Triumphing Through Trials (Part 1)

A man whom many believe was the greatest American president. When he was 7 years of age, his family was forced out of their home, and he went to work. When he was 9, his mother died. He lost his job as a store clerk when he was 20. He wanted to go to law school, but he didn't have the education. At age 23 he went into debt to be a partner in a small store. Three years later the business partner died, and the resulting debt took years to repay.

When he was 28, after courting a girl for four years, he asked her to marry him, and she turned him down. On his third try he was elected to Congress, at age 37, but then failed to be re-elected. His son died at 4 years of age. When this man was 45, he ran for the Senate and lost. At age 47 he ran for the vice-presidency and lost. But at age 51 he was elected president of the United States.

Do you know this man was?

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The man was Abraham Lincoln, a man who learned to face discouragement and move beyond it. Did you know that it was Abraham Lincoln who, in the midst of the Civil War, in 1863, established the annual celebration of Thanksgiving? Lincoln had learned how important it is to stop and thank God in the midst of great difficulties.

The point of that story was to illustrate the importance of not giving up in the midsts of trials. In our study in the letter of James, we will specifically learn the importance of persevering and enduring trials and difficulties of the Christian life. Although our focus for today’s lesson is only on verses 2-4, I want us to read because it gives us a broader context. READ.

Explain The Vocabulary

Trials - In this passage, trials mean to put some sort of test on someone. Such test could be suffering, hardship, and pain. The intention is to refine the nature of a person’s character.

Steadfastness/Perseverance/Endurance - It is the ability to persist in a purpose despite difficulties.

The Attitude Of Trials

Unlike Paul’s letters, James does not offer “thanksgiving” and “prayer.” He immediately jumps and gives instructions to his readers about trials.

The Advantage of Trials

1. The Attitude Of Trials (v.2)

Unlike Paul’s letters, James does not offer “thanksgiving” and “prayer.” He immediately jumps into instructions to his readers. James immediately begins his opening letter talking about trials.

Verse 2 may be a key to understanding James’ reason for writing to the Jewish Christians. You may remember last Sunday, that one of James’ reason for writing this letter was to instruct the Christians who were suffering. We know that he’s writing to Christians because of the way he addresses them.

Interaction: How does James address his readers? A: my brothers.

These Jewish Christians were brothers and sisters in Christ. They were experiencing trials of various kinds. In other words, they were dealing with different trials.

James will provide us three lessons about trials.

1. The Types Of Trials (v.2b)

What types of trials were the Jewish Christians enduring?

In summary, these were the types of trials that James was addressing:

a. Vulnerability and Powerlessness ()

b. Poverty - lacking food, clothing, and shelter ()

c. Oppression and Persecution by the rich ()

d. Exploitation of Labour ()

e. Sick and general suffering ()

Jesus never promised Christians that we will be not be affected by suffering and trials. If you read through the New Testament, then it should be no surprise that trials are often connected to persecution of the Christian faith.

Persecution - oppressing, opposing, and harassing someone for their faith.

Let me give you a recent example from last month.

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Earlier this month Wang Yi; his wife, Jiang Rong; and more than 100 Christians who attend Early Rain Covenant Church were arrested in the city of Chengdu by Chinese authorities. The members of the congregation was accused of wanting to overthrow the Chinese government. According to China Aid, this is a charge often handed to Chinese Christians because the Communist Party views religion as a threat to their ideological control. If convicted, Wang and the church members could face up to 15 years in prison.

For example,

Unfortunately, we live in a world where followers of Jesus will be hated by the world. Why?

John 15:18 ESV

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

John 15:18

If you are a Christian this morning, then do not be surprised that the world hates you for your Christian faith. It is normal for you to experience trials. Persecution and suffering WILL come to all believers.

The question is not “if” trials will come, but when trials will come. Look at :2. He says “WHEN” you meet trials of various kinds.” If can be defined as “uncertain possibility.” When can be defined as “certain reality that will happen any time.”

James furthermore says when YOU MEET trials of various kinds. That phrase “you meet” can also be translated as when you ENCOUNTER or FALL INTO. It means to suddenly experience the difficult or bad.

That word is the same word when Jesus taught the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

The definition

Luke 10:30 ESV

Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.

The man “fell” (same word) among robbers.

What is the point of getting technical? The point is that James is not commanding believers to seek out trials.

Believers are not to seek trials because trials will seek them.

I am certain that the types of trials you face a teenager is not limited to what James mentions. Suffering, trials, and pain may be different for you than the Jewish Christians.

