Summer 1998
The Trying of us of the Faith
Jeffrey White

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers
temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith
worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work,
that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing" James 1:2-4.

This passage of Scripture is usually understood to speak of one's faith being tested, but it is far more than this. The Greek text conveys the idea that the purpose of our being tested is to reduce us "downward" to total dependence upon the Lord Himself. Thus, it is we ourselves who are being tested, not our faith, in order to bring us into this state of being.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the
Kingdom of Heaven" Matt 5:3.

The Lord's intention is that we come to the full end of our dependence upon any ability that we may have, and totally yield ourselves in simple trust, to the working of His faith through us. Those who have placed the totality of their being under the control of His government are blessed and eternally wise.

Thus, "the trying of your faith worketh patience."

The Greek word for "worketh" is katergetai. This word emphasizes the fact that "some good thing" which came from above, is being "worked down" to become a reality within and through us.

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live;
yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life
which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith
of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself
for me" Gal 2:20.

This word, "katergetai" is similar to the Greek word for "energy" but there is a foundational difference. The word for "energy"' means "in-working," but the emphasis of "katergetai" is "down-working," or the fact that the enabling ability - His grace, is coming from the Lord, rather than from us.

The purpose of this testing of "us of the faith" is to produce patience. The Greek word, "hupomone," which is translated "patience" means "under-staying." Thus, patience is the ability to wait until the initiative for action comes from the Lord, rather than from us.

In the context of the sovereign dealings of the Holy Spirit, this word takes on a dynamic which relates directly to our knowing Jesus as our personal Lord, for the underlying notion is that of our remaining under the Lord's governmental rule and dominion.

The second part of this Greek word, "hupomone," is from the same root as "main" in our English word "remain." It carries the meaning "to stay." Therefore, the testing of "us of the faith" produces a "staying quality" UNDER the covering of His blood, His presence, and His government.

Therefore, it is not the trial of OUR faith, but rather the testing of "YOU of the faith." This is the trying of our character and will, in relation to the faith that has been given to us by the Lord. Thus, the faith that we have is the Lord's faith.

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by
the word of God" Rom 10:17.

This "hearing" involves a specific impartation to us, which not only contains the "substance" of that which we are do, but also the "faith" to empower its outworking.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen" Heb 11:1.

Once we have heard from the Lord, and believed what He expressed to us, the point of our being tested becomes this; "Will we retain that which has been given to us, even in the face of seeming impossibility or opposition? Will we continue to believe and faithfully hold it before the Lord, even when the current will of God may appear to be contrary to it?"

The Holy Spirit tells us not to lean on our own understanding. Therefore as we retain our faith, the trial will "reduce us downward" to the place of our totally trusting in His faithfulness.

"Therefore, be humbled under the mighty hand
of God" I Peter 5:6a.

Then, we are to stay there.

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot
bear fruit of itself, unless it remains in the vine,
so neither can you unless you abide in Me" John 15:4.

This is the proper response to our being tested.