James 1:2-4: “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.”
Immediately after James opens his letter, he jumps right into uncomfortable material. Verse 2 is warning us that we have trials coming, and it should be interesting to note how James writes this in the Greek. When James writes “however” what follows is an indefinite temporal clause. In simple terms, James is warning that trials are coming, and not just one trial, but many trials. This should not make us think of the end times but should reveal a truth about daily life – there will be many trials.
But, if we are promised continued trials, how is it that we are supposed to be joyful (1:2)? For James, it’s simple. With trials, we develop endurance, and through the work of endurance, we are made complete (1:3-4).
When we encounter challenges in our own lives, are we quick to assume a victim’s role? Do we consider that God is calling us to experience these challenges to develop endurance? Do we have joy that this endurance from challenges will complete us?
As James writes it, when endurance is allowed to complete its work, we will be made complete (1:4). Considering this in the Advent season, as Jesus came to earth so that we might have a relationship with Him, are we joyful for the gift of Jesus? And are we also joyful for the trials we experience so that we might one day be made complete?
Noah Okken
Pray
- Pray for our Groups Ministry. Pray for the leaders of each group and those who attend.
- Pray for those who are shut-in and are not able to attend in person.
- Pray for those who have lost loved ones this year.