James 1 - The Wisdom Of The Brother Of JesusНамуна

People are often puzzled by the way every new paragraph in this first chapter of James appears to introduce a new and unconnected theme — ‘trials’ in the first, ‘wisdom’ in the second, ‘riches’ in the third and so on. 

Why is this? Chapter 1 serves as an executive summary of all that follows in the letter. If James as a whole is an anthology of Christian living, chapter 1 is a kind of Contents page, with each paragraph saying in miniature what will be said more fully in chapters 2-5. This first paragraph provides an excellent example.

The tough road to maturity

The theme of ‘trials’ mentioned here in 1:2 reappears at least twice more in the letter (2:6-7; 5:7-11). We don’t know the details but a glimpse of the hardships facing the first readers is found in 2:6-7:

Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? (2:6-7).

Financial, legal and religious troubles are hinted at here. Christian trials in the ancient world were never as simple as being thought a bit odd for going to church; it often involved severe social pressure.

Whatever the details, the important thing James wants to say to these troubled believers is that hardships can be counted ‘pure joy’ (v.2). How so? By seeing trials as an opportunity to develop ‘perseverance’ in the faith. And, according to v.4, perseverance “must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete.” 

Our trials can and should be viewed in a broader perspective, as part of the journey toward being made whole, toward experiencing the totality of what the Lord intends for us. When viewed as a means of becoming a ‘total Christian’, trials can be seen as a source of joy.

How and why Christians endure trials

The Scriptures do sometimes promise that God will deliver us from hardship, but there are no guarantees. The reality is, Christians will frequently endure pain, pressure and persecution, and it may be the Lord’s will that we learn simply to endure it. But not ‘endure it’ as a Buddhist might, as an opportunity to practice detachment from the pleasures and pains of the world. Christian endurance has the specific goal of advancing toward Christian completeness. 

The question arises: how much do we value maturity in Christ? If we desire comfort more than maturity and success more than godliness, we’re going to know little of this joy in hardship. But if, above everything else, we want to become total Christians, lacking nothing of Christ’s blessings, then, despite the pain and sadness of our troubles, we will be able to find joy in the knowledge that God can and will use our circumstances to make us everything he wants us to be.