Weekly Sermon
James 1:4 reads, “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
The opening matter about which the epistle of James provides pastoral counsel concerns the trials, troubles, and tribulations of our lives. Concerning this matter James delivers a series of four instructions under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit. The first of these instructions is found in verses 2-3 and speaks concerning our regard and attitude toward the trials of life, saying, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”
The second of these instructions is then found in verse 4. It clearly flows out of the previous instruction and is complementary thereto. Whereas the previous instruction ends with the truth that the trying of our faith “worketh patience,” this instruction informs us to “let patience have her perfect work.” Thus it speaks concerning our response of submission in the trials of life. Grammatically, the instruction of James 1:4 can be divided into two parts. First, there is the continual requirement of the main clause -- “But let patience have her perfect work.” Second, there is the motivational result of the subordinate clause -- “That ye may be perfect and entire, wanting [or, lacking] nothing.”
James 1:4 reads, “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
The opening matter about which the epistle of James provides pastoral counsel concerns the trials, troubles, and tribulations of our lives. Concerning this matter James delivers a series of four instructions under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit. The first of these instructions is found in verses 2-3 and speaks concerning our regard and attitude toward the trials of life, saying, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”
The second of these instructions is then found in verse 4. It clearly flows out of the previous instruction and is complementary thereto. Whereas the previous instruction ends with the truth that the trying of our faith “worketh patience,” this instruction informs us to “let patience have her perfect work.” Thus it speaks concerning our response of submission in the trials of life. Grammatically, the instruction of James 1:4 can be divided into two parts. First, there is the continual requirement of the main clause -- “But let patience have her perfect work.” Second, there is the motivational result of the subordinate clause -- “That ye may be perfect and entire, wanting [or, lacking] nothing.”
The Obligation of a Submitted Heart
Brethren, we often make an error in our evaluation concerning the subject of patient endurance. Certainly we understand that the spiritual characteristic of patient endurance is good and that we have need of this spiritual characteristic in our lives. Yet from the Scriptural truth of James 1:3, we also understand that such patient endurance is developed in our lives through the trying of our faith. From our natural perspective, we seek to evade and escape the trying of our faith through the trials of life as much as possible. Therefore, we often develop an attitude of resistance against the work of patient endurance in our lives. Rather than seek after the work of patient endurance, we often seek to flee from it. We do not want to suffer under the trying of our faith. Therefore, we are motivated to avoid and resist the developing work of patient endurance.
Because of this naturally wrong response toward the developing work of patient endurance, the complementary instruction of James 1:4 is added as a corrective. “But let patience have her perfect work.” This is a command from the Lord our God. We are not given permission to resist the developing work of patient endurance in our lives. Rather, we are divinely obligated to submit our hearts and lives to this developing work of patient endurance. Yea, in a two-fold manner we are obligated to submit our hearts and lives thereto.
First, we are obligated to submit ourselves in welcoming and embracing the trying of our faith as the means by which our Lord works patient endurance into our hearts. This is the very truth of the previous instruction in verses 2-3 -- “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” By such humble submission, we must willingly and joyfully accept that our Lord’s purpose in our trials and testings is indeed good, right, wise, and even loving. Even so, by such humble submission we will “most gladly” glory in our infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions, and distresses, all “that the power of Christ” may rest upon us. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) Then we will have the motivating desire to know our Lord, “and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” (Philippians 3:10)
Second, we are obligated to submit ourselves by trusting and rejoicing in our Lord throughout the trying of our faith as the means by which patient endurance is worked out in our daily lives. By such humble submission, we must “run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1), so that we might finish our course with joy. By such humble submission, we must “take it patiently” when we suffer for well doing. (1 Peter 2:20) No matter what trials we might face, we must “not be weary in well doing” (Galatians 6:9), or become faint in our minds. (Hebrews 12:3) Rather, we must humbly submit ourselves to remain continually “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2) Yea, we must humbly submit ourselves to “rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:7), and thereby to establish our hearts in patient endurance. We must humbly submit ourselves to be “strengthened with might, according to his glorious power,” so that we might grow “unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.” (Colossians 1:10) We must humbly submit our hearts unto the Lord to let patient endurance “have her perfect work” in our lives.
