Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12
Doesn’t it look attractive to quit when things get hard? What is your limit? Do you push beyond it?
There is a crown of life promised to those who stay the course through trials associated with following God.* James, drawing from an athletic theme prevalent in the surrounding Roman culture, explains that the crown of life is rewarded to those who win the race.* This crown isn’t just reserved for those who win the race, but for those who complete it.
Have you noticed that everyone who finishes a marathon receives a metal? Why is that? It’s because finishing 26.2 miles on foot is a big deal! This race is very difficult. There are trials all along the way. Physical and mental barriers provide unexpected trials. In 2013 I ran a marathon. I finished. It wasn’t pretty. The morning of the race I woke up ill. the race was a “down-and-back” race (13.1 miles in one direction and then back), making it especially mentally exhausting. A strong direct headwind opposed us for the first 13.1 miles. On the way back, the wind shifted to a strong crosswind, bringing rain into the race. To make things worse, the poorly-planned event ran out of water halfway through the race! I finished. I didn’t get the time I wanted. I didn’t end pretty. I barely finished. However, finishing was enough, so I got a metal.
in that race, I’m sure that some quit. It was hard. They hit their limit. They didn’t receive a metal.
That day, finishing my race made me happy, but was I blessed because I finished the race?
James tells us that those who finish are blessed because they receive the crown of life. What is it to be blessed?
While “happy” is an emotional state, “blessed” (in alignment with what Jesus explains in The Beatitudes) refers to “wholeness.”*
When we finish the race set before us, we receive the winning crown of life. This crown is the wholeness for which we longed our entire lives.
God promises this wholeness to those who love Him; those who love Him have what they need to endure because He gives us what we need.* He has given those who love Him Himself. He has given them wisdom. He has given those who love Him all that they need.
The wholeness that we long for in a broken, sinful world comes only through Christ. Christ is coming back one day, but Christ is here with you now.
Wholeness is coming, but wholeness is here.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to see life through the promised crown of victory. Perhaps today God wants you to see the prize set before you. Maybe today God wants you to draw nearer to Jesus. Maybe today God wants you take hope: wholeness is coming… indeed, wholeness is here.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.
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*Blomberg, C. L., & Kamell, M. J. (2008). James (Vol. 16, pp. 69-70). Zondervan.
McCartney, D. G. (2009). James (pp. 100-101). Baker Academic.
Stulac, G. M. (1993). James (Jas 1:12). IVP Academic.
Guthrie, G. H. (2006). James. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, p. 219-220). Zondervan.
Nystrom, D. P. (1997). James (pp. 71-72). Zondervan Publishing House.