COUNT IT ALL JOY! – James 1:1-4

Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on March 7, 2012 under AM Bible Study |

AM Bible Study Group; March 7, 2012

James 1:1-4

Theme: We are to rejoice in the maturity God is bringing about in us through our trials.

This morning, we begin a study of the New Testament letter of James. This letter is the Bible’s “counseling manual” to the saints. It’s about how to put faith to work in daily living. A key verse is 1:22; “But be dowers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” It can be broken down in its five chapters in this way:

FAITH PUT TO WORK IN:

WISDOM (Chapter 1)

WORKS (Chapter 2)

WORDS (Chapter 3)

WORLD (Chapter 4)

WAITING (Chapter 5)

The author of the letter, as it says in verse 1, is James. There are several individuals named ‘James’ in the New Testament; but the most likely author of this letter is the man that Paul identified as “the Lord’s brother” (Galatians 1:19; see also Matthew 13:55); which means that he was the half-brother of the Lord Jesus—the literal son of both Joseph and Mary. He was among those brothers (Mark 6:3) who, at first, did not believe the Lord (John 7:4). But the resurrected Lord Jesus made a personal and bodily appearance to him (1 Corinthians 15:7); and as a result, as is shown in this letter, he identified himself as the “bondservant” (literally, “slave”) of both God and “the Lord Jesus Christ”.

Later, he held a very important position in the early church of Jerusalem—serving in a prominent position of leadership (Acts 12:17; 15:13). Paul referred to him as one of those who “seemed to be pillars” in the church (Galatians 2:8). James was a man with a great pastor’s heart; and his letter is a pastoral letter. It is considered to be one of the “general” epistles—that is, a letter not written to a specific church (the others being 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2 and 3 John, and Jude).

The letter is addressed to “the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” (v. 1). This is a Jewish pastor of a Jewish church writing to Jewish Christians who were dispersed from their homeland. This would have been because of the persecutions that the early church experienced (Acts 8:1, 4), and in conformity with the Lord’s promise (Acts 1:8). The things said in this letter must be viewed in the context of persecution and suffering. The people involved had lost their homes, jobs, friends, family, safety, security and reputation because of their faith in Jesus. And yet, his first word to them was “Greetings”—a word that literally means “Joy!”

I. WE ARE TO COUNT OUR TRIALS ‘ALL JOY’ (v. 2).

A. Note that James begins by calling his readers “brethren”. He had an affinity with them—not only because of their common kinsmanship as Jews, but also because of their unity together in Christ. In giving the instructions he gives, he was not talking down to them; but rather as one with them.

B. He told them “count it all joy when you fall into various trials”. The word “count” means “to lead the way” or “take the lead” in something. Here, the idea is to take rule over the circumstances by reckoning them or considering them to be “joy”. We cannot control circumstances; but we can rule over what we believe about them. He speaks of times when they “fall into” various trials—that is, when they come upon us unexpectedly. Rather than be caught off guard by the appearance of such trials or frustrated by them, James encourages his brothers and sisters to consider the coming of trials to be “all joy”—which may mean either that all such circumstances are to be considered “joy” without exception, or that such circumstances are to be considered “joy” through and through. This, of course, doesn’t mean rejoicing in the pain of those trials; but rather, rejoicing in what God is doing through them.

II. WE ARE TO KNOW WHAT GOD IS PRODUCING THROUGH THEM (v. 3).

A. There is a theological basis for considering the coming of trials to be “all joy”. The manner in which they are to do their rejoicing is not mindless—as if somehow detaching themselves from reality. Rather, they are to “know” something about their trials. Our rejoicing is always based on a knowledge of—and embracing of—revealed truth!

B. What they are to know is what it is that God is producing through those trials. They are in His hand to serve His purposes toward His people. As Paul put it, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Romans 8:28-30). For the believer, no trial is ‘pointless’. What God is producing in His saints through their trials is “endurance” or “patience” (see also Romans 5:4-5; 1 Peter 1:3-9).

III. WE ARE TO LET OURSELVES BE PERFECTED BY THEM (v. 4).

A. Rather than try to fight the coming of trials into our lives, we are to allow God to produce in us what He is seeking to produce through them. We gain the greatest benefit when we don’t resist or fight, but trust His good “pruning” work in us (John 15:1-2). It’s a “perfect” work—that is, a work that brings us to maturity.

B. The result is that we will be “perfect and complete, lacking nothing”. This doesn’t mean, of course, that we will not have sin—because that won’t be our condition until we are glorified in heaven. Rather, it means that we will be brought into closer conformity to the image of Christ Himself—”to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13)—refining in us the qualities of Christ Himself that are expressed in the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).

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When it comes to our trials, we are to “reckon” something about their appearance (that it is all joy), because we “know” something (the perfect work of patience God is producing through them), and therefore “allow” something (the patience God is working in us to do its perfect work). What a great way for this epistle to begin!