(James 1:2) "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials"

What an amazing statement made by James! How could he be so bold as to say this? What did he know of trials?
James witnessed Jesus crucifixion. He witnessed Jesus faithfulness to the point of death.

Let's break down this second verse:
James calls the scattered Jewish Christians his "brethren." Those who belong to the same father, who have access to the same heavenly place, enslaved to the same master.

"Count it all joy" means that you are to identify a trial before it comes upon you, and you are to determine in your mind and heart to take joy in the trial! You are to make provision in your soul; believers elsewhere are commanded not to be surprised by trial.
What happens when a soldier is surprised by battle? He is found sleeping, unarmed, mentally ill-prepared, disordered...
But this word "count" is in the Aorist tense: meaning that we must always be found ready.

And get this! It's not only the recognition of the trial that happens from far off- the joy too, comes long before you are encompassed by the trial. The word "joy" means to "hail, greet, rejoice exceedingly, and thrive."

And these are not small, dinky trials we think about (traffic, family arguments, dealing with difficult people...etc.). The trials James is talking about are the all-encompassing ones. Whether temptation to sin, or persecution: all are to be counted as all joy.

Why? Why are weak, scattered, terrified Christians commanded not only to endure trials, but to greet them from afar with exceeding joy...?

The answer is simply this: Christ is worthy. No servant is greater than his master. (Jhn 15:20)

Trials prove genuineness, character, fidelity. Christ was proven! The spotless Lamb was made perfect through suffering, how much more ought we to expect that same proving from the Lord? He has already promised us the victory! He, very God of very God, has promised to be with us "to the very end of the age" (Mat 28:20). Let us hail all trials in Christ's name!

-Pause-

I'm going to take a little break from James today to share something I've been meditating on.

Yesterday, some friends came over and somehow we got to talking about the fact that rarely is anything easy ever worth doing, the opposite is also true.

 It's interesting that hard things usually aren't enjoyable though... at least not in the moment. Even in the smallest things in life- this is true!

Rarely is anyone ever impressed when you tell them you watched a movie over the weekend or had your favorite pizza, but tell them you spent your evening cleaning up the "massive" flood in your basement and they're listening!

 Funny analogy, I know, but think about the truth of it... 

I cannot  think of one thing I've done that was both easy and worthwhile. Sure, there are fun, relaxed moments within the hard seasons, but they always result from the challenges and they never originate lasting friendships or opportunities to speak or live the gospel. Why? Because left to ourselves, we will always choose the easy road. And friends, it is hard to share the gospel. It's uncomfortable. It's offensive. It's politically incorrect. But it's also life!

Easy times are never the things you cherish either!

I volunteered at a camp last summer, and the things I still talk about are the nights we vacuum-sealed ten coolers full of salmon and the week where it rained non-stop and the campers were just as excited about tubing with their counselor (me!) as ever. I don't necessarily talk of the times we stayed up into the wee hours of the night playing card games, or the really good baked-oatmeal, at least not with the same fondness.

There are so many examples I could point to from the Bible which accentuate this point, so many different examples from life... But instead of doing that, I'd like to share with you one of my all-time-favorite quotes that explains why those of us who have yielded our lives to Christ love to choose the more difficult road:

"How can I ever explain to those who insist that we must believe in the world to love it that it is because I disbelieve in the world that I love every breath I take, look forward with ever greater delight to the coming of each spring, rejoice evermore in the companionship of my fellow-humans, to no single one of whom, searching my heart, do I wish ill, and of no single one of whom do I wish to separate myself, in word or thought or deed, or in some prospect of some other existence beyond the ticking of the clocks, the vista of the hills, the bounds and dimensions of our earthly hopes and distress? To accept the world as a destination rather than a staging-post, and the experience of living in it as life's full significance, would seem to me to reduce life to something far to banal and trivial to be taken seriously or held in esteem... In other words, the Christian proposition that he who lives his life in this world shall lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will see it projected unto eternity, is for living, not dying."

