The Testing
of Faith
WARM-UP
What was the hardest test you ever took for school or employment? How did you prepare for it, and how did you do?
Who is the one person you know that does not give up easily? Recall an instance explaining this.
What was the biggest financial challenge you’ve had to face? How did you go through it?
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WORD
2 Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, 3 knowing this, that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness finish its perfect work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord. 8 A double minded person is unstable in all his ways.
9 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position. 10 But the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with a scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. So the rich man also will fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he himself tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when he is dragged away by his own desire and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. 18 In the exercise of his will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. JAS 1:2-18
James, Jesus' half-brother, wrote a letter to encourage believers, reminding them of the right way of leading a Christian life. First, he challenged them to face trials with faith, regardless of their situation or status in life. In this lesson, we will look at four truths from this passage about our faith, tests, steadfastness, and God’s faithfulness.
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But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. JAS 1:6
It came about while Israel was living in that region [delaying coming to his father Isaac in Hebron], that Reuben went and slept with Bilhah his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it.
Now there were twelve sons of Jacob. GEN 35:22
[But because of your] precipitousness, like that of [rushing] water, you will not gain these accessions,
for you went up to your father’s bed [(35:22), this being the “precipitousness”],
then you defiled it—he went up to my couch. GEN 49:4
Rashi's Commentary
Precipitousness—Heb. פַּחַז. This is a noun and has its accent
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therefore on the first syllable, and the entire word (both syllables) is punctuated with the “pattach,” for were it the past tense of a verb, half of it (the first syllable) would have been punctuated with a “kamatz” and the other half with a “pattach,” and its accent would have been on the last syllable.
Shabbat 55b:8
Aḥerim say: He rearranged two beds, one of the Divine Presence and one of his father. And that is the meaning of that which is written: “Precipitousness, like that of water, you will not gain these accessions, for you went up to your father’s bed, then you did defile it—he went up to my couch” (Gen 49:4). Do not read it as my bed, in the singular; rather, read it as my beds, in the plural, referring to both the bed of his father and to the bed of the Divine Presence, which rests in the tents of the righteous.
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For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord. JAS 1:7
The sacrifice of the wicked [Balak and Balaam] is an abomination to the Lord,
but the prayer of the upright [Moses] is his desire. PRO 15:8
A double minded person is unstable in all his ways. JAS 1:8
And Elijah drew near to all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, follow him.”
But the people did not answer him a word. 1KI 18:21
Rashi's Commentary
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord—Balak and Balaam.
But the prayer of the upright—This is Moses.
In the exercise of his will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. JAS 1:18
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“Israel was holy to the Lord,
and the firstfruits of his harvest;
all who ate of it became guilty,
disaster came upon them,”
declares the Lord. JER 2:3
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1 Our faith will be tested.
Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds . . . JAS 1:2
The Bible promises that believers will face many trials of different kinds. But when trials come, we are to consider it as joy—not because we like being tested or being given a hard time, but because of the effect it has on our lives. How is a test, trouble, or trial an opportunity for growth and maturity?
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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11 Blessed are you when people insult you, and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. MAT 5:10-12
22 Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they separate you from their company and insult you
and reject your name as evil,
for the sake of the Son of Man.
23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their ancestors used to treat the prophets. LUK 6:22-23
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2 Testing produces steadfastness.
3 . . . knowing this, that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness finish its perfect work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. JAS 1:3-4
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If we, as believers, persevere in a trial, we will become steadfast—which means to be fixed in place, dependable, and not easily moved. So although tests are difficult and we all face different trials, we mature as we go through them. What happens when we let steadfastness finish its perfect work?
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Nevertheless, the righteous will hold to his way [to oppose the flatterers],
and [let] he who has clean hands add courage. JOB 17:9
Rashi's Commentary
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Nevertheless, the righteous will hold to his way—i.e., every righteous man will hold to his way to stand up against the company of the hypocrites.
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3 And not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ROM 5:3-4
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For our light, momentary affliction is achieving for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory . . . 2CO 4:17
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3 God rewards steadfastness.
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Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him. JAS 1:12
James encourages believers who are facing trials to do so joyfully, to ask God for wisdom, and to remember that worldly wealth and riches do not mean anything to God (Jas 1:5, 9-11).
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him. JAS 1:5
And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom [to learn from others], with understanding [to learn from what he has learned], with knowledge [the Holy Spirit] and with talent for all kinds of work. EXO 31:3
Rashi's Commentary
Wisdom is what a person hears from others and learns (makes his own).
Understanding is understanding a matter by one’s own intelligence based from the things one has already learned.
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Knowledge means holy inspiration.
And I, behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab the son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan. And in the heart of all the wise of heart [who are among you] I have given ability, and they shall make everything I have commanded you . . . EXO 31:6
Rashi's Commentary
And in the heart of all the wise-hearted I have given ability—And there are still other wise-hearted men among you (beside Bezalel and Oholiab) and all these in whom I have given ability shall make everything I have commanded you.
9 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position.
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a throne of honor.
For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s;
and he has set the world on them. 1SA 2:8
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10 But the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.
He comes out like a flower and withers away;
he also flees like a shadow and does not endure. JOB 14:2
11 For the sun rises with a scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. So the rich man also will fade away in the midst of his pursuits. JAS 1:9-11
He assures us that if we remain steadfast under trial, we are blessed and we will receive a reward from the Lord. This is the only reward that truly matters: the crown of life, which is our eternal life in Christ. To whom has the Lord promised this crown of life?
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4 God is the source of every good thing.
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. JAS 1:17
James reminds the believers that though God tests people, he does not tempt them (Jas 1:13-16). In fact, because of God’s unchanging nature, he remains faithful and he graciously provides every good and perfect gift we have. How does God’s unchanging nature encourage you to remain faithful to him even when your faith is tested?
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he himself tempt anyone;
14 but each person is tempted when he is dragged away by his own desire and enticed.
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Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. GEN 6:5
15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
21 What benefit did you reap then from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the result of those things is death! 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ROM 6:21-23
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. JAS 1:13-16
APPLICATION
Do you believe that the Lord rewards those who love him with the crown of life and is the giver of every good and perfect gift you have? How can you grow in your appreciation of the Lord’s faithfulness in your life this week?
How can you consider the testing of your faith as joy? How can you encourage others to do the same and trust God?
Pray for a family member or friend whose faith is being tested. How can you be a channel of and remind him or her of God's goodness and faithfulness at this time?
PRAYER
Thank God that with him, unlike everything else in the world, there is no variation or shifting shadow. Thank him for every good and perfect gift he has given you. Pray that you would look to him as your source every day and trust him no matter what.
Pray that even as your faith is being tested, you will learn to consider it as joy and remain steadfast. Pray that as you do so, others will be encouraged to remain steadfast in the faith as well.
Pray that you will continually reflect God's faithfulness and goodness to your family and friends.
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This work, "Gospel Demonstrated: The Testing of Faith" is a derivative of "Gospel Demonstrated: Victory Series" © 2018 by VICTORY® All rights reserved
"The Rashi Chumash" and "The Rashi Ketuvim" by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein is licensed under CC BY 3.0
