Trials (1-3): James, the Lord’s brother, begins his letter with the imperative to consider trials, not as a curse, but as pure joy (“all joy”). For Jews[1] with the expectations of OT promises, this was certainly a different way of thinking.[2] Nonetheless, James tells his fellow believers to consider trials as all joy. He calls for a response of the mind, not necessarily of emotions.[3] The joy to be manifested is the outcome[4] of “knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” This is not a senseless call to reinterpret pain as pleasure, but the sensible foresight to know by faith that, for us, the new covenant believer, our sovereign heavenly Father will produce endurance and, ultimately, maturity from the trials He weaves into our lives. Trials don’t ruin us; they mature us.
Maturity (4): For the believer, trials ultimately produce maturity. This comes through the intermediary product of endurance. Like muscles that flex and strengthen against a force of resistance, so the saints build up the ability to endure in times of trials. And if we do not sidestep this divine process (but “let endurance have its perfect result”), then God brings about its ultimate end: maturity[5], even to the point of lacking nothing. Who is the model of this maturity? Christ, of course! As He was perfected through suffering (Heb. 2:10), even so we conform to Christ as we suffer with Him (Rom. 8:17; Phil. 3:8-11).
[1] James’ audience is believers in Jesus Christ (1:1; 2:1; 5:7-8) who are Jewish (“the twelve tribes”) who were scattered (“dispersed abroad”) from Saul’s persecution (Acts 8:1-3).
[2] In the OT, the promises of God were simply blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience at the national level (Deut. 28:1-2, 15). James teaches a radical view of suffering particular to the NT (Rom. 8:35-39).
[3] Joy is not the same as happiness, but a settled contentment (Phil. 4:11-12; 1 Tim. 6:6) or a reaction of deep, steady and unadulterated contentment in God and His will, despite circumstances (Phil. 1:18-19; Col. 1:24).
[4] NASB’s “knowing” is best understood as causal: “because you know” (NET) and “for you know” (ESV).
[5] That maturity comes through suffering is common in Scripture: Psalm 119:67, 71; Heb. 12:11; 1 Pet. 5:10.