II. Reward of Trials
Why should I consider my trials with joy? What is the purpose of this suffering?
Verse 3 - knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
KNOW = [Strong's #1097. γινώσκω ginōskō,] knowledge that is grounded on personal experience. Trials produce patience.
Look up Romans 5:3-5
"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
Look up John 16:33
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
For the believer, trials work for him, not against him. No amount of suffering can separate us from the Lord [Romans 8:35-39]. Instead, trials bring us closer to the Lord, make us more like Him. Suffering builds character [Romans 5:4] - experience [Strong's #1382] = "character that has been proved ". So the sequence is:
- Tribulation [from a latin word - tribulum. In Paul's day, tribulum was a heavy piece of timber with spikes in it used for threshing the grain. The tribulum was drawn over the grain separating the wheat from the chaff (straw cut up for fodder; worthless matter, refuse).] As we go through tribulation and depend on God's grace, the trials only purify us and help to get rid of the chaff.
- Patience = proven character
- Hope
Don't be ignorant of the fact that God sends trials. There is a purpose, there will be trials ... they produce patience. It has a significant impact on your spiritual maturity.
This is the 1st time faith is mentioned in the book of James and it's quite interesting that faith is mentioned before work; the work being patient. We must have faith before we can act upon it. Faith works but you must have faith before it can work!
Ask yourself: When we're among Christians going through a trial and they bottom out spiritually during the trial, why isn't their faith working? Our trials accomplish something and sometimes that something is patience. What is patience?
Patience is a person who bravely remains upright and firm during adverse circumstances without collapse or cowardice. He/she is steadfast.
Another meaning is: To wait for somebody. It's the idea that you are under a heavy load...your trial is weighing you down but at the same time you have great expectation of being relieved from that trial and looking to God for help. Patience is that spirit that holds up under pressure while waiting for God's timing for reward or dismissal from the trial. Are you running from your trial? I encourage you to: Stay, Abide, Remain and see what God has for you. Remember, the Lord sends troubles to produce patience and the more tests you pass, the more steadfast you become.
Romans 5:3,4 [Memorize]
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
James 1:4 - next blog. Hoping this is a blessing! Sure would be awesome to hear if it has blessed you, if you're getting something from it [or not, lol]!
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