γέομαι
hēgéomai, means to make a decision about something after
weighing all the facts and circumstances. Another use of
the word "count" (hegéomai) is that
of a leader; it means "to be a leader, to have authority
over." In Hebrews 13:7,17,24, it is translated "to rule
over.". A closer look at what James is saying here
reveals a powerful message: James offers a challenge to
us that when difficult testings come, we are to be
leaders in reflecting joy. We are not to let the
circumstance overwhelm us. Instead we are to rule over
the circumstance like a Governor by being joyful. A good
leader is one who knows to think something through, to
consider something mentally, to look at something from a
different mindset,, to make a decision about something
after weighing all the facts and circumstances and rule
over the circumstance like a Governor by being joyful.
James does
not urge his readers to react positively if they
fall into trials but when they fall into trials.
Hotan
is the Grk for (when). Here it is in the
subjunctive mood and carries the idea not just of
possibility but inevitability. In other words, divers
temptations (testings) are certain to come and
should be expected as part of living life on this
present earth. We are to count it all joy when, not if
we "fall into divers temptations." What does this mean?
Lets look at it a little closer.
Testings are
going to come! They are intended, to move us:
“Count it all joy” (1:2). Moreover, testings are
designed to mellow us: "Knowing this, that the
trying of your faith worketh patience" (1:3). That is
why James tells us to "count it all joy" when these
testings come. They are not mindless, senseless woes
unleashed upon us by a cold and impersonal fate. They
are permitted by a wise and loving, all-know,
all-caring, all-wise heavenly Father, who is too caring
to be unkind and too wise to make any mistakes. Remember
God never allows any meaningless event, or episode to
occur in the life of a believer. Satan was not allowed
to touch Job at any time or in any way apart from God's
express permission, and such is the case with us!
Moreover, each time Satan obtained permission to attack
God's beloved servant, God drew the line in the sand
beyond which Satan could not go. – There is never any
meaningless event… God allows… Simon, Simon…
The word
"fall" is a word rich in meaning. It comes from the
Greek word peripipto {per-ee-pip'-to}
which means "to fall i.e. (encounter) and be
surrounded on all sides with no way of escape."
Peripiptō
(encounter)
has the literal meaning of falling into, usually
unexpectedly. In the story of
the Good Samaritan, it is used of the man who “fell
among robbers” (Luke 10:30),
and in Acts of Paul’s ship “falling into a place where
two seas met,” a ship that was stuck in a reef
(27:41
kjv).
The word
"divers" means various, multi-colored, variegated.
Trials have a way of coming in many different ways,
shapes sizes, sorts, and degrees. We will face tests of
sorrow, of sacrifices, sickness, sufferings, society,
and of seductions. Whatever trial comes our way, we are
to count it all, rejoice.
“Count it
joy when not if we "fall peripipto
{per-ee-pip'-to}” i.e. encounter (usually
unexpectedly), and be surrounded on all sides with no
way of escape." into divers i.e. various,
multi-colored, variegated temptations."
Now lets
look at the word "temptations." James 1 and Luke
22 are two key chapters in the Bible dealing with
temptation. The word in this context does not refer to
temptations to do that which is evil. It comes from the
Greek word peirasmos {pi-ras-mos'}
which means "trial, test, or proving time." The trial or
testing is directed toward an end. The end or goal of
the test is that the person who is tested will emerge
stronger, more mature and pure.
James is not
saying we are to rejoice when we are tempted to do evil,
he is referring to our trials and testings of faith.
The goal of the test is to strengthen and purify us just
as a young bird tests its wings. God tested Abraham and
the Queen of Sheba tested Solomon to see what they were
made of. The trial or test is not meant to defeat us,
but to be defeated. It is not designed to make us fall,
but to make us soar. When a Christian uses his ability
to rejoice in a trial, he is maturing and learning to
endure. We don't like the trial, but it is possible to
rejoice. Trials are not electives in God's school; they
are required courses. Sooner or later, testings will
come. They are not intended to give God an opportunity
to see how we are doing but to let us see how far we
have come—or failed to come.
