This verse tells us that trials are not something just to be tolerated, but something from which real profit may be gained.

"... your faith ..." This is James' first reference to faith. In all, he mentions it sixteen times. Different opinions have been expressed and some have thought The Epistle of James to be an epistle that exalts works and belittles faith. This is a mistake. James insists that true faith will actually produce works that apart from this it is a dead faith or really no faith at all.

Not on Old Testament ground: It has been said by some that because James writes to the dispersed Jews, and writes so much about works, that his epistle is mostly on Old Testament ground. The fact that he writes so much about faith would rather prove that he is on New Testament ground. "Faith" is primarily a New Testament word, although it is found in the Old, too. Much of the New Testament is based on a Hebrew Bible text: "The just shall live by his faith" (Hab. 2:4). "Trust" is the word we find more often in the Hebrew Bible. Trust is similar to faith.

Faith a foundation truth: Faith is one of several foundation truths of Christianity. It could be said that through faith God's blessings flow down to man. Often we hear the Lord Jesus say, "Thy faith hath saved thee." Teaching on it is found in every book of the New Testament. Without it, it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). Faith in Christ and His work first of all leads us toward salvation. It is faith that causes us: (1) to repent of our sins, (2) confess our belief in Him, and (3) be baptized for the remission of our sins, being raised to walk in newness of life. But, it all starts with faith in the Lord Jesus. And, after salvation (see God’s Salvation in Contents), a Christian can expect no blessing from the Lord apart from putting faith in Him.

"... the trying of your faith ..." Faith is so vital that the Lord deems it necessary to test it in the fire of affliction. The Lord has various reasons for these testings; for one, to prove that the faith is genuine. This is the first reason the goldsmith puts gold over the fire (1 Pet. 1:7). Is it real gold? The fire will tell. As the fire of affliction rages around the soul, will it lose faith in the Lord or cling closer to Him? The fire will bring the dross to the surface to be skimmed off by the goldsmith. Trials will purge a saint of evils and make him more like the Lord Jesus. The goldsmith does not stop skimming off the dross until he can see the image of his face in the pure gold. God desires above all, to see the image of His Son in us.

"... trying of your faith worketh ..." Trials produce many good effects. They make for strength and sturdiness. A tree that stands in the open must send its roots down deep in order to withstand the fierceness of the storm. This is so true of saints who have been severely tried. How strong their faith is and how hard they lean on the Lord. This dependence upon Him is a natural effect of trial. They also produce obedience and righteousness, even as a child is generally made better by chastisement (Heb. 12:11). Besides this, trials work for us eternally. "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Cor. 4:17). For every trial we endure here, He will compensate both in time and in eternity.

"... worketh patience." "Patience" or "endurance" is what the trials of faith especially produce. Here is another case where Paul and James agree. Paul says, "Tribulation worketh patience" (Rom. 5:3). He also exhorts the Romans to be "patient in tribulation" (Rom. 12:12). "Patience" usually has the sense of "endurance" in the New Testament. The more often faith is tried the easier it becomes to endure.

Other Scriptures on patience: James speaks of patience a great deal. He mentions it in chapter 1, twice, and five times in chapter 5. Then we have the word "endure" in 1:12 and 5:11. We find it a great deal in Paul's epistles (Rom. 2:7; 8:25; 15:4; Col. 1:11, etc.).

Patience an important virtue: Patience is a splendid virtue. How we love to see one who is suffering a great deal, smile and bear up and to patiently wait on God. It is natural to be fretful and impatient in trial, but the Lord does not want His children to be so. Patience is often linked with great virtues of love and faith (1 Tim. 6:11). In Titus 2:2 we read, "That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity (love), in patience." How important to be sound in faith and sound in love. It is also very important to be sound in patience. It is important to be patient, not only in trial, but also with others, and in our service for Christ. Endurance is a virtue that is absolutely essential to success in the work of the Lord. Who knows how many works for the Lord were discontinued just as they were about to turn toward success. "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Gal. 6:9).

