“Philosophy may instruct men how to be calm under their troubles; but Christianity teaches them to be joyful” (Matthew Henry). 

This study is taken complete from Matthew Henry’s comments on James 1:2-12.

Verses 2:12

I.  The suffering state of Christians in this world is represented.  It is implied that sufferings and afflictions may be the lot of the best Christians.  Such as have a title to the greatest joy may yet endure very grievous afflictions.  The trials of a good man are such as he does not create to himself, nor sinfully pull upon himself; but they are such as he is said to fall into.

II. The graces and duties of a state of trial and affliction.

1. One Christian grace to be exercised is joy, v.2.  We must not sink into a sad and disconsolate frame of mind, which would make us faint under our trials.  Philosophy may instruct men how to be calm under their troubles; but Christianity teaches them to be joyful.  Our trials will brighten our graces now and our crown at last.  There is the more reason for joy in afflictions if we consider the other graces that are promoted by them.
2. Faith v.3; and then in v. 6.  There must be a sound believing of the great truths of Christianity, and a resolute cleaving to them, in times of trial.
3. There must be patience: The trial of faith worketh patience.  The trying of one grace produces another.  To exercise Christian patience aright, we must let it work.  Stoical apathy and Christian patience are very different: by the one men become, in some measure, insensible of their afflictions; but by the other they become triumphant in and over them.  Let us give it leave to work, and it will work wonders in a time of trouble.  We must let it have its perfect work.  When we bear all that God appoints, and as long as he appoints, and when we not only bear troubles, but rejoice in them, then patience hath its perfect work.  When the work of patience is complete, then the Christian is entire, and nothing will be wanting.
4. Prayer.  What we ought more especially to pray for – wisdom.  We should not pray so much for the removal of an affliction as for wisdom to make right use of it.  To be wise in trying times is a special gift of God.   In what way this is to be obtained – upon our asking for it.  Let the foolish become beggars at the throne of grace, and they are in a fair way to be wise.  We have the greatest encouragement to do this: he giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not.  It shall be given, v.5.  He to whom we are sent has it to give: and he is of a giving disposition.  Nor is there any fear of his favours being limited to some for he gives to all men,  If you should say you want a great deal of wisdom, a small portion will not serve your turn, he gives liberally; and lest you should be afraid of being put to shame for your folly, he upbraideth not.  Ask when you will, and as often as you will, you will meet with no upbraidings.  The promise is: It shall be given him.  There is one thing necessary to be obtained in our asking, v.6.  There must be no wavering, no staggering at the promise of God through unbelief.
5. Sincerity of intention, and a steadiness of mind, constitute another duty required under affliction: He that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind, and tossed.  To be sometimes lifted up by faith, and then thrown down again by distrust – this is very fitly compared to a wave of the sea, that rises and falls, swells and sinks, just as the wind tosses it higher or lower, that way or this.  The success of prayer is destroyed hereby, v. 7.  Such a distrustful shifting, unsettled person is not likely to value a favour from God as he should do, and therefore cannot expect to receive it.  A wavering faith and spirit has a bad influence upon our conversations, v. 8.  There will be great unsteadiness in all our conversation and actions.  He that is unstable as water shall not excel….

IV. A blessing is pronounced on those who endure their exercises and trials, v. 12.  It is not the man who suffers only that is blessed, but he who endures.  Afflictions cannot make us miserable.  A blessing may arise from them.  Sufferings and temptations are the way to blessedness: When he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, when he is approved, when his graces are found to be true and of the highest worth (so metals are tried as to their excellency by the fire).  The tried Christian shall be a crowned one; and the crown he shall wear shall be a crownof life.  We only bear the cross for a while, but we shall wear the crown for eternity.  This blessedness is a promised thing to the righteous sufferer.  It is therefore what we may most surely depend on.  Our enduring temptations must come from a principle of love to God and to our Lord Jesus Christ: The Lord has promised to those that love him.  The crown of life is promised to all those who have the love of God reigning in their hearts.

Source

Henry, M. 1975, ed. Church, Rev. Leslie, “Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible in One Volume”, p. 728-729, publ. Marshall, Morgan and Scott, London.