Scripture Reading

James 1, our focus is going to be verses 2 to 8, but I want to read the chapter, we'll pray, and then we'll look at this section in some detail. So the book of James, beginning in chapter 1, verse 1. James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greetings. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

The Pursuit of Wisdom in Prayer

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass, its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted by God. For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin.

And sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will, He brought us forth by the word of truth that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore, lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror.

For he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it and is not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. If anyone among you thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this, to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Amen. Well, let us pray.

Opening Prayer

Our gracious God and our Holy Father, we thank you again for this day, for the privilege of gathering in the house of God to worship you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We pray for your blessing now as we consider this section of Holy Scripture. We pray that you would encourage and strengthen our hearts, that you would help us to deal with the various things that face us in this lower world, and to do so in a manner that is consistent with the written word of the living God. Forgive us for all of our sins and all of our transgression.

Cleanse us in that precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and how we rejoice that You made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Certainly all praise and all glory and all honor goes to our blessed God for the salvation of sinners. We take no credit We are not able to pat ourselves on the back. There's no contribution that we have made to this wonderful scheme.

We give all praise to our blessed Savior, who lived for us, who died for us, and who was raised again the third day for us. And we know that He will come back in glory to judge the living and the dead, and He will bring His church into that blessed New Jerusalem. God, we pray that you'd hasten the day that you would come, Lord Jesus. Even so, come quickly and help us all to be ready, washed in the precious blood of the Lamb and clothed in that righteousness.

Guide us now by your Holy Spirit, we pray, and we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Introduction

Well, this morning as we considered those two builders, we noted the similarities between them. One man built on the rock, one man built on the sand. But one of the similarities they both had is the trials and the difficulties and the afflictions and the hardships that are associated with life in a fallen world. Well, God Most High in His grace not only tells us that the house will remain steadfast because it's founded upon the rock, but He gives us means and helps to deal with the various tempests, the rains, the winds, the things that assault us.

And James 1, 2-8 is one such passage. It is instruction for the believer on dealing with trial, instruction for the believer on dealing with affliction, the difficulties associated with life in a fallen world. And

The Believer's Response to Trials

James does two things in our section here in verses 2 to 8. First, he says there is the believer's response to trials in verses 2 to 4, and then he underscores the believer's request during trials in verses 5 to 8. So there is this response, verses 2-4, and this request in verses 5-8. So let's look first at the believer's response to trials in verses 2-4.

Trials vs. Temptations Distinguished

We need to first understand what he's talking about, obviously, because if you have the Old King James, it reads this way, My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations. And then when you drop down to verse 12, you see, blessed is the man who endures temptation. And then again in verse 13, let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted by God. So if you're looking at that, on the one hand, you're supposed to be joyful when you fall into these various temptations, and on the other hand, you're supposed to resist them, and you're simply not to suggest that God has sent them.

Well, the same word is doing double duty in our particular passage. Verse 2 is rendered well in the New King James. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials. The Lord tries His people, the Lord tests His people, and He does so with the intention of a good outcome.

Genesis chapter 22, when Abraham is told to take Isaac up to Mount Moriah and to sacrifice him, we see that the Lord was testing him. Again, the intention of a good outcome. When we drop down in this section, we see the temptation of verse 13 is specifically a solicitation to do evil. Now again, we have words that have a broad range of meaning, and that's what's going on in this particular passage.

So in verse 2, it is a trial that God sends to test us and to help us and to bring out good as a result of it. Verse 13 is a solicitation to do evil. It is something that does cause us to sin if we give in to it. This is a tactic of the devil.

He goes about roaring like a lion, seeking whom he may devour, but he also uses temptation as one of the means to solicit the people of God to do evil. And as well, these temptations in verse 13 are associated with our remaining corruption in verses 14 and 15. Notice, each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death.

So we're dealing with two different concepts in verse 2, and then again in verse 13. So in verse 2, it is the difficulties, the hardships, the trials, the afflictions that we face in this world that God uses to conform us evermore unto the image of His beloved Son. Again, look at the emphasis in verse 2. My brethren, count it all joy.

That's the command. That's the imperative. We're to count it all joy when we fall into various trials. John Gill says, not the temptations of Satan or temptations to sin, for these cannot be matter of joy but grief.

