 Righteous are you, O LORD, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive? Job 21:7 Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?

“Count it all joy...” God is in control Job 1:12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. Gen 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

“Count it all joy...” Trials produce steadfastness. God is Steadfast 1 Cor 16:13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. God is Steadfast Joel 2:13 “...abounding in steadfast love...” Micah 7:20 “You will show... steadfast love to Abraham.” Jonah 4:2 “...abounding in steadfast love...” Daniel 9:4; Lam 3:22; Jer 33:11

“Count it all joy...” James 5:10-11 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. James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

“Count it all joy...” Exhortation: When faced with trials pray and ask for wisdom Caveat: wisdom doesn’t always equate with understanding! Do not ask for deliverance out of the trial, but rather for the Holy Spirit to lead us THROUGH the trial. “God please help me to learn that which you are teaching me!” Call on fellow Christians to help pray and support you. Gal 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Conclusion Trials are a common occurrence for a Christian Wisdom is the Divine tool that God has given us to help us through our trials Do not confuse Temptation for Trial “Count it all joy...”