"The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests the hearts." Proverbs 17:3

1 Peter 1:6 tells us,
"In this you greatly rejoice though, now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to the praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

The theme of the Epistle of James is faith. He begins right at the beginning with the testing of faith then goes on to tell of its characteristics.
James 1 tells us the purpose of tests:
"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
Vs.2-4
Vs. 5-8 goes on to tells us,
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. BUT let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in his ways."
Read Vs. 13-15 they give the source of temptations.

Starting with 1:19, through most of the epistle, the writer tells of the characteristics of faith. I encourage you to read each section for a fuller understanding asking the Holy Spirit to open the word up to you. I will give only a few verses.

*Vs. 19-27 tells us that faith obeys the word, "But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." Vs. 25

*Faith removes discrimination 2:1-13,
"My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism." Vs. 1 "If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law, according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors." Vs. 8-9

*Faith proves itself by works 2:14-26, James gives two arguments here, the one concerning Abraham follows, "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled, which says, 'And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness...'" Vs. 21-23 A question might be: "Is a faith that produces no change a believing faith?"

*Faith controls the tongue 3:1-12, James goes from works to words describing the evils of the tongue.
"The tongue is small, but it has the power to accomplish great good or equally great evil. Only the power of God applied by an active faith can tame the tongue." A quote from The Open Bible.
"With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way."
Vs.9-10

*Faith produces wisdom 3:13-18,
"Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. Vs. 13 "But wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."
Vs. 17-18

*Faith produces humility 4:1-12,
"...'God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.' Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." Vs. 6-7 "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." Vs.10

*Faith produces dependence on God 4:13-17, "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit'; where as you do not know what will happen tomorrow...Instead you ought to say, 'if the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." Vs 13-15

In Chapter 5 James encourages the readers to:
*Endure with patience 7-12,
"Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord...Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." 5:7-8 *Pray for the afflicted 13-18, "Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick..." Vs. 14-15 *"Let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins." Vs. 20

Thanks you Lord for James' letter for it enlarges our faith in its great warning and its great blessing! Amen