These are fiery darts and give a great deal of uneasiness and trouble, but afflictions and persecutions for the sake of the gospel, which are so called here and elsewhere because they are trials of the faith of God's people and of other graces of the Spirit of God. So we see a good end in verse 2 and a bad end excuse me, in verse 13, followed by 14 and 15. As well, notice the expectation of James concerning trials. He doesn't say, my brethren, I want you to know something, that living in a sin-cursed world, there might be the minuscule potential that you'll have some troubles as you traverse this globe.

Now, it probably won't happen, but I want you to know there is this little possibility that you may undergo some hardships as you walk this earth, as God's people, in a hostile land where many around you are at odds and have enmity with your master. That's not what he says. He assumes the presence of trial. He assumes the presence of hardship.

He assumes the presence of difficulty in the Christian life. He assumes this because he's familiar with the Old Testament. He assumes this because he's familiar with the teaching of our Lord Jesus, who didn't shrink back from declaring the truth to his disciples. The text I typically cite at this point is John 16.

In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I've overcome the world. James as well understood the experience of the early disciples. He knew the history recorded in the book of Acts. He knew what God's people faced.

He knew that Peter and John were arrested in Acts chapter four. He knows that Peter was put in prison in Acts chapter 12. He knows that the apostle Paul was stoned during his first missionary journey, such that he was able to preach to a congregation, we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of heaven. James knew this because the Old Testament, because the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ, and because of the experience of God's people in the first century.

As well, in this particular epistle, notice who James writes to according to verse 1. James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ of the twelve tribes, which are scattered abroad. They weren't in their home, they weren't in their country of origin, they were scattered abroad. He writes to those in the context of the church who suffered poverty, according to 1.9, 2.1-7, 2.15-17.

As well, the people James wrote to suffered religious persecution, according to chapter 2, verses 6 and 7. So again, he's not introducing a brand new theme. He's not trying to tell them that in this world you may possibly have a bit of difficulty. No, he starts his letter with this emphasis.

He wants to encourage the people of God. He is going to deal pretty hard with them in terms of justification by faith, in terms of their response to the various theological issues he has to deal with, but he appeals to them at the very outset in terms of trial and difficulty and hardship.

The Command: Count It All Joy

Notice as well the disposition that he commands. Verse 2, as I said, the command is, count it all joy. Count it all joy when you fall into various trials. Why does he say we're to count it all joy?

Because this is counterintuitive. This is not the default position. When you fall into various trials, what's your immediate thought? Wow, isn't this grand?

God is working out His purposes in my life. God is further conforming me unto the image of His blessed Son. May God be praised. If you do that, then this sermon isn't for you.

If you do that, this sermon's at least for one of us. If you do that, praise be to God. But most of the time, for the people of God, it is counterintuitive for us to fall into a trial, to fall into an affliction, to fall into a hardship and to pop out praising God immediately. This is why James writes.

This is why James reminds. This is why James exhorts. This is why James is doing what James is doing. Count it all joy. when you fall into various trials.

Go back to the Gospel of Matthew. I suggested this morning that James was obviously familiar with Matthew's Gospel in general, and the Sermon on the Mount in particular. And in Matthew chapter 5, Jesus endorses the same mindset. There's the beatitudes in verses 2 to 10.

Those are the statements concerning blessedness or happiness, verses 3 to 10. And notice that eighth beatitude in verse 10. Blessed or happy. Happy are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." See, we need to ponder passages like these so that we're prepared for the eventuality of falling into trials. It's not the time when we fall into trials to say, Okay, now, what was it that Jesus said?

What was it that James said? What was it that I was taught in church on how to respond to such things? We need to have this in our mind. We need to have this orientation so that when it does occur, we're able to face it.

We're able to stand fast. And Jesus says, rejoice and be exceedingly glad. Turn over to the book of Hebrews, Hebrews chapter 10. Hebrews chapter 10, again, a people group that were persecuted in the first century church.

Notice in chapter 10 at verse 32, but recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings, partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated. for you had compassion on me in my chains and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven." Brethren, in my current mindset, I can't even imagine or envisage or see a situation wherein I would be joyful as my goods were seized and taken out of my house. Now, that is to say, I need to be reminded as to what he goes on to say. Notice the next word. In other words, these goods that we possess in the here and the now, they are fleeting.

They're comfortable, they're nice, it's good to have them as long as we don't make an idol out of them, but they pale in significance as compared with the eternal weight of glory that we are heading to. Going back to James 1, the command is count it all joy when you fall into various trials. He's going to underscore why this is the case in verse three in more detail, but specifically he wants the people of God in the face of difficulty to maintain a joyful disposition. John Calvin says he means in short that there is nothing in afflictions which ought to disturb our joy.

