MOMENTUM – Part 4 – Navigating Trials (Chapter 3)
Passage:
“Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it is conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived my beloved brothers. Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. ”
when you boil this passage down – that’s what James is talking about as he closes this section talking about suffering and trials
- he is talking about these in between moments where we live.
- the in between the start of the trial and the end of the trial
- the in between the prayer request and God’s answer
- the in between the beginning of grief and the end of grief
- the in between the beginning of your struggle and the end of your struggle.
So far James as taught us – how we view and think about our trials – how to walk through our trials –
- And in this section James seeks to give the half-time prep talk to motivate us to walk through our trials
He gives four important truths for us to remember and to motivate us as we go through hard things.
- He tells us to remember that
- The In-between Reminds Us Our Circumstances Are Temporary (v.9-11)
- The In-between Has A Reward (v. 12)
- The In-between Uncovers Our Idols (v.13-15)
- The In-between Cannot Stop God’s Goodness (v. 16-18)
Let’s take a look at the first one.
The In-between Reminds Us Our Circumstances Are Temporary (v.9-11)
“Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass-he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
The In-between Has A Reward: (v. 12)
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
- 1 Cor. 9:25 – “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
The In-between Uncovers Our Idols (v.13-15)
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it is conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
- John Piper once said “Suffering bumps the beaker of our lives. It stirs up the sediments we forgot about or tried to hide. Fear, pride, covetousness, and self-sufficiency lie dormant. But pain can reveal these dormant enemies. Hardship reveals idols.”
The In-between Cannot Stop God’s Goodness (v. 16-18)
Do not be deceived my beloved brothers. Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. ”
In the chaos his character doesn’t change – your circumstances may change but he doesn’t. And his goodness – his mercy – his grace – extends to you now.
And the evidence that James gives us is the salvation that he placed in you – if you are believer – Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
- “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Eph. 1:11-14)