James wants believers to have mature, complete and full faith. This kind of faith produces a true calm, peace, and joy in the face of all kinds of trials.
Over the years of pastoring, I have met several believers with this kind of faith. Obviously, I have encountered many who struggled with everything that happened.
Jim came down with multiple sclerosis. As soon as he was diagnosed, his wife and children abandoned him. That would be enough to destroy some people. Jim continued to maintain strong faith and joy in the Lord even when he was completely paralyzed and unable to talk.
Sharon was a woman who developed severe bone cancer. The cancer progressed so rapidly that no treatment was successful. The physicians did everything they could to reduce the pain and make her days tolerable. She would cry out in pain. One of the most amazing things that I saw was her continued joy and faith in the time of suffering. She kept saying, “One of these days I will be with God in my new body and home.”
James the bondservant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ wanted believers to develop mature stable faith.
James 1:2-4 NIV84 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Have you ever said, “I wish I would have known then what I know now.” Maybe you said, “I would have done things differently.”
The testing of your faith develops believers. “Mature and complete” means “fully developed” and “a blameless person of integrity.”
The testing of our faith challenges our trust in God. We must have a faith and trust in God that does not waver regardless of the test, trial, or temptation. That faith and trust is essential. To maintain faith and strength when we are tested, tried, and tempted, we must maintain contact with God. When the trial of your faith comes, pray and ask for wisdom.
James 1:5-8 NIV84 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 double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
Have you ever known someone that faced just about anything without being destroyed? They seem to have the right answer. They handle things with such poise and gracefulness. Their peace, joy and love abounded. I have known more people that lose it when anything happens.
Margret was one of those people who seemed to have it all together. She was a senior in our church. She had been a traveling minister in her early years. Now she lived alone and had no living relatives. She took good care of herself, owned her home and car. One day everything changed in her life. She fell and broke her hip and was never able to go back home. Margret was one of these mature, complete, and lacking nothing kind of believers. I never heard her complain. When she was put in the nursing home, she became a light in a dark place. She was possessed with this kind of wisdom.
Often when we face the trial of our faith, we need wisdom from God. Wisdom is far more than knowledge. It is more than just being intellectual about an area of life. Knowledge grasps the facts. Most people know something about the facts of life. When we are coping with trials and temptations, we need a wisdom that knows what to do with the truth.
When we don’t know how to conquer some trial, test, or temptation in life, we should ask God for wisdom. Wisdom plays an integral role in our ability to remain standing in the circumstances we face. With the wisdom we get from God, we get the ability to not be destroyed during the trial or temptation.
Isaiah 40:28-29 NIV84 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
When God is our source, we have unlimited help.
Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV84 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah and James give us the same encouragement when we face spirit, soul, and body weakening tests.
They said to call on or hope in the Lord.
James 1:5-8 NIV84 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 double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
God has the answers and wisdom for every situation. When tests and trials threaten, we should turn to God immediately for wisdom and help. Our hope is in Him. The promise is clear. If we ask God — He will give.
That wisdom calms any question or doubts about God’s care. This wisdom has a message for us in the test. Wisdom says God really does exists. Wisdom says God hears us and does not find fault. God does not condemn us for asking for help. Wisdom says God is watching and He will answer our prayer. Wisdom declares all things are going to work according to God’s will.
This wisdom has a calming effect on our lives. It deepens our trust in God. It inspires hope and trust in God our Savior. It brings the assurance that God loves us.
This wisdom takes us down the path of Christian maturity and holy conduct. Have you ever said, “They are so immature for their age?” If we are going to survive and thrive in the test, we must not remain immature and carnally driven.
To be enabled to stand with confidence, we must trust God. When situations in life are not what we expected, trust God. When we really believe God’s word, we have great expectations. When we ask and have hope in the Lord, we expect answers. God will do what He said He will do.
We must have an expectation of God’s aid, (James 1:5–8). Many times our test, trials, and temptations bring panic. We do not have the answers. The expectation of God’s aid dramatically impacts the way we deal with the immediate situations of our lives. If we don’t know where to turn, it is hard to know how to stand. Instability happens when we do not have an unmovable faith, hope and trust in God.
When we really trust God it produces stability and a firm resolve. James said, God will give the answer when we really trust and have hope in Him.
I like that word, “without finding fault.” This faith is confident that we can come to God. So often when we go through tests, we don’t know what to do or where to go. God is not going to be critical about your need to come to Him for help, wisdom and guidance. When we ask with faith, trust and hope in God, we can expect God’s answers. One of the reasons we can come to God like this is because of His great love. We know that God loves us unconditionally.
A person that is directed by a strong faith and belief in God operates from a position of strength. That attitude causes us to respond obediently to God. If you waver or hesitate to respond obediently, you will not be able to receive what the Lord is eager to give. When you pray, you must believe that you shall receive it. We must believe in God’s faithfulness. This kind of stability and strength comes from pursuing, perceiving, and practicing the Word of God. Trials from without and temptations from within are no match for a Christian who stands in the truth.
James 1:12 NIV 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.
God responds to the love that we have for Him.
What then is your expectation from God?
James 1:16-18 NIV 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. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created.
What do you expect from God? James reminds us to expect only good and perfect gifts from God above. Our faith looks to the Lord and trusts His goodness. Our faith balances life’s tests, trials, and temptations with God’s love and Word of Truth. Faith calls us to adopt a new personal perspective on life. We must adjust our perspective by what God has said. Start expecting to receive wisdom from God. Start expecting good and perfect gifts from God’s hand. Expect to hear from God and start acting on it. Identify yourself with Christ. Take note of what God has done in you when He saved you and changed you. Refuse to fall and chose to rise over your temptations and trials.Expect to overcome. Expect answers. Expect Christ to be glorified in you. Expect to come out of your test, trial, and temptation. “I shall come out of this as pure gold.”
