TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS

James 1:1-18 / Keywords 1:12

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.

 

1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:

Greetings.

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 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. 6 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. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 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 will fade away even while they go about their business.

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.

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Footnotes

a. James 1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verses 16 and 19; and in 2:1, 5, 14; 3:10, 12; 4:11; 5:7, 9, 10, 12, 19.

 

1. James wrote this epistle to the twelve tribes, scattered throughout the nations. Likely, they were scattered because of persecution. How were they to consider their trials? They were to consider them as pure joy! Why? Because when the Lord lets their faith be tested it results in perseverance. When we persevere, our faith becomes mature and complete. When we face trials, we should ask God for wisdom, and he will grant it to us, because God gives generously without finding fault.

2. Whatever trial we may experience, whether it be poverty, or the loss of our wealth, we can endure them and take pride in them with faith in God. When we persevere, we are blessed and will receive the crown of life from our Lord Jesus Christ.

3. James then addresses temptations. We must remember that our temptations do not come from God. Temptations come when we are led away by our own evil desires. God does not tempt us because temptation leads to sin and sin to death. God cannot give us temptation. He gives us every good and perfect gift. He loves us and gives us new birth through the word of truth as a kind of first fruits.

Prayer Father, help us to count our trials as pure joy, knowing that through them, you are making our faith complete.

One Word Persevere through trials