Pure Joy - James 1:1-8

Thanks, Connor. Good morning, everyone.

So if you'd like to open up your Bibles on page, if you've got the church Bibles, on page 1213,

we're going to be looking at James chapter 1, verses 1 to 8.

James 1:1–8

And that's James chapter 1, verses 1 to 8.

James 1:1–8

And as you open up your Bibles, I'm going to read from the original scroll.

So if you're all following with me, I'm going to read like a letter would be read.

I might have somebody holding it down there for me and I might read.

But anyway, this is the way we're going to do it.

So, James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations, greetings.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,

who gives generously to all without finding fault, and this will be given to you.

But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt,

because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

This letter starts like so many other letters.

The author stating who he is and who he's writing to.

So right at the beginning, we can see that this letter is from James,

a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And it's written to the twelve tribes, the scattered.

Just as the children of Israel were dispersed throughout the world in their exile,

so also believers in Christ now at the time of writing are scattered,

waiting for God to gather them home to himself.

We too today are also part of the scattered,

so this letter is for us as well.

James is a very practical book.

He doesn't go deep into doctrine,

but he assumes that as believers, as followers of Jesus,

that we know what it is to know Jesus, to be followers.

And so this book is very practical.

This is written to us so that we know how we take,

how we know what we take,

what we know of Jesus, we take in our heads,

and we put into our lives,

being doers of the word.

And that's what we're going to try and explain today

and over these following weeks,

as we look at the practical wisdom

to help us live as Christians.

So it is to us,

we have been called as God's people.

We're called now to persevere,

to have joy in trials.

Consider with me a young couple

in their early stages of attraction to each other.

They believe that theirs will be

a lifelong partnership that will last forever.

They are made for each other

and nothing will ever come between them.

Of course, at this stage in their relationship,

they have every reason to believe this,

but it's only a matter of opinion, isn't it?

It's their opinion,

and one which has no substance yet,

even if they are unwilling to admit it.

In time, their belief will be tested.

There will be attractive temptations

from other possible partners in the future.

They will discover each other's likes and dislikes,

which may not be so easy to accept or to adjust to.

Perhaps there will be an unwelcome

or an antagonistic reaction

from one of the parents involved,

which just makes the relationship at times awkward

and a bit difficult.

However, if these times of testing are endured,

the relationship starts to become more durable.

And as time goes by,

the conviction within them to marry

becomes stronger and more settled.

This same process carries on into their marriage,

having promised to forsake

all other partnerships for life

and in the course of their life together,

maybe by the experience of fighting off temptations

or of dogged determination

to save their marriage in times of coolness,

or just the shoulder-to-shoulder

facing and bearing of the difficulties of life.

Their minds become more and more determined

or redirected away from the thought of fidelity.

What began as a tentative belief

ends as a fixed, unchangeable constant in life.

The same can be said for the Christians

undergoing trials.

James says,

for you know the testing of your faith

produces perseverance

or steadfastness,

as other translations put it.

In the book of James,

he refers to very ordinary struggles.

As you quickly scan through the book,

a few will pop up.

There's lack of faith.

There's doubt and double-mindedness.

There's confusion,

the need for wisdom,

the love of money turning their heads from God,

temptations of their own evil desires,

anger, apathy,

relational issues like fighting and quarreling,

killing and coveting,

pride.

They were struggling with slander.

Some workers were not being paid for their work,

so there was extortion on one hand

and poverty on the other,

leading to anger and arguments.

The call is still to rejoice

or to consider it joy.

What are we going to preach to ourselves

when we face trials?

What are we going to say to each other

when these things happen to us?

How are we going to disciple ourselves

or our children or each other?

James makes it clear in verse 2

to count it all joy.

But how do we do that?

How do you even feel when I say

consider it all joy

when you face all types of trials?

When you consider all that you're going through,

if someone really knew

what you were going through,

they wouldn't say count it all joy, surely.

In fact, if they did,

it would sound quite trite actually, wouldn't it?

What does James know about trials anyway?

