GROWING THROUGH ADVERSITY - Pt 5

James 1: 1-12 “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

I don’t know about you, but I don’t look forward to adversities, but this study gives us a good understanding of how they are used to make us more like our Lord. Paul says in Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things (even adversities) work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

There are two natural ways that most people deal with adversities or trials. (1) They try to ignore them. They try to get in bed, cover up their head and hope it goes away. We all know that it will not go away. There is a reason that adversity came, so trying to imagine that it didn’t happen does not serve its purpose. God wants to accomplish something in the life of the believer and that is not done under the cover. (2) They panic! I have never seen panic solve anything. Verse 3 tells us that one of the purposes is patience and patience in the adversity leads to maturity. That is not accomplished by panic.

IV. THE REWARD OF ADVERSITY – verse 12 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

Let me divide what I’m calling “reward” into two categories:

A. Present Rewards

Some may not look at what I’m going to present as rewards, but indulge me if you will. Remember, I’m talking about a person responding to adversity and not reacting to them:

(1) Purified Faith – Faith that is tried comes out stronger when you respond to adversity. In fact, I’m not sure we really know how strong our faith really is without adversity and trials in our lives.

Adam Clark’s Commentary states: “The trying of your faith. Trials put religion, and all the graces of which it is composed to proof; the man that stands in such trials gives proof that his religion is sound, and the evidence afforded to his own mind induces him to take courage, bear patiently, and persevere.”

I think that our true Christianity is put on display, not by what we say, but by how we respond to adversities. Notice Malachi 3:3-4 “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.”

(2) Patience – You may not look at patience as a reward but I bet my wife would look at it as a reward if I learned more of it. This takes time; that’s why panic is not an option. The word patience has the idea of endurance. God has a purpose and that usually is not accomplished over night.

(3) Maturity – In verse 4 we read “. . . that ye may be perfect and entire lacking nothing.” The word “perfect” means “complete; moral character), while “entire” means “complete in every part.”

James is letting us know that when adversity or trials come our way, there is a positive side to these troubles. When we respond to the issues in our lives, there is a process that will eventually result in maturity. I think all of us have a desire to be mature, so we have to let God work and He will bring us out a better person.

Notice Psalm 66:10-12 “For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins. Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.”

B. Prospective Reward – verse 12 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

I have dealt with the subject matter that adversity or trials reveal the strength of your faith. I think here James is talking about the revelation of the genuineness of a person’s faith. John MacArthur says “What you do through a trial will reveal whether you really believe God and are genuinely saved.”

I have seen many professing believers fall by the wayside in times of adversity. They accuse God of letting them down; not being there when they needed Him; or being a God who didn’t care about their welfare. They walk away never to return. The adversity revealed they were never a child of God.

I want to be a person who responds to trials as they come my way. I’m one of God children and know that He is working things for my good and His glory.

Let’s all let adversity reveal the genuineness of our faith and also purify and strengthen our faith.

That’s my view; how about you?