This is the perspective of God's people, the ability to rejoice, the ability to be thankful, even in the midst of deprivation, even in the midst of hardship, even in the midst of suffering. Now

God's Purpose: Endurance and Maturity

notice the recognition of God's purpose in our trials in verses 3 to 4. He highlights a virtue in verse 3 and then gives us its value in verse 4. Notice what he says in verse 3, just like what we see in Hebrews chapter 10. You joyfully accepted the plundering of goods, knowing you had a theological understanding, you had the right perspective that there is an eternal weight of glory that you are heading to.

Well, the same thing is true here. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing Okay? You've got this mindset. You've got this theology.

You've got this framework. You've got this context in your heart, so that when you fall into these difficulties, you already know the response. You already know what's in view. You already know what's happening.

Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. So the believer must know what James relates here. So you're no longer off the hook. You've all been instructed.

If you fall into trial tomorrow and you lose your mind, that's because you didn't pay attention tonight. That's because you didn't know what God's perspective or God's purpose is for your trial or for your issue. The believer must be prepared and sustained by such knowledge. Thomas Manton says ignorance is the cause of sorrow.

So many times when we are beset with difficulties and hardships, it's as if we forget everything we've ever learned about God Most High. Look at what James says concerning God Most High in verse 17. Our God is unchangeable. The trials and the difficulties and the afflictions and the hardships that we face do not change God.

It is not a reflection that God has somehow changed. He was good to us on Monday, and by Friday everything's a mess. What has He done? Why has He changed?

Why has He taken this new course? No, He doesn't change. There is no wrinkle on the brow of eternity. This is the language of Manten.

God doth not change. There is no wrinkle upon the brow of eternity. The arm of mercy is not dried up, nor do his bowels of love waste and spend themselves. We are not to forget.

We are to know and to understand, such that when we have the difficulties and the challenges, we have a resource to draw from. Notice that the trials undergone produce patience. Now, patience is probably better rendered here as endurance or perseverance. Patience by itself suggests passivity.

You'll see the same word in Hebrews chapter 12, verse 1. Run the race with patience. But it's rather, or it's translated in the New King James as, run the race with endurance. I think that's the same sort of emphasis here. knowing that the testing of your faith produces perseverance, it produces endurance, it produces the ability to go forward in the midst of hardship.

One man says, the emphasis is not passivity, but being bravely patient with suffering until it dissipates. In other words, there is a good end in view of God's having sent these trials or difficulties upon us because we need to learn endurance. We need to learn perseverance. You don't get stronger muscles until you lift heavier weights.

You don't run a marathon until you run a marathon. And the way that you get there is to increase the amount you run each and every time. You need to be able to test yourself physically in order to increase or improve physically. It's a pretty simple emphasis in biology.

Well, it's the same in spirituality. In order to grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, more often than not, it's the school of hard knocks that proves to be one of the best helpers along that path. God knows what He's doing in your tests, in your trials, in your afflictions. God knows what He is doing as He conforms you unto the image of His beloved Son.

The trials themselves have a theological purpose. knowing that the testing of your faith produces perseverance, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. It is a most blessed thing. David, a commentator, says tempered metal is more precious than the raw material. Thomas Manton, God's aim in your afflictions is not destruction, but trial, as gold is put into the furnace to be refined, not consumed.

You want to get the dross out? It's not going to come out by your invitation. Hey, dross, jump out of the gold. No, you need to put it in the fire.

You need to heat it up. You need to bring it to that place where you can pull the dross out. And God does that with reference to the dross and his people. We need the trials.

We need the difficulties. We need the hardships, because oftentimes that's when God is at work in us to bring about conformity unto the Lord Jesus Christ. So the virtue, endurance or perseverance, but then notice the value in verse four. He says, but let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

So the presence of endurance ultimately leads to, or the presence of perseverance ultimately leads to perfection. Now, James is not suggesting perfection is up. He's not teaching that a Christian can be perfect on this side of heaven. He's not teaching that you will be sinless before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

That blessed state awaits us in the eschaton. But what he is saying is that there will be a maturity. The word is used this way, 1 Corinthians 14, 20. It's used this way in Ephesians 4, 13.

There is a maturing process that the people of God must undergo. Again, how do the people of God undergo that? It's through trial. It's through testing.

