“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

James 1:2-4

James begins by recognizing that this is a community experiencing trials (v. 2). The natural response to tough times is to ask questions about the source of those trials, the rationale for them, and how we should respond. James is certain that the only way these questions can be properly answered is to ask for God’s wisdom (v. 5), given generously by God to those who ask without doubting, because to doubt God is to be ‘double-minded’ (vv. 6–8). Introduced in verse 9, another issue that James will go on to address in the letter is the problem of rich and poor within the community and, specifically, the transitory nature of wealth and the fact that God honors the poor. Who has not experienced tough times? James says that we should respond in joy because of what God will do in us as we go through these times. This is countercultural, because it appears nonsensical, but God is more interested in our growth in maturity (v. 4). We recognize that truth requires God’s wisdom precisely because the world will say it is absurd. At the beginning of James, we are reminded that we are called to live differently from the world. This is not optional!

CLOSING PRAYER

Mighty God, thank you that you are trustworthy, always ready to give me what I need to follow you.

(Edited from Encounter with aGod)