Life often seems unfair and overly difficult. Why do we have to do as we’re told, and do things we hate to do, or do things that are boring and seem pointless? The answer in James is that the troubles you are having are not really the point. The point is how we respond!
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James tells us to consider it pure joy, brothers and sisters, when we face troubles of many different kinds… why would he say this?
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James tells us to consider it pure joy, brothers and sisters, when we face troubles of many different kinds… why would he say this?
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Well, James is teaching us about what Jesus came and taught the disciples. Jesus taught that suffering would be part of their lives and that they should not be surprised when it comes. Suffering in life is inevitable -- in other words, it comes into everyone’s life.
Well, James is teaching us about what Jesus came and taught the disciples. Jesus taught that suffering would be part of their lives and that they should not be surprised when it comes. Suffering in life is inevitable -- in other words, it comes into everyone’s life.
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Consider your reaction -- your response. You can either respond foolishly or wisely. Consider the following scenario:
Consider your reaction -- your response. You can either respond foolishly or wisely. Consider the following scenario:
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You are in your workplace and someone near you is making a lot of noise and being disruptive -- but the supervisor singles you out! Think about your response to the situation. Foolish responses like complaining, impatience and anger often make the situation worse and also show that we don’t trust God -- we are saying He doesn’t have control over the situation. Wise responses on the other hand show our maturity. Getting on with our work and showing our diligence, rather than talking about it demonstrates maturity.
You are in your workplace and someone near you is making a lot of noise and being disruptive -- but the supervisor singles you out! Think about your response to the situation. Foolish responses like complaining, impatience and anger often make the situation worse and also show that we don’t trust God -- we are saying He doesn’t have control over the situation. Wise responses on the other hand show our maturity. Getting on with our work and showing our diligence, rather than talking about it demonstrates maturity.
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If we can bear the burden of a trial, trusting God in the bad times as well as the good, God can make us joyful -- not happy, but content knowing that God is in control. There is a difference between happiness and joy.
If we can bear the burden of a trial, trusting God in the bad times as well as the good, God can make us joyful -- not happy, but content knowing that God is in control. There is a difference between happiness and joy.
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We can feel genuine joy to know that whatever is thrown at us is a synch compared with what Jesus suffered on the cross, and God will grow us stronger in the process. In the short term, trouble produces stable disciples ‘… the testing of your faith develops perseverance.’
We can feel genuine joy to know that whatever is thrown at us is a synch compared with what Jesus suffered on the cross, and God will grow us stronger in the process. In the short term, trouble produces stable disciples ‘… the testing of your faith develops perseverance.’
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In the longer term, trouble produces finished products (what we are at the end of our lives). James is calling us (as Jesus does) to perfection, and even though we will not reach perfection in this life, we are required to allow God to shape us, and mould our character’s to be more like Jesus’.
In the longer term, trouble produces finished products (what we are at the end of our lives). James is calling us (as Jesus does) to perfection, and even though we will not reach perfection in this life, we are required to allow God to shape us, and mould our character’s to be more like Jesus’.
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The reality is one day we will stand before God -- all of us. One thing He expects us to learn whilst here on Earth is how to persevere under trial, and how to deal with trouble. We should persevere with our troubles because God asks us to -- we do it because we love Him, and want to do what He asks of us!
The reality is one day we will stand before God -- all of us. One thing He expects us to learn whilst here on Earth is how to persevere under trial, and how to deal with trouble. We should persevere with our troubles because God asks us to -- we do it because we love Him, and want to do what He asks of us!
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The crown we receive from God is due reward for the faith of enduring troubles.
The crown we receive from God is due reward for the faith of enduring troubles.
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Acknowledgement to Derek Tidball's book Wisdom From Heaven, a 2003 Christian Focus publication.
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