Sermons by Ken Trivette from the Living Word

When James began his letter, he addressed it not to a “sheltered” people but to a “scattered” people. He identified the recipients of his letter as those who had encountered and experienced adversity in their life. The primary readers of his letter were Jewish and they were as one writer defined, a people of “compulsory transplantings.”(2) In other words, their being scattered throughout the world was not of their own choosing. They had not left their homeland in search of better jobs or living conditions.

As a result of the great persecution that broke out against the Christian Church at Jerusalem with Saul of Tarsus as the its main instigator, Christians were forced to leave their homes and flee to other towns. We read in Acts 8:3, “As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.” The verb “havock” is descriptive of a wild animal mangling its prey. Paul vented his hatred of the Church without mercy. Like an angry lion devouring its prey, Christians found themselves the victims of his attacks.

In view of the circumstances of the people to whom he is writing, it is not surprising that the first twelve verses of the letter deal with trials. Our text verse (Vs.12) concludes his section on trials and it is like he is summing up everything he has said about a believer and his trials.

How does James sum up what he has to say about trials? In verse 12 he tells us:

1. DON’T LET TRIALS DEFEAT YOU!

He says in verse 12, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptations.” As we have seen in past studies, when James speaks of temptation he is not referring to temptation as we normally think of, such as, a solicitation to do evil. After speaking of “divers temptations” in verse 1, in verse 2 he refers to the “trying of your faith.” In verse 12 after using the word “temptation” he refers to one that is “tried.” The temptations that James refers to are the trials that believers go through in life.

Notice more carefully what he says about these trials. First, he speaks of our:

A. Expectancy of Trials.

As we have repeatedly stated in our previous studies, James has made it clear that a believer can expect trials to come. Notice that he says in verse 12, “when he is tried.” It is not “if” but once again we see it is “when.” James began this section in verse 2 by saying, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” At the very beginning he told us to expect trials. As he closes this section on trials he once again reminds us of the certainty of trials.

James wants us to know that trials are unavoidable in our life. As we saw in out last study it matters not if a person is rich or poor, trials are to be expected. Secondly, he speaks of our:

B. Endurance in Trials.

James speaks of “enduring” the trials that will come in life. The word “endureth” speaks of “standing firm.” The word is made up of a preposition that means “under” and a verb that means, “to abide, to stay.” The word speaks of someone standing up under the trials they face in their life. Instead of escaping our trials, we should endure our trials. James is telling us that regardless of how hard or long our trials may be we are not to let our trials defeat us. We are to stand firm and stand up under our trials.

The nickname of the State of North Carolina is the “Tarheel” State. There are several explanations for why it is called the Tarheel state but it is commonly accepted that the nickname came from the days of the Civil War. It seems that a large group of Confederate soldiers retreated during a battle when things became rather fierce, leaving the N.C. soldiers to fight alone. Supposedly the N.C. soldiers threatened to put tar, a product that was plentiful in N.C., on the heels of the other Confederate soldiers so that they might stick better in the next fight.

The trials of life are not always easy to bear or face, yet we are encouraged to “stick” in the fight. The load does get heavy and the path long, but we are told to stand firm and hold our ground. We should not let our trials defeat us.

As I read the Bible, I find that God will give us the strength and grace we need to stand firm. Listen to Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Are you going through a trial in your life? Don’t let that trial defeat you. Let the Lord give you strength to enable you to stand firm. Don’t give up. Stand up! Stand up under your trials!

Secondly, James says:

2. DON’T LET TRIALS DISCOURAGE YOU!

As you look at verse 12, you not only see that we should stand up under our trials, but also that we can do so with an encouraged heart and with joy in our hearts. Notice:

A. The Presence Of Rejoicing In Trials.

We saw in verse 2 that James tells us to “count it all joy” when we face trials. He once again reminds us that trials need not discourage us or rob us of our joy. Notice that James begins verse 1 with the word, “Blessed.” The word simply means “happy.” James is telling us that even while we are “enduring” our trials we can be happy. What is happening on the outside does not have to dictate what is felt on the inside. In spite of our trials, we can still rejoice and be happy.

I have known those who were going through deep and dark valleys, yet never lost their joy. The presence of trials does not have to translate into the absence of happiness. James tells us that we can be “blessed” or happy even though we are going through trials.

You may ask how can a person be happy when they are going through trials. Notice secondly:

B. The Promise Of Reward For Trials.

James tells us that one of the reasons a believer can be happy in trials is because he is promised, “he shall receive the crown of life.” How can a person be happy when trials come? We are promised that one day we will trade the old cross for a crown! The crown that James referred to was known as the Victor’s Crown. It was a crown, a wreath, or garland that was placed on someone’s head in honor of victory such as an athlete in the Greek games.

In verse 2-3 James told us that we could count it all joy when we go through trials because we know that our trials were working and producing things in our life as a believer. But now James adds that trials not only have an earthly result but also an eternal reward. James is telling us not to let our trials discourage us for one day there will be a reward for those to endure their trials. Our crosses are not without their crowns. Our trials down here may not be easy, but one day they will be worth it for God will bestow upon us the crown of life.

I love the story of the missionary Henry C. Morrison and his wife and their return to the states after 40 years of service in Africa. Aboard the ship they sailed home on was President Theodore Roosevelt who was returning from a hunting expedition. As they sailed into New York Harbor the President was greeted with huge fanfare. For the Morrison’s, there was not a single person to greet them and welcome them home. He was dejected; after all he had spent 4 decades in the Lord’s service. He thought to himself, “The president returns home from a hunting trip and great crowds greet him with great fanfare, but I return home after giving my life to a far greater cause, and there is no one to welcome me home.” But then the Lord spoke to his heart and said, “But you are not home yet.”

Life down here may not be easy, but one day we will pull into Heaven’s Harbor and then every trial will be worth it all for on that day we will trade the old cross for a crown.

Thirdly, James says:

3. DON’T LET TRIALS DISTRACT YOU!

James not only speaks of the person that endures trials, remains happy in his or her trial, but he also speaks of, “them that love Him.” James describes:

A. A Personal Love For The Lord.

His words are directed to “them” that love the Lord. He is speaking of believers that possess a deep love for the Lord. The word that he uses for “love” speaks of a deep love for someone. It is the same word often used to speak of God’s love for us.

He also describes this love as:

B. A Perpetual Love For The Lord.

The love that James describes is a continual and perpetual love for the Lord. It is literally, “to those loving Him.” Here is someone that has gone through great trials but they still love the Lord. Trials have not distracted them. Their eyes have not been taken off the Lord.

Trials are certain in life. Yet, we should not let our trials defeat us, discourage us, or distract us. When trials come, never forget, we will trade them for a crown one day.

(1) Spiros Zodhiates, "The Work of Faith"