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"The testing of your faith..."

Text: James 1:3

TRIALS OF LIFE

No trial of life is easy. Suffering the loss of home and loved ones were hard things to bear. Yet, James offers a very dynamic approach towards facing the trials of life.

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”
James 1:2-3

1. “Count it all joy”

a) The word “count” may be rendered “reckon”.

b) It’s up to the believers how they want to face the various trials of life.

i) The trials of life will come.

ii) The believer can choose to adopt a spirit of joy when various trials come his way.

2. “Knowing”

a) The question is whether there is “knowledge”.

b) If there is sufficient knowledge of the word of God there can be true joy chosen and experienced.

c) This knowledge has to be actively and consciously applied to be effective.

3. “The testing of your faith”

a) The principle of testing:

i) This is a universal principle.

ii) It is also a Biblical principle.

b) Faith in God will be tested:

i) To see if this faith is genuine in the first place.

ii) Trials were not meant to break one’s faith, but to test its quality.

4. “Produces patience”

a) There are many good outcomes from the testing of faith.

b) Patience is made up of a number of nuances.

i) Patience is an important feature.

ii) Perseverance is another important nuance.

iii) Ability to abide in the faith is another nuance.

iv) Strength to continue believing in the Lord is yet another vital nuance.