Trials- James' Unique Perspective

The book of James should be one of your favorite books of the Bible. I believe this because it engages the reader in such a way that no other book of the Bible does. And it's because of the perspective and approach that James uses with regards to Christian living. And it is a perspective and approach that he just illuminates as he moves through this letter. He takes on topic after topic and almost in a mini-sermon after mini-sermon way. And so today we're going to explore this unique perspective and this unique approach of James as he takes on one of the most important and impactful topics and aspects of a Christian's life. Trials. Trials. And so the title of today's study is Trials, James's Unique Perspective. You can begin to turn to James if you hadn't already. James chapter 1. And we'll get to this unique perspective and approach with regards to trials that he had in just a moment. First, in exploring this topic with James, it's important to establish something about this book and the man behind it first. The man behind this book we know, of course, as the very son, excuse me, as the very brother of Jesus Christ himself. James was Jesus Christ's brother. But it's interesting that even though James does not, is Jesus's brother, he doesn't identify himself in that way in this letter. Rather, he chooses to identify himself in chapter 1 verse 1, as you see, as a bond servant. A bond servant of not only God the Father, but a bond servant of his brother, who he refers to as the Lord Jesus Christ. And so it's not the natural relationship, the natural family relationship, that just amazed James. It was the miracle of God's graciousness towards him to open his eyes to understand that Jesus was not only his brother, but the very Son of God. But the fact that James was Jesus's brother did not prevent this letter from being highly challenged and highly questioned. The book of James, amongst a few other books in the Bible, were greatly disputed during the Protestant Revolution that occurred in the 16th century. So much so that the book of James, amongst the others, was called Deuterocanonical. Maybe you've heard that word, Deuterocanonical. And in breaking up this word, first we have Deutero, which is spelled, you can imagine, D-E-U-T-E-R-O, Deutero. We're familiar with that prefix because we are familiar with Deuteronomy, of course. Deuteronomy meaning a second look at the law. So Deutero is having to do with a second look, a second review. So Deuterocanonical is a second look at this book as to whether this letter should even be part of the canon. There was a vehement discussion, to say the least, that occurred with this letter of James's. Whether this letter should be part of the acceptable canon of the Bible or not. And Martin Luther, who was the influential figure of that time during the Protestant Revolution, he led this argument. And again, he made an attempt to remove James and several other books from the Bible. Why? Well, he perceived them as going against certain Protestant doctrines. Specifically with James, Luther struggled with what seemed to be a conflict regarding faith and works that James wrote about. So he called this letter of James, oh it was a book of straw, he said. And he felt, Luther felt that Jesus was not being recognized as the Savior sufficiently in this letter. He felt that James was not recognizing Jesus Christ as the Savior in a proper way. But James, in his approach in this letter, we have to know, was dealing with those individuals who said that they had a faith and a belief in Jesus Christ. But there really wasn't an emphasis so much to show a life of faith. So James took that idea, that false premise, head-on, if you will. And he said, well, we are to show our faith. We are to show what we know.

And that's the premise that he went into this letter with, that we are to display our belief. We are to demonstrate what we know to be true. In other words, he proposed that true Christian's faith, our belief, what we know to be on to be true, is most on display in how we respond to what life brings us.

James's message was simple, and his unique perspective and approach is this. And he wrote to God's people in this way. He said, if you know and if you consider that God the Father has opened your eyes to understand that Jesus Christ is your Savior and the means to your salvation, by knowing that, by having faith in that, then that reality establishes your approach to life and all that life gives you. So, in considering that God the Father has brought you this opportunity for salvation through his Son, by believing that and having faith in that, then that reality establishes how you move through life. And so, with regards to trials, trials, one of the biggest aspects that can make a Christian stumble, James puts forth this unique approach and perspective.

If you know, if this is what you know, then this is how you respond to trials. A very simple message with regards to trials that James brought. And so, we'll see this thoughtful perspective. It is a considerate approach that he proposes that a Christian should face the trials in their life. And it's absolutely fascinating. Absolutely fascinating because in trials, emotions, emotions are at the steering wheel. Most every time. Emotions are driving our perspective. But what James says, we will see, is don't approach it that way. Don't let emotions drive your perspective.

