Faith through Trials

Posted by Rev. Dr. Cheryl A. Durham

James 1: 1-4

Jesus’ brother wrote the book of James. He is speaking to his fellow Jews, male and female, his spiritual siblings, specifically to the twelve tribes of Israel that had been dispersed among the Greeks. What he is telling them flies in the face of what they thought the Messiah was to do when He came. They were expecting a conqueror that would restore Israel and crush its enemies. Instead, Jesus brought in a different kind of Kingdom. Not one of this world, but one of another, an invisible Kingdom that would eventually overcome, not overtake the world.

James starts in verse 2 by saying that his siblings should think of their trials and persecutions as times of rejoice. Why would anyone think that? In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that this was the reward the prophets got when they were faithful. He said God would be ready to reward their faithful behavior despite the reaction they got here. (Matt 5:12). Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that if the faith of the prophets was tested, the faith of the church would be tested also.

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