Wisdom for Your Trials

Introduction

Seminary in Guatemala - reminder of how most believers live around the world - in difficulty. Most people live in poverty and many believers live persecuted. Life is difficult.

Seems like life is better in the states - more wealth, more opportunities, etc. But, we have difficulties. Everyone has challenges.

Opening verses of James - wisdom for our difficulties/trials.

James = practical book by the half-brother of Jesus

James = practical book by half-brother of Jesus. James thought Jesus was crazy. () Wouldn’t you? Your brother claims to be God and then goes and lives as a homeless man. But, after resurrection, sees Jesus alive. () That will change your mind about the identity fo your brother! James’ brother became his Lord.

Surprisingly, James doesn’t mention his older brother much, but Jesus is present in each verse. James sounds like Jesus - similar to Sermon on the Mount. James is full of wisdom. This letter has been called the Proverbs of the New Testament.

James = half-brother of Jesus. James thought Jesus was crazy. () Wouldn’t you? Your brother claims to be God and then goes and lives as a homeless man. But, after resurrection, sees Jesus alive. () That will change your mind about the identity fo your brother!

Opening verses are full of wisdom - helps us to understand how to walk through difficulty by giving us three truths about God that we need to remember when we walk through trials.

James becomes a significant leader in the chur

God wastes nothing.

James cuts right to it: “Count it all joy when you face various trials...” Early believers were going through trials.

Twelve Tribes in dispersion - twelve tribes of Israel - written to Jewish Christians living outside of Jerusalem because of persecution ().

James mentions various trials they were experiencing in this letter: poverty, financial problems, sickness, conflict in church.

When you meet trials NOT IF you meet trials. Trials are a normal part of life - none of us are exempt.

Various kinds:

James mentions various trials they were experiencing in this letter: poverty, financial problems, sickness, conflict in church.

Some trials because we are Christians. Shunned by family and friends who think we’re judgmental, old-fashioned, etc.

Some trials because we are human. Broken world - difficulties happen. We get sick, we lose jobs, etc.

Some trials because of poor choices. Some difficulties you bring on yourself. Consequences of sin.

But - in trials - Count it all joy. NOT pretend like it’s great! Trials aren’t fun. Reality: you’re going to count it something in trials.

Count it all bitterness.

Count it all envy - I wish my life was as good as his/hers.

Count it all self-pity. “Woe is me.”

Count it all turn to something else - drugs, alcohol, porn, entertainment, etc. to numb the pain.

OR, you can count it all joy! Not ENJOY but contentment with God even in your difficulties because you trust He is at work.

God is using your difficulties to produce steadfastness/perseverance. Perseverance is the ability to face the difficulties of life head-on with the confidence that no trial you go through changes who you are in Christ or God’s love for you. When you persevere - you are giving evidence that you TRUST GOD is at work even in your difficulties.

Let perseverance have its full effect - each trial, if you keep your eyes on God, you learn to trust more - each trial, when you walk by faith, you mature a bit more.

God wastes nothing. He doesn’t waste your trials! In difficulties remember:

Your trials are God’s investment plan into your spiritual maturity. You simply cannot mature without trials. Trials connect faith to life. Trials are where what you learn about God in your time in the Word is put into practice.

Trials are not designed for you to prove yourself to God, but for God to prove Himself to you. In trials - temptation to say, “I can do this. I must prove that I’m strong enough.” - His strength is made perfect in our weakness. Trials are an opportunity for God to prove Himself faithful to you.

You might not be able to see it now - but God is at work in your trials. In a trial? Look back - you’ll see how God faithfully worked in the past. He’s still at work.

Newell children - Counted it joy in most difficult situation imaginable.

God gives everything.

When we go through trials, we get foolish - make poor choices, take eyes off Jesus, complain, hurt people, and go into survival mode.

What we need in trials is wisdom - the ability to navigate trials in a way that honors the Lord and is consistent with Scripture. Wisdom = the ability to connect faith to life - the ability to live out the Bible in every day situations.

Note - If you lack wisdom - not strength, grace, deliverance, etc. In your trials, what you need most is wisdom so you might persevere well.

Ask God! Don’t think you can make it on your own. Your trials are an opportunity for you to demonstrate how much you need God!

Notice how God gives wisdom:

He gives to anyone who asks - His wisdom is available to all of us - not just the most mature Christians - but to every one of us.