And again, he proposes that in a midst of a trial, a Christian should take a moment. Take a moment to consider what they know about God. Take a moment to consider what you know about God's methods that he uses to give us salvation. So let's begin. Let's see this revealed here. Let's turn go to chapter 1 and let's read verse 2 through 4 here. Verse 2 through 4. He says, My brethren, count at all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

So let's stop there. So he launches right into the heart of all things. And the first thing he confronts his readers with is the perplexing fact that joy, which is one of the greatest fruits of a Christian faith, joy is not only revealed in the pleasurable experiences of life, but rather joy is also revealed in the trials and tribulations of a Christian's life.

James would have been fully prepared to acknowledge that trials hurt, trials are painful, loss is difficult, and we acknowledge that as well. But what he's saying here right from the get-go is that trials, ironically, can also be the very thing and the very occasions of rejoicing if we respond to them with the proper perspective and approach.

Perspective is crucial. The angle by which we approach the experience of trials and difficulties, it's fundamental. The right perspective is fundamental to the right response. Unless we think correctly with regards to trials, we cannot respond correctly. It is in the thinking correctly that establishes and enables us to respond in the proper way. But in many ways we need transformation of our minds to occur with regards to this because the first part of verse 2, count at all joy, seemingly does not go with the second part of verse 2, when you fall into various trials.

Of course, most people think just the opposite. Namely, you don't have a joy in trials. But James says no. He says that trials are directly related to the experience of joy. It sounds impossible, but God wouldn't require it if it was unattainable. And so James is going to lead us to that possibility of joy in a trial.

And you'll notice here this word counted, count at all joy. In the NIV, it's considerate. Considerate all joy. So he's not saying that innately trials are joyful in and of themselves. What he's saying is that we should consider it all joy. In other words, when trials and difficulties come into our lives, our first response should be a considerate one, a response of consideration. Emotions will instruct you differently. But this is the unique perspective and approach of James.

He is saying that when a trial hits, pause. Take a moment of consideration. Quickly get your mind centered. Begin to think. Begin to reflect. James is saying here is that the joy we will receive through trials in large degree depends on our consideration of them and how we think in regards to them.

Put away the emotions at that moment. Get your mind in the game. Consider what is occurring. And it is by the next two words of verse 3 that we can understand verse 2. That the first two words of verse 3 provide the key in understanding verse 2. And those words are what?

Knowing that. The NIV states, because you know. So James is putting forth his perspective and approach right at this moment. And it's the perspective on how a Christian should approach trials that they face. It is this. Your perspective and approach to trials must be grounded in what you know. My brethren, he says, count it all joy. Consider it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that because you know. And he's about to remind them here what they know about God and what they know about the methods he uses to bring us salvation.

That's why it's important for us to be well taught in the Scriptures so that we know certain things. And then that knowledge then sustains us in trials. Because the knowing, the knowledge, will be the very thing that sustains you. Again, as trials come into our lives, the natural tendency is to respond with emotion, panic, sometimes resentment, the feeling that what is occurring in my life is just a waste of time.

It's a waste of me. We've had those thoughts, but knowledge instructs you otherwise. So James is saying here, with this considerate perspective and approach, establish he now begins to remind them what they know about trials. So what do we know about trials? Let's consider what we know about trials. One thing we know about trials, as he indicates here, is that they are inevitable.

The word in verse 2 is not if you face trials. The word in verse 2 is when you face trials. So trials are an expected feature of a Christian's life. You're going to face trials, and there is a sense of peace in that knowledge alone that allows us to face the inevitable. So when trials hit, we don't have to run from them. We don't have to try to ignore them. We can accept them when they come. We know they're coming. And if you'll notice what he says here, when you fall into various trials, various kinds of trials, we certainly know that to be true.

The word various here that's used describing our trials is poikilos. P-O-I-K-I-L-O-I-S. P-O-I-K-I-L-O-I-S. Pokilos. And it means not only various but also multicolored. So James says, listen, the trials you face are not only inevitable, they are going to be various. They are going to be multicolored. And you'll notice that that word translated various is multicolored. And there's not something you should know about that word.

