Passing the Servant’s Test, James 1:2-4
Paul Redwine, Northside Christian Church, June 15, 2003
Introduction
[Illustration - Joke] A young man had just gotten his driver’s permit and inquired of his father, an evangelist, if they could discuss the use of the car. His father took him to the study and said to the boy, "I’ll make a deal with you, son. You bring your grades up from a C to a B- average, study your Bible a little, and get your hair cut and we’ll talk about the car."
Well, the boy thought about that for a moment and decided that he’d best settle for the offer, and they agreed.
After about six weeks the boy came back and again asked his father about the car. Again they went to the study where his father said, "Son, I’ve been real proud of you. You’ve brought your grades up, and I’ve observed that you’ve been studying your Bible and participating a lot more in the Bible study class on Sunday morning. But I’m real disappointed seeing as you haven’t got your hair cut."
The young man paused a moment and then said, "You know, Dad, I’ve been thinking about that, and I’ve noticed in my studies of the Bible that Sampson had long hair, Moses had long hair, John the Baptizer had long hair, and there’s even strong argument that Jesus Himself had long hair."
To which his father replied, "Perhaps, and they walked everywhere they went!" And you’re going to do the same!
[Illustration - Joke] A man came in to heaven and Peter decided to go on a vacation so he asked the man to take over
while he was away. Peter told the man to give everyone a test before letting them into heaven. Peter leaves and a man waits for the next person who comes up, who says, ’’Please let me in to heaven.’’ The man taking over for Peter says, ’’I have to give you a test first.’’
The man coming into heaven says, ’’Oh no. I’m not too good at tests!’’
The other man says, ’’Spell LOVE’’ The man spells it, and he is let into heaven.
Then a woman comes floating up and says, ’’Please let me into heaven,’’ and the man replies, ’’Only if you pass this test.’’
The woman says, ’’Oh no, I’m not very good at tests.’’
The man says, ’’your test is to spell the word LOVE.’’
She spells it correctly, and is let into heaven.
The next person that comes floating up is the man’s boss who fired him before he died.
He says, ’’OK honey, let me in to heaven.’’
The man says, ’’I have to give everyone a test before I let them in to heaven.’’
She says, ’’OK, make it an easy one!’’
Then the man says, Super-cala-fradge-alistic-ex-pialidocious.’’
Aren’t you glad that we don’t have to take tests in order to get into heaven?
[Central Thesis] We just need the grace of God who sent Jesus so that we could have eternal life. That’s the good news. But here on earth, as Christians, we have tests in life. That’s what James talks about in the first four verses of his letter
[TEXT]
Crayons illustrate the different kinds of tests in life
Temptation -- yellow or green
For example, your children test you by using crayons to write on the wall
Normal everyday stress -- red
Interpersonal Conflict -- blue
Sometime you have both -- purple
Physical Suffering -- brown
Intense Physical Suffering/martyrdom -- black
James talks about many "trials," "manifold temptations," "various trials"
In the original language of the New Testament, the phrase "various trials" literally means
"multicolored trials," indicating that in life, we face so many different types of trials and
temptations.
Last week we talked about servant hood, and how James’s desire was to wear the title not of "the Brother of Jesus," but "a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ," verse 1.
In Preparing for tests in Life, we must:
I. Know that they Will Occur, verse 1
Know that they will occur, "when you fall into diverse temptations."
You will fall right into them -- they’re pop quizzes in life!
I remember in high school and college that pop quizzes did not bother me if I was
-- prepared for them.
-- I knew they were going occur.
-- If I didn’t, I was up a creek.
We can’t cheat on them:
[JOKE] Two young engineers applied for a single position at a computer company. They both had the same qualifications. In order to determine which individual to hire, the applicants were asked to take a test by the department manager. Upon completion of the test, both men had each missed only one of the questions. The manager went to the first applicant and said, ’’Thank you for your interest, but we’ve decided to give the job to the other applicant.’’
"And why would you be doing that? We both got nine questions correct," asked the rejected applicant. "We have based our decision not on the correct answers, but on the question you
missed," said the department manager. "And just how would one incorrect answer be better than the other?" the rejected applicant inquired.
’’Simple,’’ said the department manager, ’’Your fellow applicant put down on question #5, ’I don’t know.’ You put down, ’Neither do I.’’’
These tests will come and we can’t cheat on them! Just be prepared for them.
II. Approach them with Joy, verse 1
The difference between Joy and Happiness
Happiness -- happenings, things that happen to you; You are happy because of a particular circumstance.
Joy -- Internal; You have joy in spite of negative circumstances
As a third-century man was anticipating death, he penned these last words to a friend: "It’s a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy which is a thousand times better than any pleasure of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people are the Christians—and I am one of them." -- Moody Bible Institute’s, Today In The Word, June, 1988, p. 18
III. Look Forward To The Results Of The Test, verse 3
Assuming that you will pass the test
We don’t desire these tests, but we welcome them with half-open arms
If you pass the test, the results can be rewarding: Steadfastness, endurance. Some translations, patience. It helps you to keep on going in life.
In other words, you become a better person!
Think about the last test you had. Did you pass it?
I can think of a few that I passed and a few that I failed.
Conclusion
[Illustration] Horatio G. Spafford had "two major traumas in [his] life. The first was the great Chicago Fire of October 1871, which ruined him financially (he had been a wealthy businessman). Shortly after, while crossing the Atlantic, all four of Spafford’s daughters died in a collision with another ship. Spafford’s wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, “Saved alone.” Several weeks later, as Spafford’s own ship passed near the spot where his daughters died, the Holy Spirit inspired [the words of a song he wrote]. They speak to the eternal hope that all believers have, no matter what pain and grief befall them on earth:
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul. . .
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul. -- Source: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/t/itiswell.htm