Well, James knew suffering.

James was the half-brother of Jesus,

so he saw all that Jesus went through

up to and including

death on the cross.

James was the leader

of the early church in Jerusalem,

so he would have watched

and seen some of his own church members

being persecuted for following Jesus.

He was under pressure

from the religious leaders in Jerusalem

for following Jesus,

and he was even pressurized

to try and renounce

his faith in Jesus.

And we know this

because James was stoned to death

by scribes and Pharisees

for refusing to do this.

That's how committed he was to Jesus.

It's safe to say that James

has known suffering,

and so he can say this.

He's not saying that trials

are joyful things

in and of themselves.

It's not like,

well, I've just lost my job

and my mortgage is in arrears.

My wife crashed the car,

wrote it off,

and now she's facing

a long road back to recovery.

Not to mention,

my dog had to be put down last week

due to a horrible infection.

Oh, and did I mention

that my mother is suffering from cancer?

And it's really not looking good.

But you know what?

It's all joy.

It's great.

No.

That's not what he's saying.

And on the day

when I'm feeling down

and low about all these things

that are happening to me,

I just put on my happy face

and I grin and I bear it.

No, that's not what he's saying,

either.

Horrible things happen.

We do face trials.

And the Bible is full of compassion

for us when we do that.

When life is hard.

Ecclesiastes chapter 3

Ecclesiastes 3 · chapter mention

says that there is a time

for everything.

Verse 4 specifically says

that there is a time to weep

and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn

and a time to dance.

It's okay to find life hard.

Think about Jesus.

He wept

when he heard

that his friend

Lazarus

had died.

Paul instructs us

to weep

with those who weep.

scripture says that there is sadness

and hurt

and pain.

It doesn't minimize it.

But yet James

still instructs us

to consider these trials

joy.

To consider.

It's more about

thinking and feeling.

The question for us is

how do we regard trials?

How do we

think about trials?

How do we consider

trials?

Do we see them

as a burden

and an inconvenience?

Or as something

that is part of life?

But which God

can use

to shape

and form us?

As we consider

our trials

we should have a perspective

which looks

beyond the present

to the future.

Pure joy

is not necessarily

a present happiness

but joy

in anticipation

of God's future

for us.

These very trials

and the testing

of our faith

produce perseverance

or as other translations

put it

steadfastness.

Like the couple

we were thinking of

a minute ago

over years of courtship

and marriage

times of testing

lead to an unshakable

commitment

to each other.

Isn't that what we want

with Jesus?

Consider it pure joy

my brothers and sisters

whenever you face

trials

of many kinds

because you know

that the testing

of your faith

produces perseverance.

Jesus in Luke

Luke 8 · chapter mention

chapter 8

15

when describing

the seeds

falling on

four types of soil

says that

the seed that falls

on good soil

stands for those

with a noble

and a good heart

who hear the word

retain it

and by

persevering

produce a crop.

Again

Jesus says

in Luke 21

when talking

about the end

of the age

starting in verse 17

it says

all men will hate you

because of me

but not a hair

of your head

will perish.

By standing firm

you will gain life.

It is

when we persevere

that the fruit comes.

trials in life

are a test.

They test

our humility

don't they?

They test

whether or not

we think more

highly of ourselves

than we ought

to think.

They test

whether we have

some imaginary

idea

that we're so good

God should never

have to test us.

Trials also test

our love

for worldly things.

They test

whether or not

we are succumbing

to earthly treasure.

when earthly things

are ripped out

of our grasp

we find out

whether or not

we are worldly

or not.

Tests in life

suffering

pain

and sorrow

loss

they also test

whether or not

we are heavenly minded

whether or not

we really live

with an eternal

perspective

and trials in life

also test

what we really love.

all of these things

test the strength

and the character

of our faith.

They test

our humility

whether we can

take suffering

willingly

because we know

that we deserve

nothing more.

Think of Jesus

without sin

the perfect man

who went around

helping people

all the time

but yes

he suffered horribly

and he definitely

didn't deserve it.

