Joy in Trials (James 1:1-4)

The letter of James is perhaps the first of the New Testament letters to be written. If it was not the first, then it was probably the second, with the competitor for first being Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Since it is one of the earliest letters we can see within it the priorities and concerns of the early New Testament church, particularly among Jewish communities.

The author is James, but several James are mentioned in the New Testament. One was James, the brother of John the apostle, but this James was martyred early on in the history of the church by one of the Herods, so he is not regarded as the author. A second is the apostle called James the Less, but there is no evidence that he was the author. The James who became prominent in the early New Testament church as one of the leaders in the church in Jerusalem was one of the brothers of Jesus, and he was converted when he met the risen Saviour as mentioned by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15, and he had the authority in the church to write such a letter.

We can see that James writes this letter to ‘the twelve tribes in the Dispersion’. It is possible that he wrote to every Jew living in the Gentile world, although it is more likely that he wrote to the Jews among them who had become followers of Jesus. Since many Gentiles had not yet come into the church – we know from the Book of Acts that it took the church over a decade to start bring the gospel to the Gentiles – it is likely that those Jews who had accepted Jesus as the Messiah were still worshipping in the Jewish synagogues. Those groups may have been connected to the thousands who were converted on the day of Pentecost and subsequently at that time.

The style of writing that James adopts makes it very difficult to divide his letter into specific sections. There are some topics, such as the use of the tongue in chapter 3, to which he gives a lot of space, but usually he gives a verse or a couple of verses to a topic and then moves on to another topic. His method is very like the Book of Proverbs, with lots of illustrations drawn from the natural world as well as occasional references to Old Testament characters.

The letter of James was a cause of dispute at the Reformation because of his statement that believers are justified by faith plus works, which seemed to be in conflict with Paul’s teaching in Romans and elsewhere that we are justified by faith alone – both authors used James as an example. The words of James so bothered Martin Luther that he called it an epistle of straw which should not be regarded as canonical. All that goes to show is that the best of men are but men at best and that Luther was wrong in his suspicion about James. Yet his mistake is a reminder of the danger of so highlighting one core doctrine that we refuse to accept other doctrines that the Bible also mentions.

James’ Self-description

It is worth noting how James describes himself. He does not say that he was the brother of Jesus or that he had been brought up in the same home as Jesus. Instead he says that he is a slave of Jesus, but says so in a way that stresses the equality of Jesus with God the Father. The relationship that James emphasises is that of servant and Lord rather than brother. We can say that James realised the reality of the situation described by Jesus when he said that those who obeyed the will of God were his family (Mark 3:34).

James had a wonderful encounter with the risen Jesus. Although we are not given any details, it is safe to conclude that the meeting had a profound effect on James as he discovered that the One he regarded previously as only a brother was actually the eternal God and the conqueror of death. James who had shared a home with Jesus in Nazareth and observed him making items as a carpenter now realised that his brother’s real home was heaven and that he could make universes quicker than the time it had taken him to make a piece of furniture.

I suppose it would never have entered the mind of James that he would one day write a book that would be included in Holy Scripture. This is a reminder that when we are called by God into his service we have no idea what he will lead us to do. While we will never be asked to add a book to the Bible, we should be ready to be led to do the unexpected.

Trials

The first topic that James mentions is trials, which probably indicates that the Christian Jews were beginning to be opposed by their Jewish countrymen, a feature that we can read about in the Book of Acts and in the letter to the Hebrews. James, in his letter, refers to several kinds of trouble that his readers were experiencing and indicates that the troubles were connected to their Christian profession. So what does he say about them?

We may be surprised at his first comment, which is that his readers should rejoice when they are tried. He does not mean that the actual trials were pleasant, but he does say that they were the road to blessing. Meanwhile the believer on that road should have very strong joy – all joy. I suppose James here is saying what Paul meant when he urged the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord always.

So how can we regard trials as the road to blessing? James tells his readers that they have to use their minds – we can see this is the case by his use of the word translated ‘consider’.

God tests his people – the illustration

James would have known from the Old Testament that God promises to test his people in a manner that is illustrated by the metalworker who burns the dross of a metal in order to purify it – an example is found in the prophecy of Malachi where God says that he would purify the sons of Levi. The metalworker knew that he had achieved his aim when he could see his own reflection in the metal. It is not difficult to see that the process is a painful one, but that the goal is a worthy one.

God tests his people’s faith – the intention

We might imagine that if part of us was going to be tested it would be our love for God or our determination to persevere in the faith. Yet it is not difficult see that our faith affects those others actions of the heart. If our faith is weak, then our love and perseverance will be weak, as will everything connected to our holiness. But if our faith is strong, then it will bring strength to those other areas of our spiritual lives. God’s focus, says James, is on developing the faith of his people and they are to consider this when facing problems.