-Malcolm Muggeridge, Chronicles of Wasted Time, Chronicle 1: The Green Stick 

"To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings." (James 1:1)

As I went over my notes from the first day of this study in James, I was struck by the contrast of James' position and that of the recipients of his letter.

Whereas James proclaims that he is  a bond-servant after His Lord's physical departure, the Jews he is talking to were hard-core followers while Jesus was around. But after He left, they were shaken.
These twelve tribes were "scattered" due to persecution, but James tells them that they are not to be "scattered" in their loyalties. They still belong to the King. They are still God's chosen people.
James says that he has not used His master's physical absence as an excuse for growing feeble in His faith; he has not used this scattering of believers as an excuse not to stand strong in the Lord. James says that his ear is still pierced. His ear is ever inclined towards His master.
By the words that follow in James' letter, we see that the Jews were neglecting certain commands of God.
"But James!" they might've said, "James, don't you realize we are in foreign cities? We are weak minorities, foreigners. As soon as we begin publicly living out our faith, we will again be persecuted. We know we're supposed to give to the poor, but we ourselves are impoverished!"

How reasonable it sounds. Why would James ask the poor to give to the poor, why not go to other churches and ask them to send money to the scattered tribes? Why ask these refuges to do something that would provoke the leaders of the towns they are in to persecute them? But consider how opposite the thread of this passage in Acts 5:

"But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.  Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.  And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.  When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them.

Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while.  And he said to them: “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men.  For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed.  And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.” (Acts5:29:36)

 Peter and the apostles were proof that this Jesus was no con-man. He wasn't a liar, a rebel, a man "claiming to be somebody." He was very God of very God.
"Don't you get it?" James is saying, "If you become a friend of the world, you are in fact claiming that Jesus isn't worth it, that He wasn't and isn't God! Your life will proclaim that He is still rotting in the grave! Sons and daughters of Israel, we serve the Living God!"

O how much more, brothers and sisters, ought we, in our day, to serve Christ! We have no good excuse to not give, to not live out the Christian life, to not proclaim with our lives that we serve the living God! We are not scattered, but we are owned.
 

I have been studying James for about a month now; I'm going to do my very best to blog about my study at least three times a week. This is such a two-fold blessing! I get to review what I've been learning and share it with you at the same time!


Background: James, the bond-servant of the Lord Jesus Christ

James is Jesus' brother.
He has a good reputation among believers today as being a strong leader of the early church and a man of compassion and action, but this was not always so.
James was a doubter. He did not believe that his brother was the Christ. He hated his brother for claiming to be the long awaited Messiah, the God of all nations, the King of all Kings.
James was most likely present at his brother's crucifixion.
How close was he? Did the scene stir him or did he shout with the rest of his fellow Jews for his brother to be executed? Was he angered when Jesus told His beloved disciple, John, that he was to take Mary as his mother and that he would be her son? (Jhn 19:26)

We cannot know what took place inside the mind of Jesus' brother that day. In fact, there is very little information about him prior to Jesus' crucifixion. What we do know is that Jesus appeared to his brother (probably alone) after His resurrection. (1 Cor 15:7)
James saw. He saw his brother's nail-pierced-hands, speared side, and his glorified body. He saw God. The King of all Kings. His long awaited Messiah.
Was there much shame in that moment? Certainly. Joy? Unspeakable!
What is most amazing about this story to me is that James is proof of the words Jesus would later speak: "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you." (Jhn 16:7)

James literally grew up with Jesus! He learned about life and had growth spurts and shared a dinner table with the Savior of the world. And yet, this profited him nothing. He refused the Messiah. But this story drastically shifts when he is given power from on high.
He becomes a passionate leader of the church intent on the Bride's purity and readiness for her husband, father, friend, brother...
James could now call himself the brother of Christ without any shame.
"For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mat 12:50)