It's through hardship. It's through affliction. It is through being pressed. It is through being beaten down and raised back up again.

These are the means that God employs to bring about that maturity. The word could also mean, it's applied to Noah in the Old Testament this way, blameless or with integrity. It's used like that also in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 18 and verse 13. The perfection will not ultimately be realized until the day of judgment.

Notice in verse 12, blessed is the man who endures temptation for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him. So the perfection that we're on our way to, and the maturity that we're on our way to, and the blamelessness that we're on our way to, we're taking steps in the right direction. There is a further conformity unto the Lord Jesus Christ, but it's not fully achieved on this side of heaven. And James knows that.

James is encouraging us to understand the purpose of God, theologically, in the trials that God sends our way.

The Believer's Request During Trials

Now notice, secondly, the believer's request during trials. Two things here. There's the pursuit of wisdom and the necessity of faith. Isn't that interesting?

Look at verse 5. Is that usually what we ask for when we come into affliction? We get dashed down. We're in a tried situation.

We are besot with all kinds of hardship. It's our first cry to God, Lord, grant me wisdom. Again, you might already have this mastered. This might already be sort of your way, but there's a lot of us that need this reminder.

He says, if any of you lacks wisdom, note the assumption. Verse four looks at a time of perfection and completion. Verse 4 says, "...let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." Again, that's the goal, that's the value, that's the process, that's the purpose. But notice in verse 5, he assumes that it hasn't happened yet.

He assumes that you're not perfect, you're not mature all the way, you are not blameless with reference to these particular issues. There is room for aid and assistance, and the aid and assistance that you need is specifically wisdom. So if any of you lacks wisdom, Manton says it—wisdom—is to be restrained to the circumstances of the text. This isn't a new thought.

So verses 2 to 4 deal with your response to trials, and then 5 to 8 is completely disconnected. Oh, and by the way, if you happen to lack wisdom, then ask of God and He'll give it to you because He loves you and He's good. No, it's very inextricably connected. The trials that we undergo, the process that God is working out, requires on our part wisdom so that we can respond appropriately and accordingly.

And so James underscores that fact. So again, Manton says, wisdom is to be restrained to the circumstances of the text, not taken generally. He intends wisdom or skill to bear afflictions. Think about that.

He intends wisdom or skill to bear afflictions. John Gill says the same thing. It intends wisdom to behave aright under temptations and afflictions. Again, brethren, is that intuitive?

Afflictions hit, trials come, difficulties beset you, and you cry to God for wisdom, for the skill to be able to navigate through them in a manner that is consistent with what James enjoins upon us? Typically, when afflictions hit me, I cry out for deliverance. When afflictions hit me, I cry out for mercy. When afflictions hit me, I cry out for just about everything other than wisdom.

See, that is what James demands because God is working out his purposes, and we need the wisdom to be able to appreciate that and navigate under this difficulty. Now, notice he says, if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God. Isn't that beautiful? I lack wisdom.

What should I do? Go to Sunday school, attend church, read books, get Proverbs, and, you know, internalize that. Have you ever understood or rather recognized that Proverbs has 31 chapters? Pretty handy to read a chapter of Proverbs a day for every month for the rest of your lives.

It's a wonderful thing to learn the wisdom of Solomon. But in this instance, he says, let him ask of God. I lack wisdom to navigate through this particular trial. What shall I ever do? cry out to God for the wisdom that is necessary.

This means that God is the source and giver of wisdom. Job 9.4, God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Job 12.13, with him are wisdom and strength. He has counsel and understanding.

Psalm 147.5, great is our Lord and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite. Isaiah 40.28, his understanding is unsearchable. Romans 16.27, to God alone wise be glory through Jesus Christ forever, amen.

Colossians 2.3 speaks of Jesus in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. So if you lack wisdom to face the current trial, then ask God. This is what is intended here. And again, that's the means employed for the acquisition of wisdom.

It's prayer. Remember, Jesus teaches this. Ask and seek and knock. If you, being evil men, love to give good gifts to your children, how much more will our Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask?

James will later say you have not because you ask not. So many times Christians want for things, but they don't go to the source of those things. They don't call upon God for the wisdom necessary to be able to deal with the current situation or the current trial.

Solomon's Request as Example

Turn back to 1 Kings 3. 1 Kings 3, to see an embodiment of this principle in the life of King Solomon. Solomon ascends the throne, 1 Kings 2. Solomon destroys any competition relative to the throne, 1 Kings 2. which was the particular way or means of securing one's throne. You eliminate all competitors.

