The Path To Perfection: Mature Views Series

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The Path to Perfection: Mature views

James 1:12-18

We continue our study in the letter from James. This series is titled The Path to Perfection. Perfection here is referring to a mature faith lived out in daily life.

This letter is very helpful in dealing with trials and temptations. How many of you have dealt with trials and temptations this week? How about this morning? No pointing fingers.

The author of this letter is Jesus’ half brother, James. After Jesus’ birth, his mother, Mary had children with Joseph. We read in Matthew 13:55-56, “Isn't this [Jesus] the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us?”

The letter of James was written during a time when Christians were persecuted. James 1:1 reads, “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion.”

The “twelve tribes” refers to Jews. These were Jewish Christians dispersed during persecution. And as these Jewish Christians dispersed and moved into new communities, they faced enormous trials and temptations.

They lost their homes and possessions. Many were starting from poverty in foreign lands. And rebuilding their lives seemed to take its toll on them.

They were losing faith, even faith in God. Some blamed God for their misfortunes. Even for the temptations they faced.

What was James solution for these Jewish Christians? If we don’t read carefully, we may see a list of unrelated instructions in this letter. When we do read carefully, we will see James writing this letter is to help them and us come to a mature faith in God that makes a positive difference in life.

The text for this morning is from James 1:12-18. (Scripture readers)

James wants us to know that mature faith in God will enable us to deal with trials and temptations successfully. That mature faith believes God intends trials and temptations to build us, not to break us.

Now why is this important to know God intends trials and temptations to build us, not to break us? Because everyone will face trials and temptations. To not think so is naïve.

Here is why else it is important to know God intends trials and temptations to build us, not to break us. Trials and temptations can break us. They can rob our lives and our families of many good things if we do not handle them well.

For the student, a series of difficult classes can be obstacle to your dream college or career. For the man who gives into lust, will experience poor self-worth and not become a husband who truly love our wife. Trials and temptations can stop us from pursuing our dreams, start us down a dead end, cause us to lose hope.

So what can we do to not let trials and temptations break us, but build us? here’s what James 1: 12-18 says. Have a mature view of trials, of temptations and of God.

First is a mature view of trials verse 12

An immature view of trials thinks, “blessed is the man who has no trial.” Or, “blessed is the man who is rescued from his trial.” To the immature, nothing good can come from trials.

A mature view of trials says, "Blessed is the man who remain steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." The crown of life in this context is probably the award for spiritual maturity and not referring to eternal life. And a sign that we remain steadfast under trials is that we grow to love God rather than grow distant from and bitter at God.

I read about a Christian who got into the peach growing business. He worked hard, invested everything he had in a peach orchard, which blossomed beautifully. But when a frost came, it destroyed his entire crop. He became upset at God and decided to stay away from church.

After a few weeks his pastor met with him to find out why he had not been at church. The young man said, "Pastor, I'm not coming to church any more. God doesn't care for me, or He would not have let a frost kill all of my peaches."

The Pastor replied, "Bob, God love you more than he loves your peaches. You see, God understands that while peaches will grow without frost, His children cannot grow without trials. God is not in the business of growing peaches; He's in the business of growing His children."

Ray Stedman said, “Trials are the fertilizer that makes faith grow.” How does this work out practically? How do we have trials build us rather than break us?