The Blessed Man – James 1:12

The phrase “blessed is the man” is found 13 times in our Bible. The word “blessed” means happy. To be happy is the supreme desire of the human heart. When God declares a person to be blessed, he becomes a privileged recipient of divine favour. To receive God’s smile of approval, word of approval or divine favour is the highest reward.

Transition

In our verse today, James identifies three facts about the person whom the Lord blesses.

The Blessed Man’s Deed – He endured a trial with approval

Here is a person who experienced a trial
1. Remember with me what we learned back in verse 2 about the word “temptations.” We said that it may describe temptations to do wrong. However, it also describes trials of life. By definition, it is a trial or proving. It is a trial of man’s fidelity, integrity and virtue. That is how it is used here.
2. This person has experienced a trial that tested his or her faith in God.
God blesses him because of his endurance
1. He endured the test. The word used here is closely related to the word translated abide or remain. It describes one who road out the storm. He let patience have her perfect work. He did not quit on God when the trial got severe. It is one who stayed in the smelting pot when the fire got hot. It is one who asked God for wisdom to guide him during his trial. This was the person who was not a double-minded person. He did not waver in his faith in God.
2. If the person described was poor he rejoiced in God’s promise of exaltation in heaven. If the person was rich he rejoiced in God bringing him low so that he or she would focus on eternity and not on the things of this life.
3. The blessed person endured testing with approval. Note the phrase, “for when he was tried.” The word “tried” refers to something that is accepted or approved. He or she passed the test. This person became more pure like purified God. He matured spiritually through this trial.
4. God’s special blessing is on Christian men and women who endure trials cheerfully, let each trial run its full course, depend on God’s wisdom, and focus on eternity not on the materialism of this life.

The Blessed Man’s Motive – He loves God

The blessed person loves God
1. Jump to the end of the verse and note the phrase “to them that love him.”
2. This phrase describes the motive of the man or woman who endures trials with approval. He or she endures trials with approval because of a love for God.
3. Why would a person love God?
  1. Down through history, most people who worshipped a god of some sort did so out of fear not out of love. When we lived in PNG, I noted that the unbelievers feared the evil spirits, offered food to them, prayed to them, and danced to them, but I never heard anyone say that they loved them.
  2. The God of the Bible is the Creator of all things. He loves His creation. 1 John 4:8 tells us that, “… God is love.” We should love Him. Jesus said that the greatest of all commandments in the Bible is (Matthew 22:37) “… Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”
  3. John the apostle tells us why Christians love God. (1 John 4:19) “We love him, because he first loved us.” God loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to save us from hell. We have sinned against our holy God and the punishment for sin is eternal death in the Lake of Fire. We read in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Love is an action word not just a feeling
1. We have often defined love as the giving of one’s self to meet the needs of another expecting nothing in return. Love is not about what we can get, but about what we can give. Love is a choice.
2. Shortly before Jesus died on the cross, He told His disciples, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15).
3. James said that the motive behind enduring trials ought to be genuine love for God.
  ☆ How much do you love God? Do you love him enough to obey His commandments? Many marriages struggle because the husband does not obey God’s command to love his wife as Christ loved the church and the wife does not obey God and submit to her husband’s leadership. She ignores his wishes and does as she wants. Many children do not obey their parents as God commands. Many Christians do not obey God’s command to witness, study the Bible, pray, tithe, and faithfully attend church services. Perhaps these are some of the reason they lack God’s blessing.

The Blessed Man’s Reward – God’s promised crown of life

The blessed person’s crown
1. This word translated “crown” is used at least 18 times in the N.T. It was often a wreath or crown set on the head of a victor. It was a symbol of honour.
2. James calls this particular crown “the crown of life”. It is a crown given to all who are faithful during trials.
3. We find the same crown mentioned in Revelation 2:10, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
4. It is difficult to know exactly what the crown of life will be.
  1. Many claim that it is eternal life. If so, does that mean that any Christian who does not endure a trial in an approving way will not get eternal life? Jesus’ words assure us that such an interpretation cannot be correct when he said, (John 5:24) “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” All true believers HAVE everlasting life!
  2. I believe that Dr. Harry Ironside gives a better explanation. “When the temptation is over and he has remained steadfast to the end, he is promised the crown of life which the Lord will bestow upon all who have shown by their devotion to Him that they truly loved Him. This is not to be confounded with eternal life, which is the free gift of God, the portion of all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. The crown of life is reward for faithful endurance out of love for the Saviour.”
  3. One thing we do know about the crown is that it will be a reward for those who faithful endure trials.
God’s promise of this crown
1. James tells us that the Lord promises to give this crown. The Lord assures us that enduring the hardships of life for His glory will be worth it all one day.
2. It appears to be a crown received after death (Re 2:10). Perhaps it will be one of the rewards that the Lord gives at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
3. The Lord is the perfect Judge of all actions and motives. He will justly reward all that is worthy.

Conclusion

The blessed man’s deed is to endure trials with approval. The blessed man’s motive is his love for God. The blessed man’s reward is the crown of life. It ought to be the desire of each of us to be one of those blessed by God for enduring trials properly. To receive God’s blessing and His crown of life will be a great honour. James has challenged us to endure trials. He revealed that our motive must be love for God. Are you showing your love by obeying God’s commands?

Song: Is Your All on the Altar? 381
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The Blessed Man
21 August 2016 AM – James 1:12 – Jas16 – Scott Childs