That's how it's traditionally been done in the history of the world. But then God comes to him by way of vision and asks him, what shall I give to you? 1 Kings 3 5. And Solomon said in verse six, you have shown great mercy to your servant David, my father, because he walked before you in truth and righteousness and in uprightness of heart with you. You have continued this great kindness for him.

Excuse me. And you have given him a son to sit on his throne as it is this day. Now, oh Lord, my God, you have made your servant king instead of my father, David. But I am a little child.

I do not know how to go out or come in, and your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to judge this great people of yours? What a wonderful example. I want more horses.

I want more wives. I want more wealth. I want more border territory. I want, you know, victory over my enemies.

I want to crush them under my boot. I want to destroy all the heathen out there. No, I want wisdom so that I know how to govern and manage and lead the people that you have put under my charge. Now notice in verse 10, the speech pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing.

Back to James chapter 1. It is an assumption that you're going to fall into trials. It is an assumption that you know the purpose for these trials, and it is an assumption that one day you're gonna be mature and blameless, and all these trials will have done their good effect upon you under the blessing of God. But in the midst of it, you're going to need something, and you're going to have to ask God who gives this.

Manton again says,

God Gives Liberally and Without Reproach

God will have everything fetched out by prayer. He giveth nothing without asking. We usually wear with thanks what we win by prayer. and those comforts are best improved which we receive upon our knees." So he not only gives the exhortation, if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, he then gives an encouragement to that. Now think about this.

He could just say, look, you got problems with wisdom, excuse me, a lack of it, ask God. Let's move on to the next subject. But he doesn't do that. He gives an encouragement to the people of God so that they will ask of God for that wisdom that they need.

Notice that God gives to all who ask. Excuse me, once again. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all. Who gives to all.

In Proverbs 2, 6 and 7, it says, the Lord gives wisdom. From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk uprightly.

Why should I ask God for wisdom? Because he gives it. But notice, he doesn't just give it, but he gives it liberally. Not just a little bit of wisdom.

Not just a miser. He's not just sort of doling it out in some sort of a system where, you know, you've had five units of wisdom, you know, this past month, and that's it. That's your quota. You can't have any more.

He gives to all liberally. There is infinite resources in this God. We've seen this in Ephesians 1-7, Ephesians 2-7, according to the riches of His grace. Well, there's riches of His wisdom as well.

We cannot tap it dry. We cannot exhaust it. We cannot spend it. We cannot use it up.

God gives to all liberally, not just a little bit. Calvin says, hence, no man ought to deprive himself of so great a privilege. But notice, not only does he give it, he gives it liberally, and then he says, and without reproach, or he upbraideth not. Why do you think he says that?

So that if you have to go back again, you're not going to meet with any resistance from God. Now, just for a moment, suppose you're a parent, and your child asks you for something, and you give it to that child. And then about 10 minutes later, the child comes back and asks for the same thing again. You say, OK, give it back to him again.

So 10 more minutes go, and he comes back, and 10 more minutes, and he comes back, and 10 more minutes, and he comes back. If you're like me, at some point, you're used up. Why do you keep coming back? Why do you not hold on to what I gave you?

Why do you not improve upon what I gave you? Why do you keep wearying me with this constant coming back? This is James' emphasis. God doesn't do that.

God doesn't reproach you. God doesn't upbraid you. God doesn't say, oh, come on, he's back again? Remember the lesson of the importunate widow?

When Jesus teaches his people that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, that woman who came, or that widow who came to the judge and said, you know, render my verdict, and the judge didn't hear. So she kept on him. And the judge, who didn't fear God, nor did he regard man, finally said, you know, I don't fear God, I don't regard man, but I'm going to give her what she wants because she's constantly wearying me. What does Jesus draw out from that?

Shall not God avenge his own elect who cry to him day and night? God's not the unjust judge. God is the Most High. God is the Unchangeable.

God is the infinitely gracious and merciful and kind and good God. He gives to all liberally and without reproach. You're not going to weary God at the throne of grace by coming to fetch wisdom. You're not going to hear from God saying, oh no, you've used it all up, go out and manage it yourself.

This is an encouragement for the people of God to seek God's mercy. Again, Calvin says, this is added lest anyone should fear to come too often to God. Oh, you know, I've asked and He gave, but I don't want to weary Him. I don't want to use up my privilege.

