Pickleball

A Series on the book of James
Trials and Rewards
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
James 1:1-18 

[James is one of my favorite books of the Bible. In some ways, it’s similar to Old Testament wisdom literature like Proverbs. It includes many practical applications to help a believer grow in their faith. In this series, we will look at the wisdom of James’ letter and how it applies to our lives.]

When you play sports, your goal is to win. And if you win often enough, you might earn an award.

 

During high school and college, I loved to play sports. Even until I was in my forties, I played tennis. But I was only an average athlete, and certainly never won any awards. That is… until I started playing pickleball at the age of 74. I finally won an award! Such as it is.

 

James wrote his letter to Jewish Christians who were scattered across the Mediterranean world due to being persecuted for their faith. You can imagine how difficult their lives must have been. Essentially, they were turned upside down.

 

Not only were they persecuted for their faith, but they went to countries where there were different cultures, languages and religions. Most likely, they were poor, had no job or place to live, and only knew the people who had fled with them.

 

They were refugees who faced many challenging trials. Trials that would present them with very difficult choices. Sometimes, it could even be a matter of choosing between following their faith or rejecting it. Therefore, James wrote to them about trials.

 

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.      NIV

 

The Message puts it like this.

 

^2-4 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work, so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.          MSG

 

In sports, the goal is to win. The more you practice and play, the better your skills are. Through repetition, you challenge yourself and push yourself to improve. In our faith-life, the goal is to become “mature and complete”. Our faith is challenged and strengthened by trials. That’s how we learn and grow.

 

Besides the benefit of becoming “mature and complete”, James held out another carrot for them. He told them that if they persevered through their trials, they could win an award – the “crown of life”.

 

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.            NIV

 

It’s fun to win an award – even if it’s a meaningless pickleball award. But winning the “crown of life” – that’s incomparably superior!

 

It’s time to compete for what truly matters. It’s time to go into spiritual training; to strengthen our faith through trials; to become mature and complete; to receive the crown of life.

 

Copyright 2026 Joseph B Williams

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