Blessed Is The Man That Endureth Temptation: Series

Tom Lowe

1/24/2021

Text: James 1:12 (KJV)

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the Crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

INTRODUCTION

It is trials and tribulation in a Christian’s life that refines our trust in God and increases our dependence upon the Lord. The personal difficulties and dangers that we face in our everyday lives and our reaction to others’ distresses and despair are often the determining factor - of whether we hold fast to what we believe of Christ’s sufficient strength, OR, whether we allow seeds of doubt to darken our hearts to the goodness of God and so become tossed to and fro in a sea of uncertainty. But blessed is the man who endures such trials and tribulations, in the power of His might, because when he passes the test, he will receive the Crown of Life, which God has promised to all who love Him.

COMMENTARY

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the Crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. -- James 1:12 (KJV)

James echoes the thought begun in verse 2, where he called on believers to classify hard times as positive things. Why? Because our faith only grows stronger when tested by trials. Through our trials, trusting God pushes us toward the Christ-like maturity of trusting God more, and more deeply, and with greater endurance. That choice to keep trusting God amid the trial brings His blessing. Our circumstances may be challenging, but we have His approval. God is on the side of those who trust Him through life’s most challenging moments.

Those who maintain trust in God during hardships will receive “the Crown of Life.” Bible scholars are divided on exactly what James means by this. This might simply refer to eternal life itself, promised to all Christians who, by definition, love God. However, given the context of Scripture, this is an unlikely meaning. Eternal life is not hinged on our works or faithfulness (Titus 3:5).

A more likely explanation is that this Crown is “of life” in the same sense that other crowns are “of gold.” In that case, the reward for perseverance is improved circumstances. That is, the reward James speaks of may be a more abundant life here and now, on this side of eternity, or in heaven, or both. This would match well with Jesus’ own words regarding the effect of faith on our quality of life – “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

Other scholars suggest that this mysterious Crown is an additional reward, given in eternity, for Christians who refused to stop trusting God even when their trials on earth became difficult. These believers trusted God through their trials instead of turning away. They loved God and continued to obey Him in their hardship. According to this interpretation, He will reward them with this specific Crown. Very similar language is used by the apostle John in the book of Revelation when he quotes Jesus making this very promise to those who are “faithful unto death” (Revelation 2:10). Paul and Peter also write about crowns to be given to faithful Christians (1 Corinthians 9:24–27; 1 Peter 5:4; 2 Timothy 4:8).

Scriptures

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” (1 Corinthians 9:24–27)

“And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” (1 Peter 5:4)

“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8)

In any case, verse 12 makes the connection between our love for God and our ability to remain faithful to Him in hard times. Those who genuinely love God trust Him, and those who genuinely trust Him continue to obey even when life gets hard.

Dear reader, we have a vicious enemy that is seeking to shipwreck our faith in the goodness of God, and his strategy is to plant seeds of doubt in the mind of all believers so that their life is not fruitful, nor honoring to the Lord Who bought them. But the trials and tribulations that the enemy designed to make our faith unsteady can be used as the catalyst to strengthen our trust in God -- if we will go on in His sufficient strength, for this brings honor to our Father in heaven and an eternal reward for those that patiently endure.