Lesson 448 - Senior
Memory Verse
"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him" (James 1:12).
Cross References
I Perfection Through Trials
1. Greetings are sent to Israel dispersed among the nations, [JAM:1:1]; I Peter l:1-2.
2. Patience through trials brings us to perfection in Jesus, [JAM:1:2-4]; [JAM:5:11]; [1PE:5:10].
II The Unstableness of the Double-Minded
1. God gives wisdom to those who seek for it by faith, [JAM:1:5]; [JAM:3:13].
2. The man who wavers in his faith is like the waves of the sea, [JAM:1:6-8].
3. The Gospel exalts the lowly and brings down the high, [JAM:1:9-11].
III Sundry Statements
1. The reward awaits those who stand true, [JAM:1:12]; [1PE:1:3-9].
2. Man is tempted when drawn away by his own lusts and enticed, [JAM:1:13-18].
3. The Lord wants doers of the Word and not hearers only, [JAM:1:19-27].
4. We are to rejoice when we suffer for Christ, [1PE:4:12-14]; [MAT:5:11-12].
5. Judgment begins at the house of God, [1PE:4:15-19]
Notes
Suffering for the Gospel
James addresses this Epistle to the twelve tribes scattered abroad the dispersed among the Gentiles. But in the broader sense, it is greetings sent to Christians everywhere.
"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." The word "temptations" here has reference to afflictions, trials or tests. It is not used in the sense of being allured into sin as we often think of the word temptation.
The exhortation here is to count it all joy when we suffer for the Gospel, or when the Lord permits us to be afflicted or go through hard trials to perfect that which is lacking in our life to bring us to perfection in Christ Jesus. In other words, when tests come, realize that God has permitted them to bring us to a more perfect knowledge of our relationship with Him
The Lord has always had a tried people. It is one way the Lord has of testing our loyalty to Him. Trials have a way of showing up our weaknesses as well as showing the true purpose of our heart.
The strength of an engine is not known until pressure is put on to test it. The moral character of a person is not known until he is placed in a position where he has to take his stand for the right amidst the pressure of the enemy to do that, which is wrong.
It has been said, "God tries men that they may rise; Satan tempts them that they may fall."
Tried in the Furnace
The Lord said to Satan, "Hast thou considered my servant Job, . . . a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evils" [JOB:1:8]). Satan said: "Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? . . . But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face" [JOB:1:10-11]). The hedge was removed. Job did not say, "Why did all this happen to me?" He fell on his face and worshipped God and said, `'The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD" [JOB:1:21]).
How the heart of the Lord must have rejoiced to see Job maintain his integrity amidst the severest trials that could have happened to him! The pressure of the enemy against Job lasted for a long while but Job kept his faith; and before the test was over, he said, "He [the Lord] knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold" [JOB:23:10]).
Jobs faith and integrity in God and his hope of the resurrection has inspired Christians all down through the ages to hold fast their hope and faith while passing through the fiery trials.
Every possible trial that could come to a child of God is permitted for his good by the Captain of his salvation, to make him a more perfect man in Christ Jesus.
"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him" [JAM:1:12]).
Unseen
"Whom having not seen, ye love" [1PE:1:8]). Usually it is a personal knowledge of one that causes you to love him. We have never seen Jesus with our natural eyes, but we know that He has washed our sins away, planted His love in our hearts, and given us a hope of one day seeing Him face to face. That is why we love Him.
Thomas did not believe Jesus had risen from the dead until he saw Him with his own eyes. Jesus said, "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed" [JHN:20:29]).
Wisdom
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not" [JAM:1:5]). We need wisdom that will help us to rightfully understand the Gospel so we can count it all joy when we are tested and tried, and be able to endure it for Jesus' sake.
When we read the third chapter of Proverbs we find much in it about wisdom. "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding" [PRO:3:13]). "She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her" [PRO:3:18]) . "The wise shall inherit glory" [PRO:3:35]).
When Solomon was confronted with the task of ruling the nation of Israel, he asked the Lord for an understanding heart. It pleased the Lord, and He not only gave him what he asked for, but many other blessings besides. James says that God "giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not.
A Double-Minded Man
If you want wisdom ask in faith, nothing doubting. A man who doubts is like the waves of the sea, tossed to and fro, sometimes believing and sometimes doubting. "Let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord."
Doubts often arise from a failure to let go of something in the heart that the Lord wants surrendered to Him. The remedy for our doubts is simplicity of faith. Often the poor and illiterate have it, while the learned pass over its simplicity. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" [ROM:10:17]).
A double-minded man is called by the Jewish Rabbi a man with two hearts, one for earth and one for Heaven. He will not give up earth, and is loath to let Heaven go; yet he can have only one. We are exhorted to have an eye single to the glory of God.
Trials and Tests
That trials and tests await the child of God the Bible tells us very plainly, but we are exhorted to bear them joyfully. "The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts" [PRO:17:3]) "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby' [HEB:12:11]).
The Final Rewards
Jesus said, "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven" [MAT:5:11-12]).
James said, "Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." Peter said, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy" [1PE:4:12-13]).
Paul speaks about the "light affliction, which is but for a moment," working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
The Bible tells us that the trial of our faith is much more precious than gold. Gold could buy us a nice home and many comfortable things of this world for a few short years. But the trial of our faith, for a few short years, will bring us to an inheritance in Heaven that is "incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away."
Questions
1. Why are we to count it all joy when we fall into manifold temptations?
2. How are men tempted to sin?
3. Why do we need wisdom in our tests?
4. What is meant by a double-minded man?
5. We may be poor in this world's goods but in what can we be rich?
6. Where does God begin with judgment?
7. Why is the trial of faith more precious than gold?
8. Describe our future inheritance in Heaven.