Don’t go looking for trouble because trouble will come to you!

REFLECTION: What trials trouble you the most?

I am certain that the types of trials you face as a teenager is not limited to what James mentioned. For instance...

When your non-Christian friends ask if you’re a Christian, then would you respond by saying that you’re a follower of Jesus? You might have to testify your faith to them. You might even be killed for being a Christian in another country.

You will face peer pressure and societal pressure. They will tell you to do and believe in certain things that go against the teachings found in the Bible. If you do not conform to the cultural and societal values, then your friends might unfriend you and you might be labelled negatively. In the real world, you might even lose your job.

You might face the pressure to

If you are born in a non-Christian family as I am, then you will face a unique challenge at home. They may have cultural practices that go against your faith. Sometimes, they might pressure you to practice those things. They might also tell you to focus on school instead of serving God.

You might be experiencing loneliness, depression and disappointment of life. Trials of life are giving you a hard time. It might be school, family, friends, or other things that are making your life difficult. People and circumstance are letting you down. You might be feeling unmotivated and do not feel like continuing with life.

And when trials do come to us, how should we respond to it as Christians?

2. The Attitude Of Trials (v.2a)

James teaches us how we should respond to trials. He talks about the Christians’ attitude when facing suffering.

How does James want the readers to respond to trials?

James’ instruction to the readers is to “COUNT IT ALL JOY when you meet various trials.”

REFLECTION: How do you usually respond to trials and hardships?

I think we naturally respond to trials with worry, fear, and sadness, which I think it’s a human thing to do.

But, James teach the readers how they should respond to trials. He talks about the Christians’ attitude when facing suffering.

How does James want the readers to respond to trials?

I think we naturally respond to trials with worry, fear, and sadness

James’ instruction to the readers is to COUNT IT ALL JOY.

Despite the trials and hardships that the Jewish Christians were facing, James tells them that the attitude of trials is joy. We are to rejoice.

There are three things that James is not saying here.

But, the question we need to ask ourselves is this:

First, James is not talking about some joy, part joy, but ALL JOY. Complete Joy. Pure Joy. Genuine wholehearted joy.

We need to be careful here. James is not telling the readers to be joyful for the trials.

Second, James is not saying that we are to count it all joy for the trials. We are not to rejoice for our suffering. He’s not telling us to laugh at the fact that we’re in pain. That’s just weird. He is saying that we can count it all joy when we are in the midst of trials. We naturally rejoice when we escape trials, but James is telling us to still rejoice in the midsts of it.

Third, James is not saying that the Christians should have no other response besides joy. Other parts of the Bible would suggest otherwise.

1 Peter 1:6 ESV

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

There will be times when trials and suffering will grieve us. They will produce sorrow in our hearts.

The Apostle Paul understood this fully.

2 Corinthians 6:8–10 ESV

through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

2 Corinthians 6:3–10 ESV

We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

In other words, Paul understood suffering. He understood the pain and the trials he experience for being a Christian and for telling others about Jesus Christ. Nonetheless, despite his suffering and sorrow, he is always rejoicing.

In other words, Paul understood suffering. He understood the pain and the trials he experienced for being a Christian and for telling others about Jesus Christ. Nonetheless, despite his suffering and sorrow, he is always rejoicing.

2 Cor 6:3-

Yes, we can genuinely grieve because of suffering. Yet, we can genuinely rejoice because despite whatever suffering we are experiencing in this life, our joy is not found on earth, but in Jesus Christ who rules over heaven and earth.

James must have gotten the idea of joy in the midst of suffering from Jesus.

There will be times when trials will grieve us, but there will also be times when there is genuine rejoicing.

Matthew 5:10–12 ESV

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

but there will also be times when there is genuine rejoicing.

REFLECTION: How do you usually respond to trials and hardships?

Jesus told us that we are to rejoice in the midst of suffering because the Christians reward in heaven is great.

But, why is James telling the readers to count it all joy when they face various trials? The answer is found in the next verses.

3. The Advantage Of Trials (v.3-4)

Do you know the process of making a sword?

The old technique is to combined two steels into one. The result is a block of steel, which must then be shaped and polished into a long and elegant sword blade. You must heat the block of steel in the fire, hit it with a hammer, turn it, hit it, then put it back in the flames to start over. It takes eight hours of this hammering to complete the shaping.

