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The Testing of Your Faith – James 1
The Testing of Your Faith – James 1
Most people dislike tests (to put it mildly). The results of such tests reveal things about the one tested. Sometimes we pass. Sometimes we fail. In all of them we can learn. When one follows Jesus, he can be assured that he will face many tests concerning his faith. It is ‘when you encounter various trials’, not IF you do.
James doesn't explain the source of such tests and we can learn from reading the rest of the Bible that they come from many different sources. Some come from God, some come from Satan, some comes from our own desires, and sometimes from circumstances of life. Whatever the source, James indicates that these tests have this in common: they test our faith, our trust, our allegiance. Will we trust God?
God does allow this testing, but His purpose is the purifying and strengthening of our faith. When the result of such tests reveals a weakness or flaw, we have the opportunity to work on it and correct it, thus we become stronger in our faith and more godly in our conduct. It is to this purpose and end that James encourages us to rejoice in such trials: "knowing that the trying of your faith works (produces or develops) patience (steadfastness, endurance)." James then continued by instructing those who are so tested to "Let patience have its complete work that you may be mature and (perfect and entire), lacking in nothing (as pertains to your faith in God)."
The result of this is to produce in us integrity and character. When we live by integrity and principle, the correct response to such tests has already been revealed. It isn't a matter of choosing what the right thing is as much as it becomes a choice of faithfully doing what we know is right. Either that or being unfaithful. Such integrity can readily be seen in the temptation of Jesus. The answers had already been given: “It is written”. The integrity of Jesus produced only faithful obedience to God and His word. There was no equivocation or looking for a loop-hole.
Testing in our lives, as we make the necessary corrections to our failures, will produce this same kind of steadfastness, constancy, and integrity. While the tests may not be 'fun' or 'comfortable', we can rejoice knowing that in the end we will hear our Father say: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Or as James concludes: "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" (James 1:12).
It is not a question of if you will encounter such testing of your faith, for such is part of life. The question is: are you faithful to God?
Hugh DeLong