God tests our faith to make us steadfast

It is obvious from what James says that troubles, if responded to correctly, help make strong Christians who are unmoveable when storms get worse. We could say that troubles get us to fix our priorities. In a literal storm, we save the important rather than the trivial. A couple would rescue the picture of their wedding rather than a copy of the daily newspaper. Just as a storm blows away things that we don’t need, so trials in the Christian life get rid of things that will hinder our growth in grace.

James indicates that the trial may last longer than we want and when that happens there will a temptation to bring it to an end prematurely by compromising in some way with the cause of the trial. He tells his readers that their perseverance has to last as long as the trial. Yet he is not suggesting that their response should only be stoical. Instead their faith has to be involved through each stage. They are to regard the trials as part of God’s calling on their lives.

One parable of Jesus that reminds us of this reality is the parable of the sower. I think we tend to forget that three of the four responses failed to include steadfastness and the correct response was marked by steadfastness. An essential mark of a genuine believer is that he or she persists in following Jesus, even although they may do so in different degrees, as that parable indicates.

Steadfastness makes us into what God wants us to be – ideal Christians

The outcome us that we become balanced Christians, or as James says ‘perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.’ When he mentions ‘perfect’, he does not mean sinless, but he does mean sanctified and spiritually mature. When he says ‘complete, lacking in nothing’, he does not mean that the believer becomes self-sufficient, but he does mean that the believer has discovered the reliable source of grace, one that he had utilised often when under trial.

What kinds of trials can Christians face?

There are several types of trial that can come the way of believers. It is important to note that James indicates that Christians are not the cause of the trials, so he does not have in mind the ones that they can cause by their own sinful behaviour. Sadly Christians can find themselves in problems because they are cantankerous and unpleasant in their attitudes or because they have been unreliable in keeping their word. These are not the kind of trials that James has in mind.

One common kind of trial is what our catechism calls ‘the miseries of this life’. Christians can be tried by ill health, unemployment, family difficulties, accidents and all kinds of events that happen on a daily basis. There are Christians living in famine areas and in places affected by earthquakes in which they lose everything. Such experiences can be a real test of faith for those going through them.

A second type of trial faced by some Christians concern their spiritual experiences. They may find themselves suddenly perplexed with the issue of assurance, and it is surprising because they may not have been bothered with this issue before. Or they may find themselves having to deal with an issue that requires spiritual guidance, yet they do not receive it from anyone that they ask. Others may find that the Bible becomes dry in their experience and they receive no comfort from it. With others, prayer becomes a chore and they find no way of enjoying it. When these things happen, it can be a real test of faith.

A third type of trial is the one that James’ readers were probably facing, that of persecution. This form of trial can be distressing, especially if a person has a family to worry about or loses property, and there does not seem to be any help available. James does not pretend that such trials are easy, yet he does stress that joy can be known in them.

How do we persevere in trials?

The basic requirement for coping with trials is to focus on the development of our inner lives. After all, this is the main reason why God brings them into our lives.

Think of how Jesus responded to trials and of how believers, whether in the Bible or in literature or through personal contact, responded to them. Obviously, we have one perfect example and many imperfect examples. But we are to follow their example. What did Jesus do? One of his biggest trials was Gethsemane – there he prayed and there he sought company with his friends. Sadly, they were unable to show much friendship on that occasion. Yet Jesus did not wait for them to show it, he initiated it. So if you are in trouble, don’t wait for others to come to you. You go and see them and get help from their company.

When we get lost in a car, there is no point in discussing where we are with one another. Instead we get out the road map or start listening to the satnav. When our lives start getting confused, and there will be times when they will be very disconcerting, we have to get out the spiritual road map, which is the Bible. Obviously, when using a car, it would have helped to become familiar with how the satnav works when things were easy. It is similar to the Bible. We should get to know its instructions and promises when life is straightforward because that will help us when difficult times come.

Be on the lookout for particular sins showing themselves. One such sin would be resentment against others who may not seem to be undergoing problems, although that is a silly assumption to make. Or we may sense rebellion within our hearts against the providence of God and start to imagine that life is unfair. Or we may refuse to use the means that God has given to us to help us through such times. Those responses will not help, and they are sinful. When we sense them we should confess them and ask for forgiveness.

Remember that we are Christians and that there should be the joy of Jesus with us. This joy is not a sign of unreality; instead it is a sign that we are drinking at the correct fountain. The joy is not because of the circumstances, but is evidence of supernatural help in the circumstances. Joy is not the only emotion we should have, of course. I recall reading the comment of the father of John MacDonald, the Apostle of the North. It was his prayer that his face would always commend Christ no matter what he was going through.

Consider the intercession of Jesus and the strengthening ministry of the Holy Spirit. We have to remind ourselves that although others may forget us Jesus never does and that although others may avoid us the Holy Spirit never ignores his people. They are continually active on behalf of every believer and they know what they are doing.

Think of the reward from Jesus and his commendation. James will mention this detail later in his letter. Think of what Jesus said to his disciples in the upper room and apply it to ourselves: ‘You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom’ (Luke 22:28-29). There will be a great heavenly reward for steadfastness.