So it's not about

what we deserve

trials test

whether we have

our affections

set on things

above

or here.

They test

what we really love.

Look at the testing

of Abraham.

Was there anything

dearer to Abraham

than Isaac?

Yes

God was

and the test

revealed

who Abraham

loved most.

He loved Isaac

Genesis 22

says that

but he loved

God

more.

verse 3

you know

that the testing

of your faith

produces

perseverance.

Understand

what God

is doing.

He's making

you stronger.

He's producing

perseverance.

He's making

you more

formidable

strengthening

your faith

and your

usefulness.

Just like

gold is

purified

or refined

in the fire

we are being

made more

Christ-like

as we mature.

One person

has described

it like this

trials are

employed by

God

to give us

what we most

want.

Trials are

employed by

God to give us

what we most

want and

if we are

Christians

that is not

comfort

but conformity

to Christ.

Being

conformed

to Christ

is worth

so much

more

than comfort.

For the

believer

this idea

of being

matured

is good

news

as we

look forward

to the

day when

the trials

will end

and we

are presented

as perfect

in the

new creation.

what do

you most

want?

Do you

want

comfort

or

conformity

to Christ?

Call to

maturity.

Verse 4

Let

perseverance

finish its

work so

that you

may be

mature and

complete

not lacking

anything.

The

Greek

for

mature

is

also

translated

as

perfect.

This

is the

virtue

that

Noah

exhibited

when

he

was

described

as

blameless.

This

is what

Jesus

intends

when he

calls his

followers

to be

perfect

therefore

as your

heavenly

father

is

perfect.

It

suggests

that we

are to

have a

character

like

God's.

This

type of

maturity

is produced

by holding

fast to

faith in

Christ

while in

the fire

of

persecution.

The

impurities

in one's

character

will be

burnt off

in that

fire.

The end

result

will be

not just

maturity

but

completeness

or

wholeness

which means

that not a

single part

of a

God-like

character

will be

missing

or lacking

in us.

If this

is the

end result

of the

trials

difficult

as they

may be

there is

indeed

something

to rejoice

about.

We are

being made

whole and

complete and

mature

not lacking

anything.

Here James

invites us to

picture ourselves

in a state of

spiritual maturity

where we are

rid of the

jealousy

or impatience

or bitterness

or selfishness

or anything

that now

spoil the

wholeness of

our fellowship

with God.

Do you

hunger and

thirst for

righteousness

being made

right with

God?

If you

long to be

the person

that God

desires you

to be

you now

have reason

for considering

it pure joy

whenever you

face trials

of many

kinds.

The trials

can be

opportunities

for testing

to develop

in you

the perseverance

which when

it finishes

its work

will leave

you mature

in Christ.

Skip

ahead to

verse 12.

Blessed is

the one

who perseveres

under trial

because having

stood the test

that person

will receive

the crown

of life

that the

Lord has

promised to

those who

love him.

As we are

made mature

or perfect

through perseverance

we will

receive the

crown of

life which

the Lord

will give

to those

that love

him.

There are

people who

come,

you see

them and

I see

them,

they come

to the

church,

they profess

faith,

they might

even get

baptized,

but then

trouble comes

into their

life and

they're gone

and they

may never

come back.

maybe they

got burned

in a

relationship

or maybe

they came

along and

they had

to go

through some

struggle.

A dear

friend or

family member

died and

it was just

too much for

them to

bear and

they walked

away and

maybe shook

a fist at

God on

their way

out and

that was

this.

You see

perseverance

through trial

is the

proof of

living,

mature

faith.

We've

heard the

call to

persevere

and the

call to

maturity.

Next we

hear the

call to

prayer.

Looking

forward we

can see

that the

day is

coming once

we have

persevered and

when we

will become

mature,

lacking in

nothing,

but for

now we

all know

that there

are things

we lack.

Or more

specifically,

one thing

in particular

we lack.

Maybe you

can't quite

see life the

way I'm

describing it

or that

James is

describing it.

