Faith Triumphs over Trials and Temptations
James: Take it in and Live it out • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
A pastor several years ago shared this simple observation that he has learned over decades of faithful ministry: A person’s spiritual maturity isn’t truly visible until they don’t get their way… then you finally see that person. While Erik Reed’s statement might or might not be universally true, we know that there are times in our life where things don’t go our way. Whenever things don’t go your way, what options do you have?
Complain
Do something different
Continue onward and trust that they will get better
Continue onward knowing that God is with you and even if things don’t improve, He’s faithful
The book of James is full of practical wisdom and it begins with how to get through difficult times of tragedy, trial, and temptation. James’ opening argument is that if you have genuine faith in the Lord then you will demonstrate that faith even in times of suffering because you know that God works even in those moments.
Before we dive into our text, when have you experienced joy in the middle of a trial?
Loss of a loved one
Loss of previously good health
Look at Job and other Biblical examples
Elizabeth Elliot
Ultimately, we know that this joy isn’t naturally from ourselves… it is a gift of grace from our good God that He allows us to experience joy even when we might not be necessarily happy. Could someone start us off by reading the first 4 verses of James chapter 1?
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ: To the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings.
2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4 And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
What stands out to you in this introduction to his book about the way James greets his audience?
Servant
Doesn’t claim authority because of being Jesus’ half brother
What do we do with verses 2-4? Many expect a suffering free life whenever they walk the aisle and get dunked under the water? What does the Bible actually tell us?
We should expect suffering because Jesus suffered and told His followers they would as well!
Suffering isn’t always a bad thing!
God promises to walk all things for our good as Christians!
What is 1 good thing that can come as a result of suffering?
Verse 3 tells us that this type of testing produces endurance and that endurance produces maturity
Trials and suffering make you aware of your need for God
Suffering won’t make us perfect on this side of heaven, but it does help us grow in maturity and strengthens our Christian character
Last week during our introduction, we talked about how James is full of practical Christian wisdom and serves as the New Testament version of Proverbs in some ways. Proverbs tells us that we must trust in the Lord, not in ourselves in chapter 3:5-7
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.
7 Don’t be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
It’s not natural to think of trials in a positive light - in fact, we’d usually say that we view trials pretty negatively. Yet, James not only suggests but he commands us in verse 2 to consider trials as a great joy. This is in direct opposition to the theology that says that God only wants you to be happy, healthy, and wealthy. James is sharing with us that God has something greater in mind than those things… our holiness. David Platt and Tony Merida share this in their commentary on James, “Trials and temptations are both inevitable, and God intends both to deepen our faith.” These Jewish believers are spread out and likely facing some form of persecution and James tells them to consider those trials a pure joy. This doesn’t mean to not grieve through hard times and it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t sympathize with people who are suffering… the rejoicing doesn’t have as much to do with the suffering as it does what God is accomplishing through the suffering. God works all things for for our good and that includes suffering and trials - not because they make us feel good, but because they make us more like Jesus as we have to rely on His power and trust in His Word.
Think of a time in your life where you went through a trial and experienced joy during the trial
Health complications / suffering = able to share my testimony and the Gospel
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord,
8 being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.
Verse 5 continues the thought from verses 1-4 about trials and suffering. So often we find ourselves in the middle of a trial and we don’t know where to turn. In this moment, James shares with us that we should simply ask God and He will help us in that time of need. Our book does a good job of talking about wisdom and its divine origin - think of the difference of having Godly wisdom in the middle of your suffering versus not.
David, in the Psalms, often wrestles with what to do because he has sinned against God but desires to obey God’s command and follow His will. In Psalm 25 we find him say this in this confusing season
4 Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; I wait for you all day long.
This is what it looks like to ask God for wisdom - why are we sometimes hesitant to come to God and ask Him for guidance?
