Light in the Darkness: Joy
James 1:1-18
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
We continue in our advent series where we’re exploring the four different themes that are represented by our advent candles. This time we are looking at the theme of Joy in times of trial.
The second verse of our passage can seem very strange indeed. It says that, whenever we face trials, we are to consider it nothing but joy. This sounds odd to us. We are familiar with the idea of joy and celebrating things.
We are also familiar with the idea of trials and things not going well. However, the idea of facing trials and considering pure joy is a strange one. How do these two things fit together and what does it have to do with advent?
One helpful way of understanding how these two ideas work together is found in verse 12 of our reading. This verse says that those who stand the test will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
In a world that is used to getting things and receiving things instantly, the idea of enduring something now for the sake of a later reward is increasingly unpopular and yet that is exactly what’s going on here. Those who follow Jesus can find joy in the here and now, regardless of circumstances, because of what is promised to come to them. The thing about following Jesus is that this life is not your best life. The one to come is.
We live faithfully and obediently to Christ in this life because of the life to come where all pain and tears and crying and death will be no more. We live this life in the light of the next one. This is how we can find joy in difficulty now. It’s because now isn’t all there is.
This should make a difference to how Christians live in the here and now. You see, it makes sense that in a country that is getting increasingly irreligious and secular, things would feel more and more desperate. If you were of the belief that this life is your best one, then it makes sense that cost-of-living, increasingly polarised politics, creaking public services and many more things besides would lead to despair and upset.
Let me be clear, these things are serious and really important. However, if you’re someone who feels the weight of those things but believes that while they’re difficult, they’re not the end, then you will be able to live with greater joy and freedom than those who don’t. Part of the joy we can know at advent is that all of the difficulties we see in the world aren’t final.
God has spoken a better and more final word than all of things meaning we can have a joy that others don’t. Our job isn’t just to enjoy this for ourselves but to let our joy show in such a way that is attractive and winsome to others.
Richard Barber
