Finger Thinking through James 006

(Jas 1:2)  Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,

(Jas 1:3)  knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

We need to go slow here.  There is not way to rush through a look at the trials we face, the testing we endure.

Let's look at another passage that will help us appreciate - even learn to celebrate trials.

1Pe 1:3-9  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  (4)  to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,  (5)  who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  (6)  In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,  (7)  so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  (8)  and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,  (9)  obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

This is a very encouraging passage - at least until you get to verse 6.  There we go again - trials.  

Think on this - Peter sets a condition for the trials we face.  Did you see it?  It's in the words, "if necessary."  What would make a trial necessary?  The Greek word itself tells us that and perhaps a better translation would be, "if you need one (or two - or three)."

Why would we need trials?  Because God desires and His grace provides for our being conformed to the likeness of His Son.  Here and now we are to be being changed into His likeness and - well - we fight it tooth and nail.

Paul writes:

Rom 7:21  I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.

We still have the presence of sin and God desires to kill it.  He desires that we - well, read the following:

Rom 12:1-2  Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.  (2)  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

We, as Paul Tripps says are "orific" believers.  That is we come into the Kingdom as raw ore - needing to be refined.  Trials are how God refines us.  It is, uncomfortably, part of grace.

In the Peter passage above we read:
(7)  so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Let me restate it as follows:

• so that the proof of your faith,
• even though tested by fire, 
• may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  
• being more precious than gold which is perishable,

Our faith is imperishable - as a gift from Him, how could it be otherwise.  But it is mixed with doubt, and the abiding principle of evil Paul speaks of in Romans.  It needs refining and refining requires a catalyst and heat - or, the Holy Spirit and trials.  This is how He changes us, how He make us lore like the Son.

I want you to also consider the following:

1Co 10:13  No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

The word translated "temptation" here is the same word translated "trials" in our James passage.  Split hairs if you will but I'll go with trials.  All men a tried and the unredeemed are found without hope or comfort.  The redeemed have the grace of God to rest on, the Word to turn to and the Holy spirit to cry for.  That's the difference.

A "trial-less" life is not the believer's life.  We cannot live in this world as aliens and strangers without experiencing trials.  A believer who is leading a trial-less life needs to ask, "Why?"  Maybe they aren't paying attention.

Ya think?