Surviving & Thriving Through Trials — Part 2

None of us likes or wants trials.

Many times, we struggle in trial and fail to grow in them as the opportunity presents itself.

Last week we were instructed in 4 ways:

1. Have joy knowing God is at work.
2. Be patient and allow God to do the work.
3. Seek wisdom to navigate the trial at hand.
4. Trust that God will provide.

 This week we continue by seeing what he says in 1:9-20.

 Keep your “fortune” in proper perspective.

In vs. 9-11, James instructs us to keep our fortune in this life in proper perspective. “Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field, he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.” For most of us, the trials we face in life arise from, or are at least often associated with, difficulties concerning money and/or social status. We are poor, and we struggle. We are rejected or marginalized, and we struggle. But here, James reminds us of the day when the scales will be balanced. As promised repeatedly throughout the Old and New Testaments, God will honor and exalt the lowly, but He will humble and punish the proud. As such, in trials, we are to keep this in perspective and trust that the Father will keep his promises. Our fortune here may or may not be a sign of long-term blessedness.

Mark 10:25. “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Psalm 138:6. “Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.”

Proverbs 3:34. “Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble. The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools.”

Proverbs 29:23. “A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.”

So, two things to take from this:

1. A word of encouragement to the humble.
2. A word of warning for the proud.

Endure temptations.

In vs.12, James tells us to that our temptations must be endured. He says, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” Each of us is tempted. And unfortunately, our temptations linger and persist. We pray that they would go away, but they don’t. As such, we are told to endure them. That is, to resist them continually.

1 Corinthians 10:13. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear.”

Galatians 5:16. “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

So then, we are to endure our temptations, not yield to them. The only possible way to do this is to be in deep communion with Christ.

Don’t make excuses for sin.

In vs. 13-14, James reminds us that God is not the author of our sin, and we are not to think of this as coming from Him. He says, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” We will tend to give into temptation and sin in trials. It will also be our tendency to blame this on others, perhaps even God, for allowing the circumstances to arise. But here, James makes it very clear why we sin. We sin because we yield to temptation and become ensnared. In other words, we do it because we want to, but because God made us do it. James makes it clear that since God is the giver of life and light (vs. 17), our sin does not originate in Him. It originates in our choice to allow sin to have a place in us.

The point here is that we must take ownership of our sin. Our failure to do that cause us to struggle more in trial than necessary, and causes many other problems. This is an important point for us. Sin originates in us and must be owned by us. If we don’t, confession and restoration can never come.

1 John 1:9. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

So then, we must own our own sin.

Be assured that sin brings forth death and destruction.

In vs. 15-18, James reminds us that sin always destroys, and Christ always gives life. He says, “Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” Note here that when sin is allowed to do what it does, the result is destruction. By contrast, everything that is good and perfect comes from God. Christ is life, to pursue Him is to pursue life. To turn from Him is to turn away from life and to turn into death.

John 10:10. “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

Understand then, your choice to let sin have its place is a choice to bring disruption, destruction, and death into your life and family. But contrast, your choice to follow Christ is a choice to live.

Listen more than you speak.

In vs. 19a, James instructs us to do something vitally important today. Stop talking and listen. He says, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak. . . ” The point here is that we need less talking ourselves and more willingness to listen to others and consider their concerns.

Proverbs 10:19. “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is”

Proverbs 17:27-28. “He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.”

This is perhaps the hardest thing for us to do as we will be reminded of again many times in the book.

Be slow to anger and wrath.

In vs. 19b-20, James instructs us to control our anger. He says, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be . . . slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” The point is simple. Our anger and wrath are the antitheses of God’s righteousness. Therefore, control it! We can make excuses for it, but we have to face the fact that it’s just ungodly.

Proverbs 29:22. “An angry man stirs up strife, And a furious man abounds in transgression.”

Ecclesiastes 7:9. “Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools.”

Proverbs 16:32. “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city”

So then, we must control our anger in trials.

Conclusion:

• Do you despair in your current fortune?
• Do you yield quickly to temptation, or do you cleave to Christ?
• Do you make excuses for your sins?
• Do you think that your sins won’t disrupt or destroy?
• Do you talk more than you listen?
• How quick are you to anger?