1.          Experiencing Joy in Trials (1:1-18)

Why should we have joy in our trials? To understand this, we need to understand the value of trials, the nature of trials, and our source of help in these trials. I'm going to consider these questions in a slightly different order than in our text, so bear with me.

The Value of Trials (1:2-4)

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (1:2-4)

We should have joy in knowing that our trials are doing some good. They are building in us a "hang in there" attitude, one which will continue on and not give up.

James refers to trials "of many kinds."

These may be adverse circumstances such as being hurt by a loved one, bereavement, poverty, or oppression.

Or these trials may be much more diabolical:

 actual temptation or overt seduction by Satan to sin,  such as Jesus experienced

When we are brand new Christians we have genuine, but untried faith

            As faith is tried, it deepens and matures, and is able to flourish in all sorts of circumstances.

We develop the boldness of faith that only a tried and tested faith can possess.

  Trials and temptations build a maturity and completeness in us. "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (verse 4)

Q1. (1:2-4) What value have trials had in your life? Have you let Satan destroy you with those trials? Or allowed God to refine you? How have you changed?

Crown of Life (1:12) (skipping forward for a moment to verse 12.)

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." 

There is a promise that comes along with our trials, and that is "the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him"

Our trials set us back. We struggle, we complain to God sometimes, and we grit our teeth and hang on.

But we do so for the reward

 a promise, a laurel wreath given to the winners, those who have "stood the test."

 That promise stimulates and encourages perseverance in us. 

We grow from innocent, infant, untried faith, to faith that is tested and found true

Confidence in God that enables us to be "more than victors" (Romans 8:37)

Joy at our trials, knowing that God's love for us endures, and that we look forward to a crown of life.

This crown is not a reward for extra service, beyond the call of duty.

It is the crown that consists of eternal life itself.

We have that life now; we look forward to the words at the end of our journey, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord," the joy of life in his immediate presence forever. 

Nature of Temptations (1:13-15) Compare VALUE of trials with NATURE of trials. 

When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." (1:13-15). 

When we get into trouble, two questions:

 "What did I do to deserve this?"

 "Why is God doing this to me?"

God allows evil in the world -allowing us our free will.

 Did God create evil?

No. He created the possibility for evil, but that is not the same as creating evil

Does God create injustice and unrighteousness? Of course not!

James asserts that God does not tempt us with evil in order to see if we will fall.

"No one should say, 'God is tempting me.”

In the same way, Jesus taught his disciples to pray, "Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil" (Matthew 6:13).

God tests us to strengthen and confirm us in our faith, but the evil in our struggles doesn't come from God  

Q2. (1:13-15) Why do people blame God for evil? Does God tempt us with evil? Does he tempt sinful people with evil? Why does he allow people to sin? Why does he allow evil to exist at all?

Evil Inside (1:14)

The source of the evil is something inside us. "Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed" (1:14). 

Isn’t man basically good and evil just an aberration, not inherent in man?

 The Bible seems to indicate the opposite.

"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Gen 6:5

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9

"For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man 'unclean'; buteating with unwashed hands does not make him unclean.' " (Matthew 15:19-20)

'There is no one righteous, not even one....' " (Romans 3:9-10, quoting Psalm 14:3)

The Inner Battle

We possess a desire for God in the inner person, but a war is raging within us.    Rom 7:19

"For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do -- this I keep on doing"      The Spirit within us delivers us from the power of the sin within us (Romans 8:1-17).

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who            with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

“... until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:13) 

"Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." (2 Peter 1:4) "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

Double-Mindedness (1:5-11) 

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a doubleminded man, unstable in all he does. The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.” (1:5-11) 

2 powerful new ideas in this letter:

1. We are tempted by the evil desires that remain within us (1:14), and

2. Double-mindedness keeps us from receiving God's wisdom and strength (1:7)

"Double-minded" translates the Greek word dipsychos, "doubting, hesitating,"

Until we face the sins that hang on in our lives, we will continue to experience the inner war Until we surrender our evil desires let God work on them, we are "patsies" for temptations. 

Trials create "push come to shove" scenarios

We identify those parts of our character that are sinful and wrong.

We identify those unsurrendered desires that Satan entices with and lead us into sin.

During these difficult testing times, we sort out our priorities and become single-minded in love for God.

               Our faith remains stunted and crippled by our double-mindedness, remain spiritual babies. 

So, in a real way, we can often look back on our trials with pure joy, since it is in those times that God is able to get our attention, help us make new commitments, and embark in new directions!!! 

Q3. (1:5-8) How do trials help cure us of "doublemindedness"? How do trials help us grow in faith? 

The Unchangeable Father (1:16-17) 

"Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (1:16-17) 

"The Father of the heavenly lights," (indicates his role as the Creator of the universe)  

“God does not change.” The KJV puts it very literally: "... with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

"Variableness"  It is used in Greek for the setting of teeth in a saw, or for stones set alternately,

“Shadow of turning" - the variation in shadows when an object is turned in relationship to a light source.

Mormons teach that God changes, that he was once a human being who progressed to godhood.

This passage teaches clearly and unequivocally that God does not change. 

Ask God for Wisdom (1:5) 

We've covered the VALUE and NATURE of trials, go back to verses 5-8 to understand our need for wisdom. 

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a doubleminded man, unstable in all he does." (1:5-8) 

What are we to do when our sins and weaknesses lie exposed? We ask God for wisdom.

"If any of you lacks wisdom,… and it will be given to him." (1:5) 

When we ask people for wisdom, we often hear judgment instead: "I told you so." But not with God.

Have a very clear promise: "It will be given to him."

There is a condition to the promise, however.

We must ask with a clear commitment and faith

Coming to God without repenting of and forsaking the sin that divides won't work.

 Trials often clarify the issues and highlighting the decisions we need to make.

 Faith flourishes where we come to a place of a single mind about the things of God

Doubt and indecision do not disable action

Clear, single-mindedness enables it. 

Q4. (1:5-8) What is the promise to claim in verse 5? What is the condition attached to

this promise in verse 6? How do trials help us receive this wisdom?

He Chose to Give Us Birth (1:18)

The passage closes with a wonder-filled statement of God's grace and mercy towards us, despite our bent to sinning: 

"He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." (1:18) 

The point is clear, my friend. God has chosen to give you birth. 

He knows about your struggles and sin. They are no surprise to him.

Your sins are why Jesus died. Jesus bore your sins on the cross and redeemed you.

Your trials and temptations have meaning.

 They are leading you towards God's wholeness within.

You are his choice. He has life for you, and a plan -- to be a firstfruits, a harbinger, a herald of a new age.

God himself chose to give you birth. What a wonder!