He gives generously - He’s not stingy with it. He wants you to have an abundance of His wisdom - why He has given us Bible books like James, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes. Why we have Sermon on the Mount, etc.

He gives without reproach - God doesn’t say, “You really messed up. I’m not giving you wisdom. Figure it out yourself.” He doesn’t scold. “I gave you wisdom last time, and you didn’t listen.”

Dog grooming - persistent to get what is rightly owed to me. God - gives to me freely what is not owed to me.

James is reminding us of what we already know! We’ve already experienced these truths about God in Jesus: He gives salvation to anyone who asks. He generously gave His Son for us as a demonstration of love. He gives us salvation without reproach. He gives us salvation even though we don’t deserve it.

If you can trust God to save you from eternal separation from Him, you can trust God to give you wisdom for your trials. So, right now, stop and ask God for wisdom.

BUT, ask for wisdom without doubting.

We all have doubts - but James talking about being double-minded or divided loyalty! We want to know what God says, but we don’t want to do what God says unless it aligns with our will. Double-mindedness is to not trust that God knows best. It’s to learn God’s will, but then check to see if there’s a more appealing option than God’s will. For example:

It’s to pray for wisdom, but then to not act on the wisdom God reveals to you. It’s to not trust that God knows best. It’s to learn God’s will, but then check to see if there’s a more appealing option than God’s will. For example:

Conflict in relationship: wisdom is to forgive. But, you don’t want to do that!

The urge to speak out something. You know the wise thing to do is to keep your mouth shut, but you can’t do it!

Students, you don’t agree with your parents. Wise thing is to honor them anyways, but you won’t.

Finances - wise to give because of how God has given to you, but give generously? Then I might not be able to go to Disney World for the 5th time this year.

Unstable - You are unstable when you ask God for wisdom but live as if you don’t believe His wisdom is good enough for you. You are unstable when you live as if God does not know best for you.

Struggling? Take advantage of the wisdom of God:

Pray for it.

Seek it. The Bible is full of wisdom. Start with James. Read Proverbs. Read the Gospels. Learn.

Seek godly counsel. There are people in this faith family who’ve been through what you’ve been through. This is why relationships within the church are so important!

Be encouraged. God gives you everything you need to walk through your difficulties with your eyes on Him!

God blesses right perspective.

For believers in 1st century - financial difficulties. Many believers in Jersualem were already poor. (Paul had churches take an offering for them.) Now, scattered - imagine financial struggles. What do we do?

When struggling - We need perspective! James gives perspective/wisdom on a common struggle:

Attitude of the poor - We’ll never get ahead - we’re stuck. First piece of wisdom: “Boast in exaltation.” Don’t you know what you have in Christ? Everything. Jesus became poor so you might become rich. () Don’t for a moment think that God does not love you because you don’t have much.

Attitude of the rich - “We’ve got everything. We’re blessed!” Temptation of wealth: I can throw money at my problems. If money can’t solve my problems, at the very least, it can help me escape my problems.

Both wealth and poverty bring their share of difficulties.

Rich? Right perspective? In a moment it can be gone. Wealth is fleeting, but Christ is eternal. My trust can never be in what I have, but in the God who loves me. Not a sin to have wealth, but it is a sin to trust wealth.

Whether rich or poor, we’re all the same - We are all desperately lost without Christ - we all need the riches of His grace. Find your identity not in what you have in or don’t have but who you are in Christ.

Have the right perspective - your trials are temporary. God uses them. If that’s true - in every trial ask God, “What?” Not, “Why?”

When you remain steadfast, you can be assured you will receive the crown of life. God is maturing you. Keep your eyes on Him. Know that there is a reward for you.

Look to the One who endured the greatest trial yet persevered. Jesus endured the cross, despising its shame. He was beaten, mocked, rejected even by His own brother! He knew the Father was not wasting His trials - He would save us through the trials of Jesus! He gave Jesus wisdom! He is the wisdom of God - Jesus continually sought the wisdom of the Father. Jesus had the right perspective. Went to the cross and endured the greatest difficulty of all - died in our place - took our punishment on Himself. Died then rose!

NOW - He has received the ultimate crown of life - and gives His righteous life to us!

Unbeliever - you’ll go through trials - but the only way to make sense out of this life is to give your life to the One who gives purpose even in the midst of trials.

Believer - Life is tough. Pray for wisdom. Pray for right perspective. Repent of not trusting God in your trials.