247. The Tried Man The Blessed Man.

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. - James 1:12.

TO be blessed is to be happy, favored, prosperous, etc.

But it has a secret, sacred emphasis all its own; for the favor and prosperity are such as only God himself can bestow.

Who would not desire to be blessed of God?

Most men mistake the whereabouts of blessedness.

It is not bound up with wealth, rank, power, talent, admiration, friendship, health, pleasure, or even with a combination of all these.

It is often found where least expected: amid trials, temptations, etc.

I. THE BLESSED IN THIS LIFE.

1. Blessedness is not in our text connected with ease, freedom from trial, or absence of temptation.

Untested treasures may be worthless; not so those which have endured the fire. No man may reckon himself blessed if he has to fear that a trial would wither all his excellence.

2. Blessedness belongs to those who endure tests.

· These have faith, or it would not be tried; faith is blessed.

· These have life which bears trials, the spiritual life is blessed.

· These possess uprightness, purity, truth, patience; all these are blessed things.

3. Blessedness belongs to those who endure trials out of love to God. The text speaks of "them that love him."

· He that has love to God finds joy in that love.

· He also finds blessedness in suffering for that love.

4. Blessedness belongs to those who are proved true by trial.

· After the test comes approval. "When he hath been approved" is the rendering of the Revised Version.

· After the test comes assurance of our being right. Certainty is a most precious commodity.

5. Blessedness comes out of patient experience.

· Blessedness of thankfulness for being sustained.

· Blessedness of holy dependence under conscious weakness.

· Blessedness of peace and submission under God's hand.

· Blessedness of fearlessness as to result of further trial.

· Blessedness of familiarity with God enjoyed in the affliction.

· Blessedness of growth in grace through the trial.

He who, being tested, is supported in the ordeal, and comes out of the trial approved, is the blessed man.

II. THE BLESSED IN THE LIFE TO COME.

Those who have endured trial inherit the peculiar blessedness—

1. Of being crowned. How crowned if never in the wars?

· Crowned because victorious over enemies.

· Crowned because appreciated by their God.

· Crowned because honored of their fellows.

· Crowned because they have kept the conditions of the award.

2. Of attaining the glory and "crown of life" by enduring trial, thus only can life be developed till its flower and crown appear.

· By trial brought to purest health of mind.

· By trial trained to utmost vigor of grace.

· By trial developed in every part of their nature.

· By trial made capable of the highest glory in eternity.

3. Of possessing a living crown of endless joy. "Crown of life" or living crown: amaranthine, unfading.

· If such fierce trials do not kill them, nothing will.

· If they have spiritual bliss, it can never die.

· If they have heavenly life, it will always be at its crowning point.

4. Of receiving this lift-crown from God.

· His own promise reveals and displays it.

· His peculiar regard to those who love him doubly ensures it.

· His own hand shall give it. Let us encounter trial cheerfully.

Let us wait for the time of approval patiently.

Let us expect the crown of life most joyfully and gather courage from the assurance of it.