Brethren, you cannot use up. God is infinite in His grace. Now, the reasons for this wisdom are manifold. We need to see the hand of God in our affliction.

I think this is difficult at times, brethren. Are you able, with pinpoint accuracy, to understand what is of God, what is of the devil, and what is of your own remaining flesh, or remaining corruption? I'm not. There's some difficulties in that.

I don't know if the devil is enticing me to do evil. I don't know if God is doing this trial in order to conform me evermore to the image of my blessed Savior. I don't know if this is remaining corruption in my own heart. There needs to be wisdom in order to see the hand of God in the affliction that we are undergoing.

David had this in 2 Samuel 16. When Shimei curses David, his servant says, why are we letting this dog live? Let me go cut his head off. And David says, no, this is from the Lord.

That's wisdom, brethren, wisdom to see the hand of God in the afflictions that we undergo. As well, we need wisdom to appreciate the sovereignty of God in our afflictions. Romans 8, 28, we know that God causes all things to work for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Again, we don't need help understanding that the good things are from God.

We don't need help understanding that bags of money and happy wives and happy children and a good work situation are blessings from God. We need wisdom to appreciate that the opposite is from God, too. They're under His divine management. They're under His providential control.

As well, we need wisdom to understand the good end of God in all of our afflictions. Now again, brethren, we don't always see this when we're in the midst of it. I'm not sure how this is gonna work out for my good, but I trust in the sovereign power of God that it is gonna work out for my good. But as well, we need wisdom to help regulate our response to our afflictions.

What happens if we don't have wisdom? What happens if we respond in such a way that is completely contrary to the way that we're supposed to? We get angry with God. We get bitter with God.

We get upset with God. We wonder, why is it, God, that you have sent these things my way? Why is it, God, that you are doing these sorts of things? Well, we need wisdom to guard our passions.

We need wisdom to guard our hearts. We need wisdom to guard our minds so that we don't call God into question concerning our current situation. Again, Manton, to moderate the violences of our own passions. He that liveth by sense, will, and passion is not wise.

Listen again to that. He that lives by sense, will, and passion is not wise. Skill is required of us to apply apt counsels and comforts that our hearts may be above the misery that our flesh is under. That is sage, wonderful advice and counsel from a Puritan who wrote at length on the book of James.

The Necessity of Faith

And then notice the necessity of faith in verses six to eight. So we're to ask God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, understanding it will be given to him. Then there's this caution and encouragement to ask in faith. Notice the focus in verse 5 is theological in nature, the focus in verses 6 and 8. 6 to 8 is upon man.

So verse 5 is theology. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God. God gives to all liberally, and He gives without reproach. Now verses 6 to 8, your heart needs to be right.

Your heart needs to have the proper framework. Your heart needs to be regulated by the Word of God. So he says specifically that you need to ask in faith. Again, further knowledge of Matthew, Matthew's gospel.

You might think this is odd that I keep emphasizing this, but there is that class of people out there say the Bible's kind of random, it's just kind of there. Oh no, the men of God knew what the other men of God had written, and more often than not, they assume that, and they write their theology with reference to those things as well. But how many times does Jesus sort of indict his disciples for little faith? Little faith.

Not no faith, not reprobate, not absence of faith, but you of little faith. So there is that category of little faithness out there. And so James does not want that to be the case for those who seek out wisdom. but let him ask in faith with no doubting. Again, John Gill says, not only in the faith of the divine being that God is, but in the faith of the promises he has made, and in the faith of his power and faithfulness to perform them, and in the faith of this, that whatever is asked according to the will of God and is for his glory and his people's good shall be given.

And then notice this caution, verse six, let him ask in faith with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. So a man who asks in no faith, or a man who asks with the absence of faith, is described here as being unsettled, unanswered, and unstable.

Now, none of us want that, right? Hey, what do you want in your Christian life? Well, I want to be unsettled, I want to be unanswered, and I want to be unstable. No, that's typically not what we respond.

We typically want the opposite. We want to be settled, answered, and stable, right? All of us want to be settled, answered, and stable. So what do you think is the key, or the help, or the means by which we can be settled, answered, and stable?

To ask in faith, to believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Let him ask in faith with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea." This metaphor of a stormy sea was a very common one. We see it in Ephesians 4.14, and it demonstrates the unsettledness of the man who doubts. This is not a good place to be.

As well, he will be unanswered. We just assume that we're always going to be answered, but notice what James says. With no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.

