Begin with two minutes of silence and stillness before God.
Today, we are beginning to read James - one of my favorite books in the Bible! The book of James is filled with so much great practical wisdom for Christians, calling us to live out a genuine faith now that we have new life in Jesus Christ. In fact, it’s jam-packed with so much wisdom and teaching that it’s been dubbed by many as “The Proverbs of the New Testament.” James was written by, you guessed it…James! Most scholars believe the James who wrote this book is James, the brother of Jesus and son of Mary and Joseph. The book of James is classified as a general epistle, a letter written to the general Christian population rather than to a specific church. As you read this first chapter, you’ll see that the book is addressed to “the twelve tribes in the dispersion,” or simply put, the early Jewish Christians who had been scattered throughout the land. Throughout James, it’s evident that the issues it confronts are still relevant and universal to this very day!
Now that we know the context of James, let’s start reading in verse 2!
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4
First, we see that James sees the trials in our lives as inevitable. He doesn’t say “if you meet trials” or “on the rare occasion you face a trial.” He says, “WHEN you meet trials of various kinds.” As followers of Christ, we know that we will come face-to-face with trials, afflictions, and suffering, the same way Jesus did during his time on Earth.
Next, we are told to count these trials as “all joy.” The word “count” means “to evaluate,” and James is encouraging all followers of Christ in these verses to evaluate the way we look at the trials we fall into. This verse isn’t telling us to find enjoyment, happiness, or pleasure in our difficult circumstances, but instead to remember that our trials are producing a lasting faith in us, which we can rejoice in as we grow closer to Christ. To count it all joy means to look at our circumstances through the light of developing spiritually as we move towards eternity with Christ.
In verses 3 and 4, James explains that through these trials, our faith is tested, and this testing produces steadfastness, leading us to develop full spiritual maturity. The testing of our faith produces discipline, holiness, and spiritual perseverance that equips us fully for any circumstances we might encounter.
Further down in this same chapter, James 1:12 tells us that “Blessed is the man who remains 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.” When we face difficult circumstances, count them all joy, and live out a steadfast faith, we can remember that the trials we face could never compare to the incredible plans that God will accomplish through them!
Take two minutes to reflect in silence.