That we

should be

joyful in

trials.

Maybe that's

something you

can't quite

get your

head around.

Maybe things

are so

difficult for

you in

some situation

and all

you can see

is a mess

with no

possible

purpose,

with no

opportunity

to see

how this

situation

could be

resolved,

let alone

lead to

maturity.

Well,

if that's

the case,

you need

wisdom.

We need

wisdom to

see that

all of

life is

somehow

serving the

purposes of

God.

Or perhaps

you do

see that

in all

things the

Lord's

hand is

at work

in you

through

certain

pressures

or trials.

And in

that time,

that will

make you

mature.

But in

the midst

of all

of that,

you still

don't know

which way

to turn.

There's a

fork in

the road

and you

don't know

which path

to take.

You're

prepared to

persevere,

but you

don't know

the Lord's

will in

that circumstance.

In that

case,

you need

wisdom too.

Brian O'Driscoll,

the rugby

player,

famously said

in a

post-match

interview,

knowledge is

knowing that

a tomato

is a fruit.

Wisdom is

knowing that

you don't

put it in

a fruit

salad.

It's

funny,

but it's

true.

If we

say about

someone that

they know

the Bible

really well,

all we have

done is

describe how

knowledgeable

they are.

But if

that same

person knows

how to

use the

Bible to

understand

life and

to understand

the world

around them,

if they're

able to

use the

Bible to

guide their

behaviour and

the behaviour

of others,

then the

knowledge that

they have of

the Bible

has passed

over into

wisdom.

The wise

person will

then be able

to see life

as James

describes it

in verse

2-4,

and be able

to make

personal

decisions with

the view

to being

made

mature.

We need

wisdom to

see that

all of

life is

serving the

purposes of

the Lord.

Verse 5,

if any of

you lacks

wisdom,

you should

ask God,

who gives

generously to

all without

finding fault,

and it will

be given to

you.

We are

told to

ask for

it.

We don't

go to

college for

it.

we are

told just

to ask

for it.

In fact,

we are

promised

it if

we do

ask.

We are

promised

that when

we ask

for wisdom

in faith,

that we

will receive

it with

abundance,

because God

gives

generously.

As we

think about

our own

trials and

times of

testing,

sometimes we

can see

no way

out.

We know

that the

problem

facing us

is just

too big

to overcome,

or the

temptation

that we

struggle

with just

keeps coming

back and

we can't

resist.

Or the

person who

we can't

get through

to is

just so

hard-hearted

that we

can't see

how they

could possibly

soften.

We can't

possibly see

how God

could act

in this

situation.

if any

of you

lacks

wisdom,

you should

ask God,

because God

gives generously.

We can

easily fall

into one

of two

categories

when we

face trials.

We are

either very

quick to

talk to

God about

our problems

and pray

about things,

but then we

are slow

to share

our burdens

with others.

very often

God uses

people

to share

his wisdom

with us.

Alternatively,

when we

come across

a problem,

we can

talk to

everyone

about it,

worrying

about it

late at

night,

but we're

slow to

talk to

God about

it,

and that

is just

exhausting.

We should

be quick

to bring

it to

God in

prayer.

Seek

him and

his wisdom

and it

will be

given to

you.

There is

that

qualification

of asking

in faith

though,

isn't there?

And let's

face it,

we can

all struggle

with that.

We lack

faith.

We can't

see a way

out or

a way

ahead.

Well,

at those

times,

we need

to take

a step

back and

say,

Lord,

help my

unbelief.

That in

itself is

an act

of faith,

throwing

ourselves

in

God's

hands

at

his

mercy,

and

then we

can

ask

for

the

wisdom

we

need

to

face

whatever

the

trial

before

us

is.

We do

need to

be careful

how we

ask,

though,

because it

is possible

to ask

for something

with wrong

motives.

maybe when

we're asking

God for

something,

we are

really just

wanting our

comforts

back,

aren't we?

Or maybe

we just

want to

get what

we want.

