Steadfast and Complete

Today we are going to be looking at James 1:1-4 which reads like this, James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. ² Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,” It is important to note here that “trials of various kinds” is purposefully general as it can apply to any kind of “trial” including a pandemic! Including dealing with the aftermath of your own sin! Including depression and anger and more. James suggests that we can find joy in any trial! Why? 

He tells us in the next verse, “³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” 

The first thing I want us to notice here is that it is assumed that any trial is a test of faith. In other words, when you go through any trail you will either draw nearer to God or go further from Him – it is up to you. I have seen people lose loved ones and say, “I don’t know how people get through these times without Jesus.” These are people who draw nearer to Jesus in the struggle. I have seen people in similar situations ask, “How could God do this?” and walk away from the faith. I have seen people commit sin and come running back to Jesus, repentant and grateful. I have seen people commit sin and decide that God could never love them because of it and walk away from God. Every trial of any kind is a test of faith and you have to decide if you will run to God or away from God in that moment. 

James says we can find joy in our trials because these tests, when handled righteously produce “steadfastness” in us. What he means by steadfastness is an unshakable faith. A great example of this is Moses. God calls Moses to Egypt at the burning bush. Moses doesn’t want to go – even after miraculous signs he doesn’t want to go. But he goes anyway, and he complains and worries the entire time. But, in his worry, in one crisis after another, even in the midst of his frustration with God he keeps on following God. Then, when standing at the Red Sea – the Egyptian army bearing down on them the same Moses who was once so fearful tells the Israelites, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today.” Do you see how his stubborn following of God leads to a steadfastness in his faith? 

James completes this thought with, “⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” That word “complete” and phrase “lacking in nothing” is the proper definition of what James means here by “perfect”. We must never conclude that we are expected to attain moral perfection – the Bible cannot expect that from us and preach the Gospel at the same time – as the Gospel tells us we can’t attain moral perfection. Here, the word “perfect” means that we become more and more complete, more and more fulfilled, more and more ourselves – as God meant for us to be. All of this is attained in getting closer to God. 

And so, Paul says, “We do not lose heart, even though our bodies are wasting away our souls are being renewed day by day.”

And Jesus says, “…whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

A few questions for you: what trials are you facing right now? Think about worries, think about financial struggles, relational struggles, think about sin in your life.

In each of these trials, are you moving toward God or away from Him? Are you blaming Him, giving up on Him, going to other “gods” for answers? Or are you leaning on Him, seeking Him, being honest with Him?

Who are you talking to about your struggles? As I grow in my walk, I have come to know this truth for sure: You were not meant to face any trial alone. Who are you talking to about this stuff?

In Matthew 10:22 Jesus says, “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” He doesn’t mean, “the one who behaves to the end will be saved.” He means the one who remains steadfast in their faith – they keep on stubbornly trusting Jesus every time until the end! 

Hey, take joy as you face trials of many kinds – it’s testing your faith – and these tests can produce steadfastness and then completeness that will cause you to be able to move through these times with triumph.