Theme: COMMENTARY ON JAMES CHAPTERS 1 – 2
Text “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” – James 1:2-4.
Comment: This text stresses the fact that God derives no pleasure from afflicting any of His worshippers. The tribulations that meet them are the handiwork of the devil who is determined to drag the person away from the path of life. (1 Peter 5:8) The convert thus has to go through a “fiery trial” by way of the tribulations and persecutions that arise because of the word. (1 Peter 4:12; Matthew 13:21) God allows some of difficulties to meet us in order to prove our faith and enable us cultivate the godly virtues required of true christians. In the words of St. Paul, “tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope”. (Romans 5:3,4) The fact is that these temptations compel the believer to wean himself of sinful habits to become a new creature. David said, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.” (Psalm 119:71, 72) The Christian should therefore not panic or be confused due to these temptations but continue to look to God with faith knowing that “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 to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” -1 Corinthians 10:13.