THE BOOK OF JAMES

JAMES MAJOR EMPHASIS IN THIS PRESENT TEXT, AND IN THE ENTIRE LETTER IS THAT IF A PERSON'S FAITH IS GENUINE, IT WILL PROVE ITSELF DURING TIMES OF TROUBLE

8 PURPOSES FOR THE LORD ALLOWING TRAILS TO COME INTO THE LIVES OF HIS PEOPLE

1.     TO TEST THE STRENGTH OF OUR FAITH. 

2.     TO HUMBLE US

3.     TO WEAN US FROM OUR DEPENDENCE ON WORLDLY THINGS.   

4.      TO CALL US TO ETERNAL AND HEAVENLY HOPE. 

5.     TO REVEAL WHAT WE REALLY LOVE. 

6.     TO TEACH US TO VALUE GOD’S BLESSINGS.

7.     TO DEVELOP IN HIS SAINTS ENDURING STRENGTH FOR GREATER USEFULNESS.

8.     TO ENABLE US TO BETTER HELP OTHERS IN THEIR TRIALS. 

James 1:2-18 nasb 1995 

The more we rejoice in our testing’s, the more we realize that they are not liabilities but privileges 

1.     WE ARE TO VIEW TRIALS AS AGENTS OF PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT 

JAMES 1:2

TRIALS – GREEK WORD – PEIRASMOS – TESTING FOR INTENTIONS

GOD ONLY TEST’S PEOPLE WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING GREAT ON THE OTHER SIDE

JAMES 1:3-4

THE GREATEST USE OF YOUR FAITH IS NOT TO GET SOMETHING FROM GOD…THE GREATEST USE OF YOUR FAITH IS TO REMAIN TETHERED TO THE PURPOSES OF GOD 

VS. 4

ENDURANCE/PERSEVERANCE – THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRENGTH TO ENDURE 

Warren Wiersbe - our values determine our evaluations. If we value comfort more than character, then trials will upset us. If we value the material and physical more than the spiritual, we will not be able to count it all joy! If we live only for the present and forget the future, the trials will make us bitter, not better.

 2.     WE HAVE TO USE TRIALS AS A CATALYST FOR GREATER RELIANCE