You should know that it is the same word that is used to describe God's grace. You can turn there if you'd like. It's 1 Peter 4 verse 10. Or you can just, I'll read it. 1 Peter 4 verse 10. Peter here refers to God's grace in the exact same way, the exact same word. It says, 1 Peter 4 verse 10, breaking into the verse here, he says, as each one has received a gift, received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Of the manifold is that word, pokilos, same word that James used to describe the trials in our life. So he describes God's grace in the same way. So while it is true that our trials are various and multicolored, it is true that God's grace is also. So that's good knowledge to know, good knowledge to know.

There is not a color of a trial that can come into our lives, that God's grace doesn't have a color to match it. Incredible to think about. When trials hit, it's so crucial to bring our minds to this understanding and what we know and to have this considerate approach when they hit. Going back to James 1, James 1, here in verse 3, James continues to tell his readers what they know, brings their remembrance back to them about God and his method.

So verse 3 here is another thing to remember, to know. Verse 3, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Let's stop there. So something to consider with regards to trials. There is a testing of your faith that is occurring. And we could ask, what is being tested for here? Well, if you want to get down to it, to the bare bones, the test is to see if your faith is genuine or not. And one of the ways we discover and that God discovers if our faith is genuine is when our faith is up against it.

We know that. The test through a trial is to prove whether we have genuine faith or not. So James is saying that's something you should know about trials. So the perspective of James is here on full display. Is your faith just an intellectual belief? Or will you walk what you believe? Will you show me your faith? Will you demonstrate what you know by how you respond to the trial? When difficulties come? When family life begins to disintegrate?

When what you your hopes and your dreams that you had in this lifetime don't seem to be coming about? Whatever it is, when hope is beginning to fade, that is when the testing from God begins to discover if our faith is genuine. So how does God find out if we have genuine faith? It is in the test. You know this. You know this. How does he find out that your faith is genuine? It is not in the blue skies or when the band is playing.

It is in the storm. More progress is made in a Christian's life through disappointment and tears than will ever be made through success and laughter. That's something we know. And if you're successful then, patience is produced, as it says here in verse 3. You're able to develop patience. If you stay the course, you will be forged for the future. No doubt trials develop our ability to hold on, to hold on to the end for salvation, the salvation that's being offered to us. You know trials develop patience in a unique way.

And if we pull out when the pressure is on and the heat is on, then we'll lose all of the good here that God intends for us. So verse 4, patience must finish its work. Patience must finish its work. Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect, complete, lacking, nothing. What do you know? Trials responded to you in the proper way will make you perfect, complete, and lacking nothing. That's quite a statement. What is the fruit of a considerate and thoughtful response to trials?

Perfection. You will put on perfection. And everything that James has laid out here, in just those few verses, you know. You know. It's simply profound. Trials are the means by which you and I arrive at perfection. That simple. So knowing this, considering this, is how we will move through a trial to discover the faithfulness of God and discover His plan of salvation for us. With the suffering of a Christian, there's no place in not knowing. There's no place for uncertainty.

In what God is doing through us, in them, with them, with the trials. You know what He's doing.

And really, all of God's people at some point have to reach this crossroad.

They have to reach this crossroad. And the crossroad of being able to hold on fast because of what we know. And where our faith is displayed by how we respond to what has sometimes just hit us in the face, knocked us off our feet, then our faith is displayed in how we respond. So we all need to come to these crossroads. It's what a crossroads it is.

And it's very interesting that there is a prophet of God who had to come to this exact crossroad, this very crossroad, the prophet of God who had to come to this same then perspective and approach that James has taught us today. Long before James ever sat down to pen this letter, the prophet Jeremiah had to come to this same perspective and this same approach regarding an absolutely devastating trial that he was facing. So I think it's worthwhile to conclude with Jeremiah's story during a time of a tragic trial that was in his life.

It was a moment that occurred with the prophet Jeremiah where there were extreme suffering, and he certainly needed to bring his mind back to what he knew about God. To be able to get through.

