Crown of Life
James 1:12 speaks of enduring through trials, and the reward for doing so successfully, or being “approved” is the crown of life. James used the idea of a crown because it is one that would be familiar to his readers as a reward for something. James was writing this letter to Jews who were spread all over the earth (James 1:1). A crown was a wreath that was put on the victor’s head in many Greek athletic events, and thus a symbol of victory. However the crown that James talks about is one that is eternal. This idea of an eternal crown of life can be found in other places in scripture, 1 Peter 5:4 emphasizes that the crown is an unfading or unending one.
The means of receiving our eternal reward is through being staying faithful through trials and temptations. Trials and temptations is a subject that James repeatedly talks about in his letter (James 1:2, 5:11). Trials and temptations is a fate that comes to us all. “Every man is in this life in a state of temptation or trial, and in this state he is a candidate for another and better world; he that stands in his trial shall receive the crown of life.” (Clarke, 800) I completely agree with Clarke that everyone goes through hard times; everyone has a mountain that they must climb. And while the problem or temptation may differ from person to person, the difficulty of overcoming that temptation is just as hard for my temptation and me as it is for someone else and theirs. All too often people assume that the things that are going through are much more difficult to overcome than things that other people they observe are going through. I think that we need to realize that all trials and temptations are difficult to overcome or “endure” through, however we do have a promise for those that can endure through them. James uses Job as an example of someone who endured. (James 5:11) Again this would be someone who his readers would be very familiar with and his situation. While Job’s circumstances seem much more extreme than anything that you or I may go through, he nevertheless endured through them, most assuredly not on his own strength but relying on the strength of God. Job’s patient endurance paid off and he was rewarded both on earth in being restored, and in the eternal in the fact that the faith he showed was accredited to him as righteousness.
The ultimate goal for us as Christians is to live a life worthy of receiving the crown of life. In order to do this we must first realize that we are incapable of enduring hardships and temptations on our own. James 1:12b says that “…he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” God has promised the crown of life, to those who love Him, we must lean on Him and trust in Him through that love for the power to overcome. 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises that God will give us the strength that we need to stand up under temptations. These promises are to His people, or those who love Him. Our eternal life is, “…a quality of life that begins here and now, but its culmination lies beyond the grave. James “crown of life” is a physical representation of the idea presented in Matthew 25:21, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant.’” (Beacon, 200) I would agree with Beacon that our eternal life begins here, and cannot be fully realized until death. However I would also say the through enduring trials and temptations we can also receive blessings from God in the here and now. While our eternal reward is the ultimate reason for patiently enduring, living and attaining a more righteous life is something comes along with the endurance. And with this righteousness comes promises and blessings from God. (Psalms 92:12, Matthew 25:46, James 5:16, and Isaiah 57:1)
Created about 3 years ago
