Evening Service, 17 May 2009

As a boy my brothers and I often played in the bush that bordered on the housing estate where we lived at Frankston. It was not uncommon that to get somewhere we had to cross a creek. We would look for tufts of grass, outcrops of stone or earth or some other dry and solid-looking area and, stepping from one to the other, we crossed to the other side.

The idea was to always move, to never get too attached to the one you were presently on, but to look ahead and move on to the next one.

There were times when you miscalculated or looked up from where you were stepping and found yourself with a wet foot, and quickly you hopped to the next dry spot shaking your wet foot.

And so by this process of using ‘stepping stones’ you would get across to the other side.

Now this is a very useful illustration to describe the Christian life. Christians are going to glory, and the events in their life can be seen as stepping stones, and that we are moving from one such event to another but always moving toward our heavenly goal. As such it is essential that we keep each event in its perspective and in its place in the over-all plan of God.

It tells us to not just focusing on the current event, but stepping on with a view to stepping off once its purpose is realised. We are not to be fearful of what is happening to us, but use it for its God-appointed purpose. At the same time we know that it is a sad reality that for some people the event takes charge of their life and reactions – loosing perspective of the whole journey. So we need to learn to focus, not so much on the event itself, but on where it is taking us. This, James tells us, is the way to look at life.

Now before we see how James works this out let us also notice where he is beginning. He wants to draw out the practical exhibition of true faith; and most of this letter focuses on how Christians should relate to others. But he begins not with a concern for others, rather in 1:2-25 he begins with a concern for the individual Christian.

It is interesting to note that in Acts 20:28 Paul does the same thing as he exhorts the Elders of Ephesus to a practical demonstration of their eldership responsibilities – “Take heed to yourself and to the flock”.

James, like Paul, understood that whilst we are to be caring and considered to others we cannot really put them first if we do not put ourselves first. This sounds like a paradox, and at worst a display of sinful self-centredness and self-love. But that is more of a problem to our western minds than the eastern mind.

The explanation is this: The first priority for the church in the world, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, is that Christians must look after themselves – for the life which issues in the caring ministries of 1:27 is the life which is itself moving forward to maturity (Motyer).

James is saying: Forget about others for a bit; what is your life with God like? How can you lead others along the road to maturity if you are not on the road? How can you help others to endure if you are not enduring?

And the place to begin is to ask, What is your view of Life? How do you handle the circumstances of life?

This portion of Scripture tells us that as Christians we should face life’s circumstances:

1.  REALISITICALLY

Everyone in this world faces some measure of trouble. That is the consequence of the Fall, the natural result of sinful human nature and of a world and society corrupted by iniquity. As Christians we also expect trouble because of our faith. Jesus said, “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20). Paul reminded Timothy that “indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). So like David we often cry out to the Lord, “Be not far from me, for trouble is near” (Ps. 22:11)

1.  James tells us that life is a tale of “trials”.

Now when we hear the word “trial” we immediately realise we are speaking about things that will be felt. It speaks of the severity of the circumstances; it tells us that they are not pleasant.

But even more, James is saying that these are events that challenge our moral and spiritual character. They will have an impact on us. The question is, what will it be? These events are not neutral, and they may catch us out – we must be on guard.

2.  These trials are varied

The Greek word translated “various” speaks of diversity, of limitless possibilities. James’ point is this: ‘No matter what trial you face’. There is a seemingly limitless possibility that can come before us. It doesn’t matter which kind, all are included.

3.  But they are also often unexpected

“Fall into” is the same word used in the parable of the Good Samaritan. There we read that the man who went from Jerusalem to Jericho “fell in with” (same word) a band of robbers, the point there being that he was taken by surprise! It was certainly not something he planned to happen. Trials are not to be looked for; on the contrary all lawful means from experience or thought should be used to either avoid or mitigate them. Yet even when we do all of that, trials will come upon us, and that unexpectantly. They are unpredictable in advance.

And so we are to see our condition in this world as one where we are constantly faced by unpredictable and diverse trials.

What we see in others we may not be called on to face. What we have experienced before may not be imitated in what is yet to come. We cannot predict the time, tenacity or tenure of the event; so throughout our life we must be on guard.

We must know our condition – it is a false gospel that conveys the impression that Christianity smoothes out the rough patches of life. Rather, as we shall see, it utilises and as a result transforms them for progress in life.

2. HOPEFULLY 

1.  There is something we are to know – “knowing” (v.3)

We are to understand that these unexpected pressures and trials are instruments of God’s grace – they have a productive purpose; they work to an end result; they are purposeful in God’s grace for good. For example we are told of King Hezekiah that “God left him alone only to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart” (2 Chron. 32:31).

