Charles Spurgeon Commentary James 1:3-4

"Knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience. And let patience have [its] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing." — James 1:3-4 (ASV)

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Endure everything; suffer everything that God sends you. Bathe yourself in this rough sea until, by God's blessing, it has strengthened you and cleansed you. For he sends it to that end: that it may perfect you by discipline, educating all your spiritual faculties, and bringing out all your powers for his glory.

Do not shrink then; do not seek to escape from trial by any wrong means, but go through with it, have perfect endurance of it, that you may be perfect and whole, wanting nothing.

If any of you lack wisdom, and that is the point where you are most likely not to be perfect and entire.

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

You need to grow; you will not grow without trials. You need to learn; you will not learn without affliction. It is God's school for you. Be thankful, therefore, when these afflictions come. They are the rumbling wagons of your Father, in which he sends you choice treasure. They are black ships that come from afar, loaded with precious things. But be mindful that you do get this patience; and that, when you have it, you have still more of it: Let patience have her perfect work.