He had to access this considerate approach of James. It was a moment in which he would hold up his suffering to that of what he knew about God. Hold up his suffering to that knowledge that God hadn't left him, that God was with him, and that God was accomplishing something through what he was going through, the trial that he faced. So turn with me, if you will, to Lamentations, verse 3. Lamentations, verse 3. We're going to start in verse 1.

As you turn there, let me set the scene here in the absolutely staggering moment with Jeremiah and the suffering he was going through. Here in Lamentations, he is a representative of the nation of Israel. The circumstances surrounding Lamentations here were extraordinarily dark.

Here he is now reflecting on what has happened to himself, what has happened to his people, Israel, under the suffering of King Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah describes in the first two chapters of Lamentations that they had found themselves, he says, with gates that have sunk into the ground.

He says that they had found themselves with the kings and the priests were all gone.

No more kings, no more priests. The nation of Israel was at a just an absolute base of desolation. They had been reduced to cannibalism. It says that they ate the fruit of their womb.

So let that sink in for a moment. No worship, no leaders, no temple, absolute despair. All hope is gone, nothing. It's all gone. Incredible trial that Jeremiah is in at this point.

So this is the place that we pick up and find Jeremiah here in chapter 3. Let's read this, chapter 3. Let's read verse 1 through 9. We're going to notice that Jeremiah is speaking here. He refers to a hymn. He refers to a hymn here, and he's referring to God.

So keep that in mind. Emotion at this point just had overtaken him. Lamentations 3, let's read verse 1 through 9. Picture yourself sometimes in a trial that you've been through or going through.

I am a man who has seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. He's speaking of God the Father.

He has led me and made me walk in darkness and not light. Surely he has turned his hand against me time and time again throughout the day. He has aged my flesh and my skin and broken my bones.

He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and woe.

He has set me in dark places like a dead long ago. He has hedged me in so I cannot get out. He has made my chain heavy. Even when I cry and shout, he shuts out my prayer.

He has blocked my ways with hewn stone and has made my paths crooked. Let's stop there.

All this speaks to complete agony, and this is the lament of a very godly prophet.

In a lament, in a place of despair that maybe we found ourselves in before, maybe today.

And it's interesting here that over and over again he speaks of he, God, as bringing this about, allowing, authorizing what has occurred to him. Verse 7 through 9 again is fascinating. He says, he's hedged me in. I cannot get out. He has made my chains heavy. Speaking of God, though I cry out, he shuts out my prayer. There's no intervention here.

He has blocked my ways. He blocks in stones. He's made my paths crooked. He says.

And again, this is a prayer of a very righteous prophet. And so there's something here that is critical to take a moment and to look at and to understand. And it is an understanding about God that we know. We know this. We know and we understand this about God in our trials, and that is, even with our suffering, God is in complete control.

Always.

Always.

Sovereign over it all.

When you're in a trial, bring this to mind. Consider this. God has providence over it all.

The good and the bad. So even with the actions here of Nebuchadnezzar and his destruction, you don't find Satan the devil somehow having victory over God, or somehow getting one hand up on God, as if Satan the devil is stronger than God himself. No. With the suffering, even with the suffering, you will find the very hand, mind, and purpose of God. That's what James taught us, and it makes it so amazing. God is in control.

Whatever you're going through, whatever you will go through, know this. God is in control. That's what Jeremiah here is really working through, and he's taking us along in his journey as he's trying to work all these matters through his mind to make sense of it. God is never the author of sin, but he's always in control.

Jeremiah, at this point, is at a very emotional time, but he's beginning to engage his mind.

He's beginning to think here deeply on these matters, beginning to think deeply on suffering in relationship to God ultimately being in control of it.

So he's moving through this trial, and he's beginning to use James's perspective and approach.

We are about to see that he begins to put the emotions to the side, and he's beginning to take a considerate approach here. We're about to see.

He's considering and working through what he knows about God and the methods by which he uses to bring us salvation. So he's getting to this deep understanding. It was beginning to fill him up, and it's beginning to happen here in verse 21 that we're about to read. So after all that lamenting and all this grieving—and we didn't even read it all—it's incredible. Look at what he says here.

After all of that, verse 21 through 23, But this I recall to my mind. Therefore I have hope. What does he know? Verse 22.

Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because his compassion fails not.

They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.

What is his mind beginning to do here? What is his mind beginning to open up to?

Jeremiah begins to remind himself of certain things, certain things he knows with regards to his suffering. And that is, there is nothing about God that is being consumed. There is nothing about God that is failing. His mercies are never consumed. His compassion is never failed.

And interesting here, Jeremiah, if you think about this, Jeremiah was feeling the effects of a disobedient nation, the nation of Israel. But no matter. God is in control, even with the suffering of a disobedient nation. And he is in control, even with the suffering of a righteous prophet. And he is in control even when you and I are suffering. Nothing is failing.

Nothing is being consumed with regards to God and the purposes that he's using.

Jeremiah says, and not only that, I know he is faithful. He's faithful. And so the faithfulness of God is not something that simply exists when everything is going well.

The faithfulness of God is just as strong with our suffering.

Here in verse 22 that we just read, Jeremiah is speaking now, not in the realm of emotion.

He's gotten his mind back in the game. He's beginning to think, have this considerate approach. He begins to remember what he knows about God, despite what is before him. And it was just the ultimate of trial here, the ultimate of despair, despite what is before him. He's not going to look with those eyes. So in a sense, he closes his eyes to what the physical is presenting him. And he's beginning to look through new eyes, through spiritual eyes. And he says, okay, what do I know? You almost see him in verse 23. He's just pouring his heart at verse 21. He's pouring his heart out. And he takes a moment, a deep breath. What do I know about God? What do I know?

You can almost hear him say this to himself aloud.

Despite what I'm going through, what do I know about God? I'm going to call this to mind. I'm going to bring my mind in on these matters. I'm going to consider something here.

Right here, Jeremiah is doing exactly what James instructed us to do in trials when they hit.

I'm going to call this to mind. There is hope. The Lord's mercies are not consumed. His compassion fails not. In fact, they're new every morning. Lord, I know. Grateful is your faithfulness.

You're in control, and you are faithful even with my suffering.

So important. Keep those words in your mind when trials hit. Boy, recall that to mind.

God is faithful even with my suffering. And so, these things we are to call to mind when suffering begins to overtake us and begins to be too much. I've been there. When I read some of these examples in the Bible that we have, I know you've been there, too. I've been at the point where you just feel frozen. I've said aloud before, I don't even want to pray. I don't even think I can pray at this moment. I don't want to go to church. I don't want to sing songs. It's just too much. It's overwhelming. I've been there.

It can overtake you. And when you feel that, stop. Stop. Consider what you know. Jeremiah had to renew his mind at this moment. His mind begins to be transformed. So, his mind is being transformed by this renewing of his mind. And that allows him to then move forward, continue moving. But he had to go back to what he knew. And he's able to say, he was able to say, despite all of that that he was facing, I know the hand, mind, and purposes of God are with me.

I know God's in control, and I can trust him. I know his his mercies are multicolored.

And there is not a shade of a trial that his grace doesn't have a shade to match it.

I know that God is faithful. And as James said, we say, God, I know you're working to complete me.

I know you're working to make me perfect. And that knowledge brings me joy. Thank you.

That's how you discover the joy. It's in the knowing. The knowing.

God, I know you're working to complete me. I know you're making me perfect. And that knowledge brings me joy. Thank you, Father.

That's a powerful prayer to pray in the midst of a trial that's just knocked you off your feet.

Powerful. Pray those words. Say them over and over again until it hits your heart. We have to know these things. This is how a Christian cries from the perspective of knowing.

And we need these tears. We need these tears because faithful tears will complete you.

Faithful tears will make you perfect.

I'd like to end with a poem today. This is written by W.F. Lloyd. Maybe some of you have heard it.

It's titled, My Times Are in Thy Hand by William F. Lloyd, and we'll end with this. My times are in thy hand, My God, I wish them there, My life, my friends, my soul, I leave entirely to thy care.

My times are in thy hand, whatever they may be, Pleasing or painful, dark or bright, As best may seem to thee. My times are in thy hand, why should I doubt or fear?

My father's hand will never cause His child a needless tear.