WISDOM: My Need / God's Supply

James 1:5-8

The audio recording is missing the first 7-8 minutes, so I have made the first page of my Sermon Outline Notes available to fill in the gaps.  What was recorded begins with the reference to Philippians 3 (corresponding to the bottom of page one).

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INTRODUCTION:  James is writing to his Jewish brothers who are believing in Jesus as the Messiah. These disciples have discovered that following Jesus is not going to be altogether easy & comfortable.

REVIEW (Previously), verses 2-4:
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

SUMMARY (from Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary): The "trials" are a testing sent by God to demonstrate the genuineness of the believer's faith (cf. 1 Pet. 1:6). An attitude of joy is the proper perspective for such tests of faith. The command of James 1:2 is issued because joy in trials is easily missed. The way to finding joy while suffering trials is to see the direct result of endurance developed in one's life (1:3). Steadfastness [endurance, patience] means to bear up under any given situation, not to escape it. The author's exhortation was to stay in the testing so that it would result in endurance rather than sin. The result of endurance is maturity (1:4); the purpose of the testing is to produce maturity. A process is in view: enduring just one trial is not enough. James encouraged his readers to let the process of trials keep working to bring complete maturity; for this reason trials had to come in all areas of life.

BEFORE LEAVING VERSES 2-4:
Trials are intended to effect a transaction -- an exchange of one thing for another thing.
In a sense, what happens in a trial is something of a demonstration of the $10,000 principle: Every time you say "Yes" to something, you are saying "No" to other things (possibilities).
The Exchange: When GOD dispenses a trial into a Christian's life, there really is a LOSS on some level, to some degree.
But it is EQUALLY TRUE that when GOD dispenses a trial into a Christian's life it is for the purpose of acquiring some GAIN.

The GAIN is always of greater value than the LOSS!

However, when trials and hardships come our way, we are very good at identifying what is being lost, taken away --
some ability, pleasure, resource, enjoyment, aspiration, dream, financial means/security, health, ability, activity
some loss of freedom, loss of control -- But we are very poor at identifying what is being gained:

• STEADFASTNESS, patience -- character that more closely resembles Christ
• GOD's WISDOM
• GOD's BLESSING (reward) -- v 12, "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him."
• AWARENESS of my weaknesses, limitations, finiteness
• RELIANCE on God's provision, care, intentions (objectives)
• a refined faith
• Philippians 3:7-11 -- But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith — 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.