It's clear that he's not drearily whacking at the metal like a miner with a pickaxe: Every hit, though forceful, is carefully controlled. He looks intently at the metal, turning it just so for each impact. He explains, "You have to be very gentle with it or you will crack it. You have to nudge it; slowly it breaks down; then you start to enjoy it." At one point, he lifts the sword, red with heat, as he walks carefully and quickly toward a pipe filled with oil and plunges in the blade to cool it. After a moment of relief that the blade did not crack into pieces—a common occurrence at this step—Ric pulls it from the oil. Ric holds the burning sword up above his head with a single powerful arm and stares at it a moment before blowing out the fire. He says, "To do it right, it is the most complicated thing I know how to make. And it's that challenge that drives me. I don't need a sword. But I have to make them."

The trials that we experience have a purpose. We are like the sword; Trials are like the fire; God is like the blacksmith. God uses the trials to test and refine us.

James tells the readers to count it all joy when they face various trials because trials test our faith, and that the testing of our faith produces steadfastness.

James reminders readers about the purpose of trials because it seems like they KNOW the purpose. James says, “for you know.” This is something that they understand as Christians, so it’s should not be a surprise for them. Christians are to view trials as normal part of life.

The word “testing” in the Greek is an ambiguous word because it can be translated into two words: testing or refining. First, testing means the process of determining the genuineness of something. And in this verse, it is determining the genuineness of one’s faith. Second, refining is the process of making something pure and better.

Testing means the process of determining the genuineness of something. And in this verse, it is determining the genuineness of one’s faith.

Refining fits better in this context because God uses trial as a tool to refine our faith…making our faith stronger. God place trials in our lives not because He wants to know if we have faith or not. He places trials in our lives to refine our faith because faith already exists in all true believers. As a result, those difficult experiences produce steadfastness in us.

Talk about the Doctrine of the Perseverance Of The Saints?

As a result, those difficult experiences produce steadfastness in us.

Some of you may not know the word “steadfastness” but other English like perseverance and endurance are more understandable and common usage in our English language. So, what is the advantage of trials?

a. Trials can produce perseverance in us.

It means showing patience in spite of troubles. Sometimes, it can be translated as “patient endurance.” When we are suffering, we learn to endure it patiently.

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter of James A. Enduring Trials Brings Spiritual Maturity (1:2–4)

James suggests that trials can also produce this quality of endurance. Like a muscle that becomes strong when it faces resistance, so Christians learn to remain faithful to God over the long haul only when they face difficulty.

It means showing patience in spite of troubles. Sometimes, it can be translated as “patient endurance.” When we are suffering, we learn to endure it patiently.

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter of James A. Enduring Trials Brings Spiritual Maturity (1:2–4)

And in this verse, it is determining the genuineness of one’s faith.

How does the testing of our faith produce perseverance in the Christian life?

We experience tough and painful moments in our lives. And through moments, we have two choices: (1) give up or (2) suck it up and persevere through it.

Look at it this way. In reality, we are not immediately born to become professionals or an adult. There is a process of growth and training. For instance:

Athletes train hard to build up the stamina, muscles and endurance in hopes to make it to the play-offs and win the championship.

To buy a car or a house, you need to learn to save and invest money so that you have enough to purchase. It’s a discipline to save money. It is much easier to spend money that it is to earn and save money. You can work 8 hours earning $100 in a day. But, it takes 1 second to spend $100 depending on what you purchase.

Musicians need to learn how to read music and the skill of playing an instrument. They practice the scales, understand the music theory, and to play well.

The root word for perseverance in the Greek means “to remain” or “to stay” and not be moved.

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter of James A. Enduring Trials Brings Spiritual Maturity (1:2–4)

The picture is of a person successfully carrying a heavy load for a long time.

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter of James A. Enduring Trials Brings Spiritual Maturity (1:2–4)

But, what should motivate you to persevere? James will cover that in verse 12, but I want to briefly say that hope for the future is what should motivate.

Hope is the mechanism that grounds our perseverance during trials. When our faith is grounded in God and His promise in the Bible, hope gives us the motivation to stick it until the end even in the face of trouble. This is not a wishy washy kind of a hope. It is the total confident expectation and hope for the future. It is the total confidence that God will bring us to Himself and into His kingdom when we endure until the end because we love God and desire to be with Him.

When we lose confidence in the promise of the Bible, we might lose confidence in hope. Our eyes get blurry and the path up ahead gets foggy, and we do not know where we are going. So, when we turn back, the path looks more “clear and easy.”

