James (W1D5) Blessed

Week 1. Friday: Blessed

PRAY: Ask God to speak to you from His Word.

READ: James 1:12

12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

UNDERSTAND: get a deeper understanding of the key words

Blessed: Since the immediate context is about wealth, James seems to be saying that the true blessing is found in persevering through hard times. Being blessed is not about how much money you have or don’t have. Being blessed is about being content and knowing that God loves and cares for you. Jesus describes true blessing in the Sermon of the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12).
Perseveres: The Greek word here is hypomenō. It refers to continual endurance, to take things with patience, and to abide or remain faithful.
Stood the test: A better translation would be “having been approved” which refers to being acceptable and pleasing to God.
Crown of life: When we think about a crown we think about a crown of jewels. But this more like a wreath that is given to winners in athletic games or victorious emperors (1 Corinthians 9:25). James does not mean this to be taken literally. The crown of life is about our eternal reward of salvation.
Promised to those who love him: The ultimate reward for perseverance is eternal life and the abundant life that Jesus promised in John 10:10.