James Chapter 1 — Commentary on Verse 4

    Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

    Here James shows what perseverance is, by way of exhortation, encouraging them to move on to maturity. I start with a difficulty in the verse.

    Finishitswork [KJV, haveherperfectwork—Ed.note]. Remember that in the apostle’s time there were various people who had a great deal of zeal and who bore the first attacks. But they tired, either because of the variety or the length of evils, and they yielded and fainted. Therefore, James wanted his readers to persevere and be complete. The best grace is maturity. We say of Abraham’s faith that it was a perfect faith; so when perseverance is thoroughly tried by various lengthy afflictions, we say there is a perfect perseverance. Perfect perseverance is a resolute perseverance, holding no regard for the length, the acuteness, or the continual succession of various afflictions. One trial revealed Job’s perseverance; but when evil upon evil came, and he bore everything with a humble and quiet spirit, that revealed a mature perseverance.

    So that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. The apostle’s purpose is not to assert a possibility of perfection in Christians: We all stumble in many ways (3:2). All that we have here in this life is incomplete: “We know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears” (1 Corinthians 13:9-10). Here grace is imperfect, because the means are imperfect. So James means either that we should be sincere, for sincerity is called perfection in Scripture (“Walk before me, and be thou perfect,” as Genesis 17:1 reads in the original; the NIV has, “be blameless”); or else it means the perfection of perseverance; or, lastly, the intended perfection is “the perfection of parts”—that we might be so perfect, or complete, that no necessary grace might be lacking—that, having other gifts, we might also have the gift of perseverance and the whole image of Christ might be completed in us—that nothing might be lacking that a Christian needs. Indeed, some make this a legal sentence, implying what God may justly require and what we should aim for—exact perfection, both in parts and degrees. It is true that this is beyond our power; but though we have lost our power, there is no reason why God should lose his right. God’s right humbles us with the sense of our own weakness. God might require so much that we had power to perform, though we have lost it through our own fault. This is true, but the former interpretations are more simple and genuine.

    Notes on Verse 4

    Note1. Our graces are not perfected until we go through many great trials. As a pilot’s skill is discerned in a storm, so is a Christian’s grace in many and great troubles. So in everything that happens to you say, “Patience has not yet been perfected.” The apostle says, “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood” (Hebrews 12:4). Should we collapse in a lesser trial, before the perfect work is revealed? Job was in a sad state, yet said, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” (Job 13:15); in a higher trial, I should not faint or murmur.

    Note2. Exercise grace until it is full and perfect—thatyoumaybemature. The apostle chides the Galatians because their first enthusiasm quickly evaporated: “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?” (Galatians 3:3). It is not enough to start. To falter shows that we are not “fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). While you are in the world, go on to finish the work of patience; follow those who “through faith and patience inherit what has been promised” (Hebrews 6:12).

    Note3. Christians must aim at, and press on to, perfection. The apostle says, sothatyoumay be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

    (1)      Christians aspire to absolute perfection. First, they go to God for justification, so that the damning power of sin may be taken away; then for sanctification, that the reigning power of sin may be destroyed; then for glorification, that its very being may be abolished. Those who have true grace will not be content with littlegrace. “I want … somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead,” says Paul (Philippians 3:10-11)—that is, such a state of grace as we enjoy after the resurrection. Free grace makes a Christian press on and be earnest in his endeavors: see Hebrews 6:1.

    (2)      Christians must be perfect in all aspects of their Christian faith. Every part of life must be seasoned with grace (see 1 Peter 1:15 and 2 Corinthians 8:7). Hypocrites always lack something. The Corinthians had much knowledge but little charity. As Basil says, “I know many who fast, pray, sigh … but withhold from God and the poor.” One negligence may be fatal. A Christian should not lack anything.

    (3)      They aim at a perfection that lasts. Subsequent acts of apostasy make our former crown wither (see 2 John 8 and Ezekiel 18:24). If a Nazirite defiled himself, he had to begin all over again (see Numbers 6:12). We have separated ourselves to Christ, and if we do not endure to the end, all the righteousness, zeal, and patience of our former profession is forgotten.