(This is an abridged version of the sermon preached at Epworth Chapel, Baltimore on 7/1/12. It is the first in a five part sermon series on the book of James)
"...count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4)
The book of James is considered to be one of the General Epistles (or letters) of the church. The apostle James is thought by most scholars, to have been the earthly brother of Jesus, and was one of the pastors of the new Christians in Jerusalem. Here, James writes as the people’s pastor, and offers them a set of practical guidelines as to how they were to go about living the Christian life, and dealing with the very practical – day-to-day – issues that they were facing.
In this regard, the book of James is one of the most practical of all of the 66 books of the Bible. In it, James deals with topics like patience and suffering, temptation and anger, how to pray and how to grow in the Lord. It is a proverbial “how-to” manual for Christian living.
If you are like me, you know that it is important that whenever you buy something new like a car or a new electronic gadget, you should take time to read the owner’s manual to gain a sense of how best to operate your newly purchased item. But if the truthh is told, we are often apt to make the mistake of thinking we know how an item operates without taking the time to read the owner’s manual.
In like manner, the book of James is a good place to start in trying to learn how to live more effectively and faithfully as a Christian.
Perhaps it is not coincidental that in the first few verses of the book, James deals with the matter of joy. In-fact in the second verse of the first chapter, James shares these words, “my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance…”
Maybe James wrote so early about joy because he knew of the challenges that Christians of his day, and all of us today would face in our lives. All of us, even Christians, are indeed inclined to pack up our troubles, throw them away, and give up. Trouble, in whatever form it presents itself in our lives, has a way of quenching the spirit, and rendering us a joyless people.
We find this in churches all over the land. Churches are dying; people are dying, because of a lack of joy. Churches are closing down – from community to community – because of a lack of joy. Churches face dissension and discord, disorientation and division from within because of a lack of joy.
And so in the midst of this, James tells those in Jerusalem and he tells us to “count it all joy.” (Consider it nothing but joy.) And what is this joy that we speak of today?
This joy is more than a mere feel-good, tear-jerk reaction. This joy that James speaks of is more than an emotional high. This joy is what the apostle Paul referred to in Galatians 5 as one of the “fruit of the Spirit.” It is one of the signs that God is present in our lives.
The joy that we speak of today is an essential component, an essential fruit, for the individual lives of Christians, and the collective life of the church. No, the joy that James talks about is not an option for the Christian – it is critical to a vital, vibrant, growing, maturing relationship with Jesus Christ.
And we must understand that this joy is not necessarily what we have come to know as happiness. It has been my experience that too many people spend too much time looking for happiness in life (often in the wrong places) – happiness in the things we buy; happiness in our careers, our success, our stock portfolios, our bank accounts, our homes, our cars, our relationships with others; happiness through what others think about us; our reputations; through recognition; happiness through avoiding problems.
And while this yearning for happiness is okay to a degree, many people are still searching for deeper meaning and fulfillment in life. Although these things might bring about happiness for a moment, many people are still searching for real joy in their lives.
James tells his readers to “count it all joy.” James here gets right to the point. In suffering, trials, troubles – in all of those flies in the ointment of life - in all of those thorns in the flesh – in all of those knockdowns in life – in all that comes our way – count it all joy.
And so what might we learn from James’s words here? As we struggle to come to some theological and Biblical understanding of suffering - as we try to find some relevance in the pain life – we might look at the life of Job – a righteous man – who lost everything he had. We might look at the life of Paul – who despite his faith – lived constantly with a thorn in his flesh. I’ve come to the conclusion that suffering in and of itself is evil. It doesn’t teach us anything in and of itself.
But we discover that even in our suffering there is the possibility of spiritual growth and maturity in the faith. There is the possibility of increased faith.
“Count it all joy,” James says, realizing that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness and more faith. “Count it all joy,” for God knows what we are going through, and God who knows all, cares about us in the midst of whatever we go through in life. “Count it all joy” and know that God gives us the perseverance and strength to hold on and hold out.
The good news is that we can count it all joy, and tell the world as the song-writer declared that “This joy that I have, the world didn’t give it to me… this joy that I have, the world can’t take it away!”
We can count it all joy and declare that regardless of how long or dark the night, the psalmist was right in declaring that “weeping might endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning!”
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