Christ endured: Our Lord Jesus Christ is given to us as an example of endurance, "Looking unto Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds" (Heb. 12:2, 3). We have the lesson that we are to learn from His patience in Hebrews 12:1 and 7, "Let us run with patience the race that is set before us ... If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons.”

She prayed for patience: The story is told of a Christian I know prayed a lot for patience. She complained to a Christian friend that even though she prayed for patience, all she seemed to get was more trouble. Her friend replied, “Perhaps the Lord is sending you trouble in order to produce patience in you.” Yes, "the trying of your faith worketh patience."

Scripture Reading: James 1:4 (KJV)

"... let patience have her perfect work ... " We naturally hate trials and so we do our utmost to avoid them. Yet, they are sure to come to every Christian, and are a necessary part of our education. As we are exercised by the trial, patient endurance is produced. Man, by nature, is rebellious toward the Lord and all trial. When this rebellion goes, and man learns to submit meekly to the will of the Lord, he is fast approaching Christ-likeness. This the Father delights to see above all else. It would seem from our verse that the Lord considers patience well nigh the finishing grace.

Cultivate patience: In order to let patience do her perfect work, we need to cultivate it. When trials come we should not grumble, but seek to welcome them as something sent by the Lord for our benefit. We need to say with the Lord Jesus, "The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" (John 18:11). In order to have patience produce her perfect work, we need to endure and endure. "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him" (Ps. 37:7).

Enduring trials brings Christ close: It is not uncommon to hear confessions from Christians who have gone through great trials. They often say that God was very close to them, and that they learned to know Him in a way they could not in any other way. We have this exemplified often in the Scriptures. When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were in the fiery furnace, one was with them “Like unto the Son of God.” Apart from the fiery furnace they would never have experience this. When the night was dark and the storm fierce, the Lord came to the disciples, walking on the water. So it always is with a true saint of God. Why should we hate or shun that which brings Him near? A sure effect of His presence is that we will become more like Him.

Other effects of enduring trials: Enduring trial has many precious effects. The battle does one good; it: (1) educates, (2) strengthens, and (3) settles. It shows what is in our hearts, humbling us, making us more sympathetic toward others. It also shows us that this world with its boasted store is but empty and vain. The polisher presses the diamond or piece of metal against the wheel that it may sparkle and shine. The gardener cuts deep with the pruning knife that the vine may produce more fruit. The craftsman chisels away the chips in order that he can make a beautiful statue or piece of furniture. The Lord always has a purpose in sending us trials and we must learn to patiently endure.

The trial will end: Sooner or later the trial is sure to be over. After the storm comes sunshine. He led the children of Israel through the waste and howling wilderness into the Promised Land. He permits the struggle to be fierce, so the victory may be all the more glorious, but He will not permit us to sink under the trial. He will hold us up. You may have to cry, "Lord, save me," but as He did with Peter, He will catch hold of your hand. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Cor. 10:13).

"... that ye may be perfect ..." The word, "perfect," in the Bible does not have the sense in which we use it today. We usually think of something perfect as absolutely flawless. In the Scriptures it has the sense of full-grown or mature. An apple may be mature or ripe, yet not flawless. When we see a full-grown, mellow Christian, we can be sure he has come through the school of enduring trial. A baby is a human, though not a man. A child becoming a man has many trials. In learning to walk, he has many falls. These do not discourage him; he gets up and tries again. He learns to walk before he learns to talk. A Christian needs to learn to walk, too, before he attempts to talk much for the Lord. "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:12). "... entire ..." "Entire" speaks of well-rounded or complete. This is a high level of attainment. Only patient enduring of trial can produce it. How hard it is to find a well-rounded Christian, with all the graces in exactly the right proportion. Too many of us are: too hard, too soft, too bitter, too sweet, off color a little someplace. Trials have a tendency to knock off the high spots making one more and more well-rounded.

"... wanting nothing." "Wanting nothing," means to lack nothing. Most of us lack some things; some of us many things. But, one who has suffered through the fires of afflictions has many of the 'lacking' things burned away. One who is truly patient under trial is well nigh an ideal saint.

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