Two Types of People Who Respond to Trials “Real Life” [James] Series [5] James 1:12-15

HOW REAL FAITH IS REVEALED AMIDST TRIALS Recap: REAL FAITH reveals five characteristics amidst various trials (vs. 2-11).  A joyful attitude: “COUNT it all joy my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.” (v.2)  An understanding mind: “KNOW that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” (v.3)  A surrendered will: “LET steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (v.4)  A wise believing heart: “ASK God [for wisdom], who gives generously to all without reproach… ask in faith, with no doubting.” (vs.5-8)  A humble eternal perspective: “BOAST in your exaltation [the poor] and in your humiliation [the rich], because like a flower of the grass [you] will pass away.” (vs.9-11)

HOW REAL FAITH IS REVEALED AMIDST TRIALS In today’s text (vs.12-15), James depicts two types of people—in terms of how they respond to trials.  They are two contrasting responses to trials.  One is those who respond to trials with faithfulness; the other is those who respond with faithlessness.  One is to ENCOURAGE us for trusting God; the other is to WARN us against blaming God in trials. All trials are for two ends, that we may be better acquainted with the Lord Jesus and better acquainted with our own hearts. George Whitefield

TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE WHO RESPOND TO TRIALS 1)RESPONSE #1: Those who remain steadfast under trials [Faithful Response]. 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. (v.12)  Those who respond WITH faith stand the test of genuineness by perseverance—i.e., remaining steadfast under trials (“hupomone”—staying under pressure/weight).  Why are they blessed? Because they will receive the crown of life which was promised to those who love God.  It is not the virtue of endurance itself but the love for God is the actual motivating factor for steadfastness [loyalty].  Therefore, we are to deepen our love for God in trials.

17 "Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty. 18 For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal. Job 5: However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10

TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE WHO RESPOND TO TRIALS 2)Response #2: Those who blame God in trials [Faithless Response]. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. (v.13)  Those who respond WITHOUT faith blame God and complain amidst trials.  Why? They experience fierce temptations through trials which make them fall apart and drift away from God.  But God does NOT tempt anyone while God tests our faith.  Therefore, we are to give no room for complaining or blaming in facing temptations—even amidst fierce trials.

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. 10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.' 11 As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter my rest.'" 12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. Hebrews 3:7-12

TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE WHO RESPOND TO TRIALS 3)The Real Source of Temptation in Trials: Our Own Desire. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (vs.14-15)  The real source of temptation is our own evil desire that finds attraction in the deceitfulness of sin.  It is this desire of the self [i.e., the desire of the flesh] that trials reveal/correct through the pressure of hardships.  The key to saying NO to temptation is to see this dynamic between the lures/deceitfulness of sin and our desire.  Therefore, we are to be on guard against the domino effect of temptation and sin which brings death to us.

12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed We hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. Hebrews 3:12-14

The Longer You Stay away from God The longer you stay away from God, the more deeply you will sin. If you keep on in the wrong path, not only will you have sinned the more, but that sin will have taken a more terrible hold upon you. Habits begin like cobwebs, but they end like chains of iron. A man might more readily have swept away the temptation when it was new to him than he will be able to do when, having yielded to it many a time, the devil has learned the way to master him. May God help you to flee from sin as soon as you perceive it, lest you be caught in its net of steel and be held in it to your eternal destruction! - Charles H. Spurgeon

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.Make a commitment TO REMAIN STEADFAST under your trials.  Deepen your love for Christ as your motivating factor.  Remind yourself about the benefits of trials. 2.Stop ALL COMPLAINING AND BLAMING in your trials.  Do not blame God for your temptation.  Admit your responsibility without blame-shifting to others. 3.Learn to lay down YOUR EVIL DESIRES through your trials.  See your revealed evil desire in trials.  Lay down each desire to God.