When we
rejoice in our trials, it is one of our greatest
opportunities to demonstrate the power of Jesus Christ
in our lives. The world understands trials and problems,
but when they see us having peace and the joy of the
Lord in spite of our trials, they take notice that we
have something that they seek.... a living Savior.
Hebrews 12:2—Looking
unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who
for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand
of the throne of God.
John 16:33—These
things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have
peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of
good cheer; I have overcome the world.
John 15:20—Remember
the word that I said unto you, The servant is not
greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they
will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying,
they will keep yours also.
2 Timothy
3:12—Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ
Jesus shall suffer persecution.
One great
objective that God has in mind in allowing us to face
the trials of life is to teach us patience. The word for
"trying" can be translated "proof." The idea behind the
word is that of something being put in the crucible. It
also carries the thought of a yoke of oxen being put to
the test (Luke 14:19). This "trying of our faith" works
"patience." The word used here for "patience" means
literally "to abide under" something. We find it very
hard to remain quiet under adverse circumstances, but
God expects us to endure them cheerfully. No one knew
how to do this better than Paul. When he and Silas were
flogged at Philippi, then jailed, and then subjected to
the torture of the stocks, they sang! Indeed,
they sang to such effect that their influence and
testimony not only held their fellow prisoners
enthralled but also led to the conversion of their
jailer (Acts 16:19-31).
James knew
that Hebrew Christians were frequently being persecuted
for their faith. The author of the epistle to the
Hebrews (presumably the apostle Paul) encouraged Hebrew
Christians not to give up their boldness. He reminded
them that they "took joyfully the spoiling of your
goods" (Heb. 10:34). To this day, Jewish Christians
often pay a high price for their confession of faith. It
is not uncommon for other Jews to ostracize them.
Sometimes they are counted as already dead and are
treated accordingly: a dead person cannot be married,
cannot own property, and cannot hold a job. He is dead.
The key to survival under such testing is patience. And
so they are to #1 move us,, and #2 to mellow us:
The third
purpose of testing is to mature us: "But let
patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect
and entire, wanting nothing" (1:4). Testing is a
process. It has to go on and on until full maturity is
reached and we become people of demonstrable Christian
character.
The word for
"perfect" is teleiōs. It indicates something that
has reached its end, something that is finished. It
carries the idea of being fully developed, of being
complete, or of being initiated. The word was applied to
people who were fully instructed in something in
contrast to those who were mere novices. Paul used the
word when writing to carnal and immature Corinthians to
describe a believer who had advanced beyond the need of
elementary teaching (1 Cor. 2:6-7). James has in mind
patience leading to perfection in performance—a "perfect
work." The word for "entire" is holoklēros. Paul
used the word when he wrote to the Thessalonians. He
told them that, in view of the coming rapture, they
should be whole in spirit, soul, and body. The idea is
that every grace present in Christ should be manifested
in the believer. Or, as James puts it, "wanting
[lacking] nothing."
Patience
is a farmer's word. The farmer plows and plants his
field, but then he has to wait patiently for the
harvest.
Patience
is a photographer's word. We see him as he goes into the
wilds to get videos of a cuckoo putting its eggs in
another bird's nest or of a crocodile tenderly picking
up its newly hatched young in her mouth. He has to find
the right spot, build his blind, set up his cameras—and
then settle down to wait.
Patience
is an astronomer's word. His calculations tell him of
the impending visit of a comet or the coming of an
eclipse. In no way can he hurry the process. If he wants
to see the comet or the eclipse, he must wait.
Patience
is natures word. A time exists in the ripening process
of a peach or an orange when it has all of its various
parts. It is as much a peach or an orange as it is ever
going to be, but it is not yet ripe. If the fruit is
picked at that stage, it will be hard and bitter. Much
fruit that is sold today is like that. The tomatoes are
red and round and ripe—or so they seem. The peaches are
beautiful in color, shape, and texture, but they have
been forced in the growing process, and they have been
picked too soon. The result is disappointing – hard_ and
not sweet. The tomatoes are hard and dry, the oranges
are pretty but sour, and the peaches are tasteless. They
have been picked before they are ripe. Impatience has
spoiled the process.
Patience
is the preacher’s word. He/she has to sit and study, and
ponder, and wait, and wait, and wait…
Patience