The Operation of a Sanctifying Work
Furthermore, we must know and understand that the developing work of patient endurance through the trying of our faith is a “perfect work.” First, we must recognize and understand that its origin is perfect; for it is our Lord God’s work. There is no doubt that our adversary the devil’s desire through every trial is to attack our faith and to overcome it. The devil desires that we should fail in our faith. On the other hand, there must also be no doubt that the Lord our God’s desire through every trial is to prove our faith and to strengthen it. Our Lord desires that we should be approved in our faith. He knows the way that we must take through this life; and He knows every trial, trouble, and tribulation that we must face. In fact, He Himself set that very course before us for the trying and testing of our faith. In all, it is our Lord’s desire that when He has tried and tested us, we “shall come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)
Second, we must recognize and understand that its operation is perfect; for it is a divinely good work. “And we know that all things work to together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Certainly, “for the present” no trial, trouble, or tribulation “seemeth to be joyous, but grievous.” (Hebrews 12:11) Yet the Lord our God intends them unto our good. He intends that these trials should humble us and prove us, that He might do us good through His grace at our latter end. (Deuteronomy 8:16) He proves us and tries us, “as silver is tried.” (Psalm 66:10) He refines us “as silver is refined” and tries us “as gold is tried.” (Zechariah 13:9) He refines us through the fire of trials and “in the furnace of affliction.” (Isaiah 48:10)
Third, we must recognize and understand that its objective is perfect, for it is a spiritually growing work. Through the trying and testing of our faith, our Lord works to prove the character of our hearts and to reveal where we yet need growth. (Deuteronomy 8:2) He works to teach us that we must live, not by the provisions of this life alone, “but by every word” that proceeds out of His mouth. (Deuteronomy 8:3) He works to test and prove whether we fear Him and love Him with all our heart and all our soul. (Genesis 22:12; Deuteronomy 13:3) He works to test and prove whether we will walk in His ways, follow His will, and obey His Word. (Exodus 16:4; Judges 2:22) He works to teach us humility and keep us from becoming self-righteous and self-satisfied over His gracious blessings to us. (2 Corinthians 12:7) He works to move us to set our whole-hearted trust in the provision of His all-sufficient grace. (2 Corinthians 12:8-9) Through the trying and testing of our faith, our Lord works to produce “the peaceable fruit of righteousness” in our lives as we are “exercised thereby.” (Hebrews 12:11) He works to develop our compassion toward others, “that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) He works to move us to set our affection on the eternal things of His kingdom, rather than on the temporal things of this earth. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Romans 8:17-18; 1 Peter 4:12-13)
The Objective of Spiritual Maturity
This then is the objective that should motivate us to let patient endurance “have her perfect work” in our lives -- that we ourselves “may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (Note: In this context, the word “wanting” is used in the older sense of “lacking.”) When we submit our hearts and lives to the developing work of patient endurance, we ourselves are transformed in character unto spiritual maturity. In James 1:4 this motivating objective of spiritual maturity is defined through a three-fold description.
First, the spiritual maturity unto which we will be transformed if we submit ourselves to the work of patient endurance is described by a word of quality -- “perfect.” This is to be perfectly mature in spiritual character. It is to be transformed spiritually unto the image of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is that the righteous likeness of Christ should be formed in us. (Galatians 4:19) It is to grow “unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13) It is to possess a Spirit-guided understanding and obedient use of God’s Word. It is to have our senses “exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:14) It is to stand perfectly mature and complete “in all the will of God.” (Colossians 4:12) It is to have the love of God “perfected in us” as we “love one another.” (1 John 4:12) It is to maintain a Spirit-controlled tongue, with which we do not sin against others (James 3:3), but through which we edify others and minister grace to them (Ephesians 4:29). It is to be “throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:17)
Second, the spiritual maturity unto which we will be transformed if we submit ourselves to the work of patient endurance is described by a word of quantity -- “entire.” This is to be entirely complete in the whole realm of spiritual characteristics. It is to possess each and every Spirit-filled characteristic in a completely unified, balanced, perfected manner. It is to be sanctified wholly, in our “whole spirit and soul and body.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23) It is to be sanctified wholly in our spirit, in our personal relationship with the Lord our God. It is to be sanctified wholly in our soul, in all our thoughts, attitudes, emotions, motives, purposes, and decisions. It is to be sanctified wholly in our body, in all the hearing of our ears, the viewing of our eyes, the speaking of our mouth, the doing of our hands, the going of our feet, etc.
Finally, the spiritual maturity unto which we will be transformed if we submit ourselves to the work of patient endurance is described by a phrase of qualification -- “wanting [or, lacking] nothing.” This is not to be spiritually lacking or weak in even one characteristic that the Lord our God requires of us. It is not to be lacking or weak in the fruit of the spirit, in “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” (Galatians 5:22-23) It is not to be lacking or weak “in all goodness and righteousness and truth.” (Ephesians 5:9) It is not to be lacking or weak in any realm of daily application and obedience, in our private walk, our family relationships, our ministry responsibilities, our gospel witness, our verbal communications, our public behavior, etc.
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:10-11)
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