In James 1:2-4, we find James encouraging the believers concerning trials. “ My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations; (3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. (4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
I heard a story about a fellow that rode into a western town on a stagecoach. He was hired as the local saloon’s bartender. The owner gave him a word of warning: “Remember, if you ever hear that Big John is on his way to town, drop everything and run for your life.”
Things went fine for several months until one day, a big strong cowhand with a ghost white face burst through the swinging doors shouting, “Big John’s a comin’, Big John’s a comin’.” The patrons scrambled to get out the door, knocking the bartender to the floor, running over him as they rushed out doors and windows. The bartender gathered his senses, got up off the floor, and was dusting himself off when a giant of a man suddenly came through the saloon doors.
Riding bareback on a buffalo, using a rattlesnake as a whip, he rode through the doors, splintering the doors and doorframe. The man threw the snake in the corner, knocked over the tables as he walked up to the bar, and then with his huge fist split the bar in half. “Give me a drink,” he yelled. “Y-y-y-yes sir,” said the frightened bartender. The man bit off the top of the bottle with his teeth, downed the contents with one gulp, let out a belch that shattered the saloon mirror, and then turned to leave. The bartender said, ”W-w-w-would you like to have another drink?” The man roared as he jumped back on his buffalo, “I ain’t got time, Big John’s a coming to town.”
Sometimes in life, it may seem as though Big John has come to town. You are totally engulfed in and surrounded by troubles and trials. It seems when one sickness or trouble ends, another comes to take its place.
James begins his book dealing with this very subject. God has not left us in the dark but tells us that trials will come, and that there is a purpose and an escape. Notice in verse 2, he says, ‘count it all joy WHEN (not if) you fall into diverse temptations.