Sunday Devotional: James 1:2-4

² Consider [it] all joy, my brethren, whenever you encounter various kinds of trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness complete its work, so that you may be complete and whole, lacking in nothing.

The letter of James to “the twelve tribes in the Dispersion” (1:1), which could be a reference to Jewish Christians, though it could also be a symbolic reference to the church, is a letter of practical exhortations in a time of persecution. Throughout the letter, James shows us what being a Christian means in our daily lives. It’s not enough to say you believe, your faith needs to be lived out otherwise it’s not a real faith.

It’s appropriate, then, that these opening lines encourage faithful endurance under trial. “Consider it all joy” doesn’t mean we are to make light of bad situations, or smile and pretend suffering and hardship aren’t real and painful. The Christian joy is much deeper than a grin and a positive disposition. It is a state of mind and heart that sees the glory of Christ in the midst of pain. Christian joy understands that these trials show where our priorities and loyalties really are, and rejoices at the opportunity to grow in reliance upon the Lord, even if that rejoicing is with tears, a broken heart, and even gritted teeth.

To James’s readers, the “various kinds of temptations” or “tests” they are called upon to endure may have included financial deprivation, social ostracism, torture, and even death. The Greek word peirasmos can refer to temptation, as in Matthew 6:13 when Jesus taught us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation.” I think James would, indeed, look upon trails as temptations to give in to sin. When it seems the world is against you, it’s easy to surrender to the world’s demands so you can win the world’s favor and have a comfortable life. But making friends with the world like that is to make yourself an enemy of God.

The better path is to be strong. Resisting the temptations that come with those trials builds steadfastness or endurance. Remember, it’s not simply the world you are resisting but Satan. We fight against spiritual forces. These earthly trials are merely physical manifestations of a very real spiritual battle. As Christians, we walk into this battle every day. Satan would lay claim to our souls and set his forces against us to draw us away from our Savior.

As we equip ourselves with the spiritual armor the Lord has provided (e.g., see Ephesians 6), in His strength and with His help we can resist Satan. Just as every fall to temptation makes the next fall easier, every time we resist temptation we “let steadfastness complete its work.” The Greek here is literally, “Let steadfastness have a complete work.” The ESV translation says, “Let steadfastness have its full effect.” I think the idea is that of the Lord growing us in steadfastness until we are totally His, steadfast and true.

When steadfastness has completed its work, we will be “lacking in nothing.” At the moment, there is much that we lack because we are not wholly dependent upon the Lord. We are still learning to trust Him. We still are not quite convinced that His ways are good and His law is just, otherwise we would be perfectly obedient.

May our prayer be that the Lord would teach us steadfastness. That we would daily grow in our trust in Him and our desire to follow His ways no matter the cost.