Trials, Perseverance, and Maturity

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, wherever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." 

James 1: 2-5

The book of James is always interesting.  It is so law-centered that Martin Luther had no good place for it.  He suggested that it contradicts Paul, so he wished he could take it out of his bible, put it in his pipe and smoke it.

I think such talk was an example of Luther's use of exaggeration!  I think what he pointed to was our human tendency to make the Law something more than God intended.  Instead of being the tutor that leads us to Christ, we make it- to our own peril- the basis of our relationship with God.  Luther was combating this tendency throughout his ministry.  Thus, his dislike for the law-centered book of James!

Personally, I love the book of James.  It is a mirror to my soul, and I see within it my desperate need for a savior.  Truly without Jesus I would have no chance to be right with the Holy God!

Just look at the above passage.  "Consider it pure joy when you face trials of various kinds."  Really?  I do not look forward to trials, and I try to avoid them if possible.  Why would James say such a thing?

Well, first of all he was writing to believers in the midst of trials.  Folks were experiencing the beginnings of persecution.  More than that James knew something that many of us wish to forget or never know.  Trials develop us!  Trials grow us deeper and give us wisdom that can only be found through experience.

At least trials can achieve these goals if we approach them correctly.  James is encouraging us to approach trials with the correct perspective.

In my experience, trials either promote humility or bitterness.  Which one marks your life?  

Trials can promote an attitude of blaming God and turning away from a walk with Him, or they can produce an attitude of trusting him more (perseverance in our faith).  Which one marks your life? 

I have seen many trials and I am sure I will see many more.  I am thankful for God's faithfulness and grace that so far He has not allow bitterness and unbelief to dominate my life.  I know that the only true anchor and rock is my Lord and my God!  Not because I declare it or believe it, but because it is true.

The next few sentences of James are very interesting, and I have often puzzled over them.  "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." vs. 6  What does this mean?  It sounds so harsh!  Is this a new idea or part of the past one concerning trials, perseverance, and wisdom?  I believe it is part of the preceding idea. When you ask for wisdom, do not doubt it when you get it!  God will answer your prayer for wisdom, but do not doubt what He is trying to tell you.

I often find that people only move to a different place (spiritually, physically, emotionally, etc.) when pressed to do so.  Most of us would prefer to stay in a bad situation or place because it is more comfortable than the unknown.

Truly a body at rest, stays at rest.

God loves us so much that He knows what is best for us.  He knows our sin tendencies and our hang-ups.  He wants us to grow out of them because they are harmful to us.  He desires a great and promising future for us.  He wants to lead us to this future!  The question becomes will we follow His leading?  Most of the time no.  Thus, trials come to awaken our body at rest.

I think this is the answer to James' thoughts concerning doubt.  We all doubt many things.  This is a natural consequence of our fallen state.  Doubt is a broad category, and this passage is not saying that all doubt is bad.  When doubt leads to questions, it is often good because we will find the answers in Christ!

The key to understanding this passage is in the context of praying for wisdom.  When we pray for wisdom, we should not doubt it when we hear it.  Through God's word, inner impulses and instruction, and most importantly the counsel of others, we can hear God's voice.  When we hear it, often we are like Gideon or Moses and we say, "You have the wrong guy!"  Unfortunately, some of us are not as honest as Gideon and Moses.  We don't talk back to God and question Him.   No, we ignore His leading and voice.  Then, we wonder why trials keep coming and why God does not change our current situation to meet our needs.  

"When we ask, we must believe and not doubt."  Again let me say, God loves us so much that He wants what is best for us.  We are so short-sighted that we simply do not know what is best for us.  In our pride, we think we do know what is best, but often we are wrong.  

May the Lord lead and guide each of us.  May we learn to walk with Him through the trials and difficulties that naturally come from living in a fallen world.  May His will be done on earth as it is in heaven for His glory.  Ask for wisdom and believe His love and grace for you!  Who knows what blessings you are missing out on because of your lack of believing.