And this is something James assumes all Christians do know. You don’t come to God without some knowledge of God and His ways; faith is by the path of thinking about God as He is revealed in the Bible. It is coming to grips with the truth that God is operating in this world to fulfil His holy purpose of fully redeeming a people to Himself.

This all Christians know. But the problem is that we don’t always put this knowledge of God’s grace and providence into practice. This James calls us to do, to face the trial by exercising your understanding concerning God.

We may not know the purpose of God underlying each trial we face, but, James is saying, we do know that God is at work in, with and through them, and that as a result we know that there is a goal of maturity before us – “perfect and complete” (v.4), and the road to it is through the terrain of trials.

2.  We should also know that the trials cause the believer:

a. to better know himself. They expose our weaknesses and prejudices even against God’s grace and Word, including our continuing belief in our own inner abilities and strengths, our reluctance to obey, our delight in sin. How trials often serve to expose the depth of sin in our hearts and lives. How they humble us in the light of who we are. In this way trials become like a roadblock against continuing sinfulness in our lives, and they wean us from the ways of the world and from the surging of sinful lusts, having a sweet sanctifying influence upon the godly. But they also help us to come to grips with the very nature of faith. And trials do shake faith even in genuine believers, and seem to mock our belief in God as Father who cares for us. The true believer eventually throws himself back onto God, trusting Him to somehow make something out of the confused and painful events. In this way we learn to trust Him, more and more. And as we pass from trial to trial we find our faith grows.

b. to develop patient endurance. The ‘patience’ here is not the idea of passive submission to circumstances, just waiting them through; but an active, persistent steadfastness in the circumstances a staying power, loyal firmness.

Let us be careful to see these unpredictable events as stepping stones for God’s great future for us – that though some may be more difficult to pass over than others – and though no two are ever the same – yet by means of traversing them in turn we are brought towards God’s goal for our life – maturity in Christ.

3. JOYFULLY

1.  A Revolutionary Approach – “count it all joy”

The word “count” here has what is called the aorist tense in Greek. In effect this has the meaning in this context of being precise and definite or decisive about something. It is to come to a settled, unshaken conviction.

This requires that we revolutionise our thinking, for so often that is not how we respond. We move from shock to despair and maybe to disagreement with God and even to grumbling against God.

Now the only way to do that is not by forcing a smile onto your face, or by evading the painful reality with denial or a cavalier attitude to life. It is by kicking-in the biblical teaching. It ought to be a deliberate, calculated, knowing response in the light of the over-all understanding of the place these events have in God’s gracious dealings with us.

This reminds me of the patient: Doctor does the treatment have to be so nasty and severe? The Doctor responded: Don’t you want to get better?

Likewise, don’t you want to be like Jesus, come to enjoy full salvation? Then there is no other way. So “count it all joy”, this is what is going to happen to us as a result.

2.  This is true of all trials – “it” covers each and every trial. This is to be applied not just to some but to all of them. we may find it easier in the face of some trials, especially if they are relatively minor, or we have gone through the same sort of trial before and so have the benefit of experience. But the principle of joy flowing from hope is to be evident in all trials, including those ones which rock our world with such horrendous force. And yes, even then we are to cultivate and respond with the attitude of “Hey, God’s at work here! He’s doing something special in me, and something that will show His glory both to me and through me!’ Isn’t that something to get excited about, something that ought to stimulate joy? The moment we do that, we lift our eyes from the problem at the cutting edge of the trial, and raise it to the Lord whose hand is on the trial, whose purposes of good lay at the very heart of the trial

3.  As such, then, this is a response of faith – to be glad while sad. We can be glad when we with faith see the hand of God upon us in it and the end God is bringing us to through it. It is not an unrealistic joy; it arises from knowing that God is in control, and that He knows how much we can bear with His help, and keeps watch over us as He brings us through it.

Faith that is reliable only when things are going well is not saving faith and is worth nothing, and you will be in no position to help others in their faith journey.

John MacArthur points out that ‘To test the genuineness of a diamond, jewellers often place it in clear water, which causes a real diamond to sparkle with special brilliance. An imitation stone, on the other hand, will have almost no sparkle at all. When the two are placed side by side, even an untrained eye can easily tell the difference.’

He then observes by way of application: ‘In a similar way, even the world can often notice the marked differences between genuine Christians and those who merely profess faith in Christ. As with jewels, there is a noticeable difference in radiance, especially when people are undergoing difficult times. Many people have great confidence in their faith until it is severely tested by hardships and disappointments. How a person handles trouble will reveal whether his faith is living or dead, genuine or imitation, saving or nonsaving.’

So as Christians we must face trials:

Realistically – they are trials, often taking us by surprise;

Hopefully – seeing God’s great future being brought through it; and

Joyfully – you must transcend it by faith.

They are stepping stones to glory.