“Count it all joy!”  The first thing James wants to make sure to tell all of his Jewish brothers in Christ scattered abroad is to count it a joy when you face trials.

What’s the joy in the trial? What the trial produces. The end result is perfection, completion. God is doing a work and He’s going to finish it. It’s going to include trials.

Praise God for the good work He is doing in your life, for the perfect work He is doing in your life!

Trials test our faith and cause us to hold fast, root in and remain firm in our faith.

When you are in the trial and are feeling lost, ask for wisdom. God gives it generously. Christ is our wisdom and He freely gives us all things.

But when you ask, wait on His wisdom. Don’t give up and go your own way in your own understanding.

The crown of life awaits the one who remains steadfast in trial, those who love Him. We remain steadfast by being rooted in His love.

Know that when you are really feeling tempted to sin, it’s showing what’s in your heart. If there was no desire there, then it wouldn’t be a temptation. Confess it and give it to the Lord to deal with and take away. If you hold onto it instead of holding onto Truth, you will eventually give in to it. And sin produces death. Choose Jesus. Choose life.

James gives plenty of practical advice. Be quick to hear and slow to speak, slow to anger. Your opinion doesn’t need to be heard. You don’t need others to hear you and agree with you. You don’t have to be right.

I have many times reminded myself that the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God. I can get angry at idolatry, frivolity, worldliness, and so on in the church. But my anger isn’t going to produce righteousness. My response isn’t anger but merciful, compassionate prayer.

Listen. Listen in meekness, humility, gentleness. Receive God’s word into your heart. It’s your salvation.

We are doers of the word. We are deceiving ourselves if we don’t tame our tongue to speak what builds up. We are deceiving ourselves if our religion doesn’t move us to care for the least of these and to flee from sin.