See, he will be unanswered. We need to ask God for wisdom in faith that he is who he says he is, and that he gives what he says that he gives. And then notice, he will be unstable. A double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

The word literally is double-souled or double-minded. You see it again in James 4 at verse 8. He says, draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Again, this is not a good place to be. The word reflects a departure from what God calls His people to. You see it used, or the concept used, in the book of Deuteronomy and in Proverbs as well. The word was used of unfaithful Israel, being unstable people.

The word is further described in verse 8. He's unstable in all his ways. It's not just with reference to a lack of wisdom, but this is indicative or characteristic of the man's entire life. So when we come to God, we must believe that He is, and we must believe that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11, 6. This is the similar emphasis of James at this particular point.

Application

Now, in conclusion, three thoughts, and then we go. First, the believer's preparation for trials. Now, by preparation for trials, I don't mean you seatbelt yourself to your couch and never move, because if we do that, then we're not going to hit trials, right? I mean, I guess the ceiling could collapse on us, you know, that sort of thing.

By preparation for trial, I mean study passages like these. reflect upon the words of Jesus, reflect upon the history of Israel, reflect upon the New Testament church, reflect upon the 20 centuries of Christ's church, and realize that trials and difficulties and hardship are not unique in terms of the experience of God's people. They're commonplace. This is a means by which God further conforms us unto the image of our blessed Savior. Study passages like these.

Again, Manton says, Christ's eyesalve must clear your sight or else you cannot make a right judgment. There is no proper and fit apprehension of things till you get within the veil and see by the light of the sanctuary lamp. A man that hath no other light but reason and nature cannot judge of those things. God's riddles are only open to those that plow with God's heifer, and it is by God's Spirit that we come to discern and esteem the things that are of God." Wonderful use of the Samson narrative there.

Remember Samson upbraids those who, you know, found out his riddle, you only knew this because you plowed with my heifer. You only knew this because you prevailed upon her. If she hadn't have said anything, you'd have never understood. I love his use of that phrase.

God's riddles are only open to those that plow with God's heifer. We need to study passages like these. We need to try and recognize God's purpose for the trials that we face in our lives. I mentioned this in Surrey as I was preaching, and I had said, you know, people often will come or talk or, you know, monks, not just pastors, but everybody.

Yeah, I really don't know what God's trying to teach me in all of this. I don't either. I don't. I'm not omniscient.

I'm not infallible. I don't have sort of a, you know, x-ray vision into, you know, all that God's doing. But in terms of the specificity, but in general, we all know what he's doing, don't we? We all know exactly what he's doing.

Those he foreknew he predestined to be conformed to the image of his son. Well, the way that he conforms us to the image of his son, more often than not, is through the school of hard knocks. More often than not, it is through trial and difficulty and hardship. You may never divine the specific purpose for a particular trial in your life, but be content with the general understanding that in this, he is working out things for his glory and for my well-being.

And I think that when you understand passages like these, it helps to fortify that understanding. Secondly, the believer's disposition during trials. What James says here, I just want to sort of encapsulate it. We must remember God's purposes and not rage against God.

People do that, brethren. People get upset. People get outraged at God. I can't believe what God is doing.

I can't believe that the Lord would do such a thing to me. What is that a suggestion of? What is that? Really?

I mean, really? You can't believe that there might ever be some, you know, purposes of God for your life that might involve just a wee bit of suffering? Really? You can't entertain that thought?

Have you reflected upon the man of sorrows who was acquainted with grief? Have you reflected upon the Son who learned obedience through suffering? Have you reflected upon the Apostle Paul? I mean, if Paul was afflicted, if Paul was tried, we are lesser than Paul.

Therefore, we are open game. And in terms of God's purposes in our lives, we need to guard our hearts against raging against Him. We must recognize His purposes so that we don't panic. That's another response.

People either rage against God or they panic. They become untethered. They start to lose everything. I don't know what's happening.

I can't handle it. Yeah, you can. God is merciful. God is gracious.

God is good. We must count it all joy when various trials come. Remember, that's the command. Count it all joy when you fall into various trials.

Not just fall into various trials. That's not the command. It's not commanding you to go fall into various trials. He is commanding you to be joyful. when you fall into various trials.

Again, Mantet. Quoting Mantet a lot, because he's great on this passage. A Christian is a bird that can sing in winter as well as in spring. He can live in the fire like Moses' bush, burn and not be consumed.

