James 1:4

'And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.'

'let endurance' -The language of choice, 'present active imperative, let it keep on having' (Robertson p. 12). 'But wait. moment----we have all known people who have grown impatient under testing. Is James saying that testing always works patience? Yes…Patience is always the result when our faith is tested if we let the test run its course.' (Draper p. 16) The word "let" reminds us that we have the choice whether testing brings about improvement or disaster in our lives. Trials do not inherently bring improvement, they only bring improvement when we allow growth to happen.

'Never accuse God of not knowing what it happening. Nothing comes to us that does not come by his permissive will. He knows every disappointment, every point of pressure. James is saying, "I know what it is like to have heartaches, to face pressure….let God have his way with you. When the testing is finished, it will have produced in you. pure faith that is strong and sturdy…Testing, trials, troubles are God's pruning shears, his purging fire, his carpenter's bench in order to make us what we need to be.' (Draper p. 16) (See John 15:2 and Hebrews 12:9; Hebrews 12:5).

'have its perfect result' -'present active imperative, let it keep on having' (Robertson p. 12). The word "perfect" means: 'brought to its end, finished, wanting nothing necessary to completeness' (Thayer p. 618); 'having attained the end or purpose, complete' (Arndt p. 809). Concerning the phrase "perfect result", Arndt says, 'let endurance show itself perfectly in practice' (p. 308). "Result" means practical result, thus patience during trials must be put to actual work; it must be allowed to work in our lives during trials.

'that you may be perfect complete, lacking in nothing' -The word "perfect" here means: 'fully developed in. moral sense' (Arndt p. 809) (Colossians 1:28; Hebrews 5:14; 1 Corinthians 14:20).. mature, tried and proven character is in view (Romans 5:3). The words do not mean sinless perfection. Therefore, the Christian who starts to doubt or complain in the midst of trials is lacking in such spiritual maturity.. great test of spirituality is how we react during trials. As long as we lack patience, as long as we have. short level of endurance, we are spiritually immature (Hebrews 6:11; Hebrews 10:35). Barclay notes, 'Bit by bit this unswerving constancy removes the weaknesses and the imperfections from. man's character. Daily it enables him to conquer old sins, to shed old blemishes and to gain new virtues.' (p. 52)

Other Scriptures on suffering (Psalms 94:12; Psalms 119:67; Proverbs 3:11; Hebrews 12:5; Ecclesiastes 2:2; Ecclesiastes 2:14; Matthew 5:11; Luke 6:23; Romans 5:3; 1 Peter 1:6).