Don’t give up. Surrender is never the answer in the Christian life.

The answer could be summed in these four words: No Pain, No Gain.

But, James is going to comment that as valuable and precious as perseverance and endurance are, they are not the FINAL goal of testing.

Perseverance and endurance are not the final goal of testing.

James further comments in verse 4, “let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete.” The phrase, “let steadfastness,” is actually a command to believers. He is telling the Christians that they must respond to trials by allowing endurance have its full effect.

The word full could be translated as COMPLETE or PERFECT. Effect could also be translated as WORK.

To paraphrase this verse, you must allow endurance to do its PERFECT WORK so that you may be PERFECT and complete. Perfect and full are literally the same Greek word.

Obviously, believers will never be perfect as God is perfect. Believers will never be perfect so as to be free from sin at least in this life.

What James has in mind here is that the perfect work/full effect is intended to produce Christian maturity and holiness in your life. It’s intended to fully develop you to become a mature Christian who perseveres under hard circumstances, who knows and believes in God’s promises as written in the Bible, who is joyful in the midst of trials because of his hope set on the future, and who produces the fruit of the Spirit.

Trials

In the grand scheme of things, God uses trials to conform us into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered trials in His earthly life.

The Jewish people rejected Him; His family called him crazy; His friends abandoned Him during His arrest; One of His disciples betrayed Him; One of His disciples denied Him three times; the Roman soldiers insulted him, spat on him, and nailed him to the cross. Although He suffered and went to the cross, He counted it all joy.

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV

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.

Our God, Jesus Christ, suffered and died. He did so to accomplish the will of the Father. He did so to save sinners who trust in Him for eternal life. He did so to destroy the works of the devil. He did so to earn His reward from His Father.

If you’re not a Christian this morning, then know that you are a sinner under God’s wrath. And the only way for you to be saved is through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus demands that you repent of your sins and believe in the gospel by trusting in Jesus for salvation.

John 3:16–18 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Is God doing His supernatural work in your heart in revealing your desperate need for Jesus for salvation? If so, then turn to Jesus immediately before it’s too late.

Going back to James...If you want to see good results come out of trial, then you must let endurance perfect its work in you that you may become perfected, to become like Jesus.

Let endurance perfect its work in you that you may become perfected.

b. Trials can transform you to become more like Jesus (spiritually mature and healthy). This is the final goal of testing.

Douglas J. Moo, The Letter of James, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2000), 55–56.

When we respond by allowing endurance to do its work, Christian/godly character begins to mature and become evident, so that we may lack nothing.

The Christian life is like that when we are under the heat of trial. You must learn to endure difficult days. To grow spiritually mature and healthy, you must embrace suffering and trial, and let endurance do its work in your life.

In other words, so that you may not fall short of any Christian characters in your life. The Holy Spirit will supply His fruit in your life, only when you respond to trials with endurance and perseverance.

James gives us an illustration in regarding a farmer.

Conclusion

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Now, I never grew up in farm, so I do not have hands-on experience with agriculture. But I do know that farming is extremely hard work. Why?

Farmers are to fight against the weather when planting their crops: winter, spring, summer, and fall. Different seasons come in different temperature, so they would also have to fight against the cold and the heat.

Farmers are to prevent various things from destroying the crops. Things such as insects like whiteflies, mites, caterpillars, slugs and so forth.

Farmers are to be extremely careful with providing sufficient amount of water to the crops. Too much water may suffocate the plant roots and too little may not be able to sustain the plants.

Also, farmers do not have control over the growth of the crops. They cannot force them to grow. Instead, they have to work hard to maintain and sustain the crops every single day. It’s a routine. They get up very early in the morning to start working, and they would work until very late until their energy is depleted. The farmer would not even go home and would fall asleep on the threshing floor. Farming is physically straining. Working long hours is backbreaking.

Farmers are to plow, sow, tend, until the day they reap the harvest, the first share of the crops. And this would require an immense amount of patience on the part of the farmer. He needs to work hard in order to feed himself and his family.

Now, imagine if all farmers just gave up farming altogether. We would not have receive and eat the crops, like vegetables, meat, rice and etc.

The Christian life is like that when we are under the heat of trial. You must learn to endure difficult days. But know and remember that God has a purpose for you in your difficult times. To grow spiritually mature and healthy, you must embrace suffering and trial, and let endurance do its work in your life. Don’t give up boys and girls because:

Romans 8:28 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

REFLECTION: How have you seen trials develop you as a person (and as a Christian)?