Free Bible Commentary
“James 1:1-4”
Categories: James“James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
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James wrote this letter to encourage the twelve tribes who were “dispersed” or “scattered” abroad. When persecution arose against the church because of Saul’s aggression, many Christians “who had been scattered went about preaching the word” (Acts 8:1-4). These brethren obviously did not allow discouragement to render them miserable and useless to the Lord. They clearly considered it “all joy” when they encountered “various trials” because of their faith (verse 2). Like the Apostles who were persecuted before them, “they went on their way…rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41). We can and should learn from the faith exhibited by the early disciples.
God’s children should understand that the trials in our lives are there to serve a purpose, and that much good can come from them if we will allow it. When we have our faith tested and we withstand the trail through God’s grace and our trust in Him, that actually “produces endurance” or “patience” or “steadfastness” (verse 3). “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)
We must allow this “endurance” to “have its perfect result, so that” we “may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (verse 4). Trials are designed to produce endurance, and endurance is designed to produce “perfection” or “maturity”. It is said of the Lord that He was perfected through sufferings (Hebrews 2:10). Jesus was going to allow no amount of hardship, pain or persecution to keep Him from accomplishing His Father’s will and the mission He was sent to the earth to perform and fulfill. He endured until it was finished because of “the joy set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2), to be the Author of our salvation, and to help us to see our journey through till the end as well (Hebrews 2:9-11). We cannot afford to let our defenses down if we desire endurance to the very end of the way. God will make certain that we are “lacking in nothing” that we need if we will determine to “be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).
Please read James 1:5-8 for tomorrow.
Have a great day!
- Louie Taylor
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