Our

prayer,

ultimately,

if it is

for wisdom,

will be

that our

motives

become

kingdom

motives.

What is

best for

the kingdom

of God?

As we

mature and

are shaped

and molded

into Christ

likeness,

our desires

become God's

desires,

so our

motives

become

purer.

So even

as we

pray,

we call

out to

God with

right

motives

to give

us the

right

motivation.

We've

already

seen that

God is a

generous

giver.

When we

ask for

wisdom,

he doesn't

think,

what?

You again?

What did

you do

with the

thing I

gave you

the last

time?

I'm not

giving you

any more

until you

show me

results.

That's not

the way

it works.

God is a

generous

giver.

He gives

to all

who ask

in faith.

Finally,

we hear

the call

to believe

and not

doubt.

James

seems to

skip ahead

in verse

6.

Let's

read that

actually.

James

seems to

skip ahead

in verse

6 because

what follows

isn't

clear as

to whether

he's

still

talking

about

asking

for

wisdom

but

focuses

more

on

faith

and

prayer

and

how

we

pray.

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we

ask.

And then verse 6 raises the question of our sincerity in asking.

Do we want to mature with God?

Do we really want to mature with God?

Are we totally committed to his way of seeing things and his ambitions for our future?

Or are we keeping a door open for the world?

Are we trying to have a foot in each camp?

God's mind is clear, but we can be double-minded.

Faith in verse 6 is our absolute confidence that he will give what we ask.

Doubting is our own inner uncertainty about whether we really want him to give or not.

Doubting isn't about whether God will answer, nor is the doubter the person who struggles with faith.

Doubting is the opposite of Deuteronomy 6.5.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

James is not saying that our prayers will be answered only if we have a perfect faith that never entertains any kind of doubt.

He condemns the believer who is trying to serve two masters at the same time.

This doubter is the person who is not wholly committed to God, but plays it safe by praying, just in case.

They are interested in advancement in the world, but want to enjoy some blessings now and go to heaven when they die.

Well, James says that they won't get wisdom.

In fact, it says that they will receive nothing from God.

As we come towards the end, this letter is intended for us to read.

It is written in a style similar to Proverbs, where it flows from one piece of wisdom to the next.

We've seen a few of them already today.

And as we continue to read the letter together over the next number of weeks,

some of these things today will be expanded on, and others will be explained from fresh.

But for today, I want us to remember that we are to consider our trials joyfully.

Not because they are joyful,

but because as they test us, they make us persevere.

And like any good relationship that undergoes testing,

the result will be maturity and completeness and wholeness.

If we lack these things, which we do,

we must ask God for wisdom and be prepared to receive it.

And also to get our lives in line with his will,

having kingdom motives.

Not to be double-minded,

not to be wanting to have a foot in both camps of the world and heaven,

not to be like a wave so we are blown and tossed by the wind.

The heart of this letter is that James wants us to be deep,

sincere, consistent, faithful followers of Christ.

The heart of this letter is that James wants us to be deep,

sincere, consistent, faithful followers of Christ.

Like that marriage we spoke about at the beginning,

that they are fully and wholly committed to each other.

James wants us to be deep,

sincere, consistent, faithful followers of Christ.

Let's pray.

Let's pray.

Heavenly Father,

I pray that our heart would be your heart,

and that same heart that James has for us to be faithful followers of Christ

would be our heart's desire as well.

We realize that there is much this morning which is difficult to get our heads around.

Very often we long for comfort,

and we kick against conformity as we battle with selfishness.

Lord, we need your wisdom,

and we need faith.

Thank you that you are faithful and generous,

and you give to all who ask in faith.

Thank you too that even faith comes as a good gift from you.

Please give us humble hearts so that we can ask for faith,

wisdom, and the hope of eternity.

Trusting in the complete work of Christ on the cross,

who has broken down the veil to you,

that we have access to you.

Please give us a right attitude for the kingdom.

Bring our motives under your motives,

so we are motivated to see all of life

as your plan to bring us and others to yourself.

We pray this in Jesus' name.

Amen.