Nay, he can leap in the fire. Amen. That is a great emphasis. As well, we must endure during the trial so that God's purpose is realized in our lives. and you don't have any other choice.

What are you going to do, cash it in? No. Whatever our God ordains is right, and we persevere by His grace and for His glory. We must as well consider the conduct of other saints who went through trials.

This is why we read Christian biography. This is why we read missionary stories. This is why we read Hebrews chapter 11. This is why we read the life of David.

This is why we read the gospel narratives. This is why we fill our minds and hearts with the path of righteousness that others before us have taken. And we're supposed to learn from their example and go thou and do likewise. And we must seek wisdom so that we can navigate successfully through the trials.

So let me encourage you, if this happens this week, or this month, or this year, you find yourself tried, you find yourself vexed, go to James 1. Count it all joy, knowing that God is working in the midst of it for your maturity and blamelessness, and that if you lack wisdom, which, hint, hint, you probably do, ask of God, because He gives to all liberally, and He does so without reproach. Do so in faith. Don't be a doubter, don't be a double-minded or an unstable man, but rather be one who has been bought with a price and use the privileges of adopted sonship to go to the Father and to seek wisdom to deal with it.

And then contemplate the believers—your Savior, rather—who endured trials. Isaiah 53, 3. He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him.

He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Hebrews 5.8, Though he was a son, yet he learned obedience by the things which he suffered. Hebrews 12.2, Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. And if you're an unbeliever here this evening, the way to heaven is not to master dealing with afflictions.

The way to heaven is to look at the one who mastered all these things in his life, death, and resurrection. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. This one was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, not because of his sin, not because of his criminal activity, not because his rebellion against God and the magistrate. He came for us.

He lived a life of perfect obedience. Everything that God the Father ever commanded, Jesus Christ did. He never sinned. He never compromised.

He never lusted. He never engaged in ungodly behavior. He never breached or transgressed that decalogue. Why is that?

Was it just simply for an example? Well, it was exemplary to be sure, but it was rather so that His righteousness could be given to us. He goes to the cross and He dies for us. He sheds the blood or His own blood for us to cleanse us from all of our sin.

He's raised again the third days, enthroned at the right hand of the Father. The gospel call goes forth, not manage your afflictions, but look unto the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. And when you do fall into afflictions as one who has, by grace, belief, then put into practice what James is talking about in James 1, 2-8. The way of salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ Jesus alone.

Our brother read that beautiful passage of Scripture in the Scripture reading this evening, Numbers 21. Those fiery serpents sent by God to bite those wretched Israelites. What was the remedy? Raise up that brazen serpent.

You look to that brazen serpent, you live. Notice they were not told to suck the venom out of their bites. They were not told to drag themselves over to the base of the brazen serpent and kiss it. They were told to look and to live.

That's what Jesus uses by way of analogy in John's gospel at chapter 3. Just as Moses lifted up the serpent, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Look and live.

Closing Prayer

Well, let us pray. Our Father in heaven, we thank you for your word. We thank you that it speaks to us at the level that we have need of. We know, God, that there are those difficulties associated with life in a fallen world.

We know that there are difficulties associated specifically with Christians in a fallen world. So grant us grace to meditate upon and consider passages like these, and help us to be able at the time to deal with these things in a way that brings glory and honor unto you. And for all of us, God, increase the wisdom that we need, not simply for the trials in life, but for all things. Help us to know the will of God, to understand the truth of God as revealed in Holy Scripture, and to grow in the grace and knowledge of our blessed Savior.

We pray now that you would go with us and watch over us in this coming week. Bless and strengthen us and cause your face to shine upon us. And we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

We'll close with a brief time of meditation.

Scripture References

• Numbers 21:4-9
• Deuteronomy 18:13
• 1 Kings 2:1; 3:1-15
• 2 Samuel 16:5-12
• Job 9:4; 12:13
• Psalm 147:5
• Proverbs 2:6-7
• Isaiah 40:28; 53:3
• Matthew 5:2-12; 7:7-11
• John 3:14-15; 16:33
• Acts 4:1-3; 12:3-4; 14:22; 16:31
• Romans 8:28-29; 16:27
• 1 Corinthians 14:20
• Ephesians 1:7; 2:7; 4:13-14
• Colossians 2:3
• Hebrews 5:8; 10:32-34; 11:6; 12:1-2
• James 1:1-18; 2:1-7; 2:6-7; 2:15-17; 4:2; 4:8
• Genesis 22:1-2