Pride
Non-American way of doing things
Think we know which way to go
James 1:5 reminds us that God gives generously to all who ask… but we must ask with belief and not doubt. This may not feel very helpful because we’ve all experienced doubt! Look at verse 8, what type of doubt is James really talking about here? (also see page 13 of our guide)
The person who shouldn’t expect to receive anything from the Lord is the person who is double-minded and unstable. In other words, the person who comes to God and also looks for the best advice this world has to offer and he might combine the two into something brand new. This is what the preacher of Hebrews is warning his audience to not fall in to - pay attention to Jesus and don’t go back to the previous things you’ve done. Don’t mix Jesus with practices of ancient Judaism or the sacrifice system of old. Follow God alone. The person James is talking about in reference to doubting here is not necessarily the person who has occasional internal doubts about their salvation or something in Scripture but the person who refuses to trust in God’s Word and looks to combine God’s wisdom with the wisdom of this world. Some people think that they can get their fire insurance from 2 different insurance agents and be covered 2x and have the best of both worlds… James says that this isn’t how it works.
How can we guard our mind against this type of worldly doubt and faithfully look to God’s Word alone?
Remembering this promise that God gives wisdom generously
Resting in God’s faithfulness
9 Let the brother of humble circumstances boast in his exaltation,
10 but let the rich boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field.
11 For the sun rises and, together with the scorching wind, dries up the grass; its flower falls off, and its beautiful appearance perishes. In the same way, the rich person will wither away while pursuing his activities.
The Bible gives us some teachings that seem the opposite of our world. The first shall be last, the meek shall inherit the earth, pray for the one who persecutes you, love your enemies, turn the other cheek. The Bible’s teaching on wealth equally stands out. We live in a world that genuinely idolizes wealth and our country makes the pursuit of wealth a noble venture. Yet, the Bible promises that it is actually the humble who should boast rather than the wealthy. The prosperity Gospel isn’t anything new as people have tried to make money on Christianity for centuries, but given the mainstreamness of the name it claim it Gospel, we’re seeing more and more people fall into this addiction and love for money and possessions and they’ll argue that it’s their right because Jesus died so that they would be happy, healthy, and wealthy.
What about James’ teaching here stands out from the way many in our world view wealth?
The humble should boast in their exaltation
The rich boast in their humiliation because they’ll pass away while they pursue their activities
14 But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world.
We’re all tempted to boast in some things in this life - what are some of the things humans put their trust in the most?
Money
Power
Possessions
Family/friends
Image
Status
What is the problem with putting our trust in these things?
They’ll change and let us down!
Trials have a leveling effect on humans - it doesn’t matter how rich or poor you are, you will experience suffering of some level! James shares here that the poor should be driven to boast in their rich status as a child of God. The rich, on the other hand, might be tempted to boast in their wealth and must be careful. Think about the teaching in the church about wealth - what are the extremes you’ve heard in sermons about money?
Money is evil
Every Christian should be wealthy
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
The Bible doesn’t argue that money is evil - God owns all things and gives things to His children to steward wisely and I’ve met some good, wealthy Christians (Clif Smart from MSU and FBC Springfield). But the risk is our love… Do we love money? Do we put our trust in what it can buy is? Is money where we find our identity? This is the challenge in James for the rich person. James argues that the wealthy have an obligation to help others and to boast in God alone.
Conclusion
Conclusion
We’re all going to face trials and temptations but the question that we have to ask ourselves is how will we respond the next time we’re knocked down by the waves of suffering? This passage reminds us what our mindset must be - it can’t be simply complaining or claiming things from God and it can’t be a fake it till you make it mentality either. We respond to trials with faith in our God that He is still at work and His work is always good, therefore we can rejoice at what He is doing in the big picture even if we can’t rejoice at what we’re feeling in the moment.
This is a nearly impossible attitude to have, and it requires us to have godly wisdom and we must ask God for that wisdom. As we do this, we might be tempted to doubt that we’ve done enough… In that moment, remember this: It is not large faith in a small god that saves but little faith in a big God. That type of faith triumphs over trials and temptations!