James 1:12

‘Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him.'

The passage then ends with a description of the blessedness of the one who endures temptation, whether rich or poor, and who as a result of it is ‘approved' because he has allowed it to be effective in his life. Such a man or woman will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. That is in the end why they face testing with such joy. It is because they know what its result will be. And that is why the believing poor will be able to boast in their anticipated exaltation, while the rich are to ensure that they prove ‘worthy' of it by their responsiveness to God. This idea of receiving future reward will be dealt with in more detail in James 5:7.

‘Blessed.' Literally ‘A blessed one by God is he who (successfully) endures testings.' Compare Matthew 5:3. They are those who have been blessed by God.

‘Approved.' Found to be pure after testing. Revealed as pure gold with the dross removed.

‘The crown of life.' In Proverbs 4:9 it is said of wisdom that ‘she will place on your head a fair crown, she will bestow on you a beautiful crown'. For true wisdom brings men to God. In the same way here the reception of the crown results from having received wisdom (James 1:5), and having responded to it. And this wisdom has produced in them true life which is eternal (James 1:18) so that they receive the crown ‘of life'. This crown is probably to be seen as a crown of honour rather than an athlete's crown, for James would probably have looked on the latter with disfavour. They are to inherit eternal life through the resurrection, and that is to be their crown. They are ‘crowned with eternal life'. In Revelation 2:10 ‘the crown of life' is the martyr's crown, which guarantees to him resurrection life following death. In both cases it is their ‘reward' for faithfulness. So all who have endured trials for His sake, and have thereby been shown to be approved, will receive from Him the crown of eternal life.

‘To those who love him.' See Psalms 145:20, ‘YHWH preserves all who love Him.' And compare Deuteronomy 6:5. The idea is thus firmly rooted in the Old Testament. God will never fail those who love Him, but will preserve them to the end. This love was, of course, what was commanded of all Jews (Deuteronomy 6:5) but sadly in most it had become mere outward recognition of God and a remote reverence which did not affect their daily way of life. But such true love was being revealed by those who suffered for His Name's sake (James 1:2).

The theme of Jesus' coming is further expanded on towards the end of the letter in James 5:7, as His people await the fruits of their labours, and are to do it without grumbling in the light of the coming judgment.