James 1:12, Endurance Rewarded
James 1:12, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
“Blessed is the man that endureth.”
Enduring temptation has a purpose. We learned already in this chapter of James that the trial of our faith works patience, and that patience brings us to maturity as a Christian. We also learned the importance of unwavering faith as we endure trials and temptations. We can trust that God will use trials for our good. Who can speak more of enduring trials than Joseph in the book of Genesis? Hated by his brothers and left for dead, sold into slavery in a foreign land, accused of horrific crimes for doing the right, wrongfully imprisoned and forgotten—Joseph understood trials. When reunited with his brothers after many years and after God brought him to a great position of power, Joseph told his brothers, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good.” Joseph recognized that all the trials served a divine purpose.
Joseph also saw the reward of endurance through God’s blessing. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation.” God exalted Joseph and used him to save many people. The passage promises a blessing to the one who endures, but those who waver under the weight of the trial never get to see the joy of God working. God rewards the Christian with great blessing for following Him in faith. Matthew 5 and Luke 6 both record Jesus’ great teachings on the blessings given to those who are faithful in following Christ. Here in James 1:12, we learn that there is a special blessing given for enduring temptation: “for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life.”
“When he is tried.”
Dokimos, the word translated into this clause “when he is tried,” holds a very interesting meaning. In New Testament days, this word was used to describe people who maintained their integrity in financial dealings. In those days, coins were of a softer metal and could be shaved to appear of proper size but actually be underweight. There was a major problem in society with what was essentially counterfeited currency. But some merchants were known to deal honestly and were careful to only put proper currency into circulation. These merchants were labeled as dokimos. They were merchants of honest report.
James 1:12 connects the idea of dokimos with the Christian enduring temptation. In order for the honest merchant to remove improper coins from circulation, they had to put the coin to a test. The Christian who endures shows himself to be dokimos, that is to say, he shows himself to be genuine as a Christian. The trials of life serve as a test that sorts those with wavering faith from those who fully trust God. After all, if you can place faith in God during the most difficult of times, then you can endure until the end.
“He shall receive the crown of life.”
The endured trial produces the opportunity for the Christian to receive a special reward from God in eternity, the crown of life. We see this reward referenced also in Revelation 2:9-10 which states in a letter to the church in Smyrna, “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 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.” This church suffered through trials of tribulation and poverty, but God promised that He would reward their enduring faithfulness with this special crown. What an honor to receive recognition from Almighty God for remaining faithful!
Another great honor is attached to this reward: it is “promised to them that love him.” There is a connection of enduring temptation to loving the Lord. Maybe we don’t make this connection enough in our minds. We will struggle with wavering faith if we don’t love the Lord as we ought. Demas was unable to endure because he “loved this present world.” 1 John 2:15 warns us to “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” If you love the world, you have no love for our Heavenly Father in you. There is no room left for Him. Matthew 6:24 asserts, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Don’t expect to endure if God is not first in your life. We need to really fall in love with God again and draw close to Him if we will endure the trials and receive the wonderful honor of the crown of life. I am reminded of the lyrics, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” When we focus more on Jesus and draw closer to Him, we will find solid, enduring faith that allows us to remain constant and endure the trial.
