Temptation Series

James: Practical Faith 

James 1:9-18

Pastor Jefferson M. Williams

Chenoa Baptist Church 

09-15-2024

Happily?

When I lived in Mississippi, I ran a counseling center for a large psychiatric hospital. One of the ways we promoted the hospital’s programs was a series of in-services I would do for doctors, nurses, and teachers.

I would teach on anxiety or depression and then take questions. I would be able to pass my cards out and they would get continuing education credits. It was a win win.

After one of these presentations, my marketing representative, a fellow Christian named Mike, walked over to where I was talking to a group, grabbed me by the arm and said, “Time to go.”

I nodded and kept talking but then he dragged me away from the group and out the door. He shoved me in the car and took off.

I asked him what in the world was going on. He told me that after I had finished speaking, a young, very attractive woman approached him and started asking all kinds of questions about me.

It was one particular question, and her follow up response, that caused him to go into full rescue mode.

She asked Mike, “Is Jeff married?” To which he replied, “Yes he is.” He said she smiled and whispered, “Happily?”

At that, he knew there was danger in the room. He said, “You would have done the same thing for me.”

And he was right. When temptation rears its ugly head, the only sane thing to do is run!

Review

I’m so excited that we have started on the journey to study the book of James!

Last week, we learned that James, the younger half brother of Jesus, was the author. He didn’t believe Jesus was the Messiah until He appeared to James after the resurrection. After that incredible encounter, James became the pastor and leader of the church in Jerusalem.

He was martyred in AD 62 when he was thrown off the top of the Temple. The fall didn’t kill him so they beat him to death.

James begins his letter with a strong command:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 

He begins the body of the letter with a command that, on the surface, seems completely irrational.  

What is James commanding?  

Is he saying that you should break out dancing with joy when you get the bad diagnosis? 

Or when you have a flat tire on a busy highway?  

Or who your daughter gets arrested?  

Or when you lose your job?

Is James nuts?  Is he being mean?  Is he advocating "Don't Worry, Be Happy" theology?  No.  James isn't crazy, and this isn't cruel.  He is giving us a secret of Christian growth.

He is writing about the posture of the heart that says, "No matter what happens to me, I'm going to be okay because God is working behind the scenes for my good and His glory."  

Notice also that it says "whenever." James doesn't write, "if you face trials."  Trials are a normal part of living in a fallen world.

It's been said that you are either going into a trial, currently in one, or coming out of one.  

James then gives a purpose to our pain.  

Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  

This is how we can greet every trial as a friend and have joy amid chaos.  

The word testing comes from the world of pottery.  A finished piece would have a mark on the bottom indicating it had gone through the fire without cracking. 

God designs these tests to stretch our faith and grow us spiritually.   

What do these trials produce?  Perseverance. In your version, it may say, "Patience."  The word means "to abide under."

It's the idea of staying power, fortitude, and heroic endurance.  

What’s our part in this process?

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

We are to allow perseverance to do its job of making us more and more like Jesus.  

What's the result?  We will be "mature and complete, not lacking in anything."  

God uses trials for our maturation, our correction, and our direction.

In order to “greet trials as a friend,” we need wisdom from above:

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.

Wisdom is not something we naturally have, but it is available.

James says all we have to do is admit that we lack it and then ask for it!  The Greek says, "Let him ask the giving God." 

When we present that request to God, we can expect Him to respond generously and without finding fault.