Why Lord? Part 2
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Count it all joy!
Count it all joy!
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
So last week we examined the Greek word
James: An Introduction and Commentary (2. Trials and Christian Maturity)
peirasmos - trial, temp, temptation
There is another word I want to examine in our text this morning it is the word translated in your Bible testing in
James: An Introduction and Commentary a. Letting Trials Accomplish Their Purpose (1:2–4)
In both Septuagint occurrences, however, the word refers to the process by which silver or gold is refined by fire. This is probably the meaning intended by James: suffering is a means by which faith, tested in the fires of adversity, can be purified of any dross and thereby strengthened. The idea, then, is not that trials determine whether a person has faith or not. Rather they strengthen the faith that is already present.
So God will use our trials to strengthen and purify our faith. Making us more and more like Jesus. So as you are suffering through a trial, if you don’t understand why, God tells us in verse 5 to what?
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
There is some debate as to how closely James is tying this to when you are experiencing trials ask for wisdom or if he is changing the subject. I would answer yes! I think both are true. If you don’t understand why you are experiencing a trial, why not ask? If you lack wisdom in another area of life why not ask? Because how does God give wisdom to His children? Generously and without reproach. Listen to the one commentator I found has to say
God is honest and frank in his giving and in his promise to give, and he wants every petitioner to be honest, frank, and true in his asking. Alas, too many speak proper words when they pray amid trials, but they do not mean them in the bottom of their hearts.
This takes us back to 1 John doesn’t it? We know the right answers, but what is really in our hearts?
“The worldling blesses God while he gives him plenty, but the Christian blesses him when he smites him: he believes him to be too wise to err and too good to be unkind; he trusts him where he cannot trace him, looks up to him in the darkest hour, and believes that all is well.”
If you are bitter towards God this morning because of a trail you went through, come to Him this morning. He is waiting. He wants to heal you. He wants to restore relationship with you.
I don’t remember the exact quote but I like what Rob Reimer said, “God does not reveal your sin to shame you, He reveals it, so you can repent and be healed” And pride is what prevents us from coming into the light.
Look at this promise from God
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Who needs rest for their soul this morning?
9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,
10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.
11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
One again we see how the Kingdom of God is opposite of the worldly pursuits. I know I grew up pursuing money and early on in my marriage I constantly was judging my success as a husband on how much I could provide materially for my wife and children but what is this passage saying about the kingdom? It is opposite right? The poor brother should boast in his exaltation. What? And the rich in their humiliation?
What does James remind the rich about this life?
Let’s look at Isaiah 40
6 A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
We are reminded by James that this life is but a breath and all the trials and afflictions and suffering are temporary. We need to focus on the character of God and when you don’t understand the trial you are going through or why it is happening to you , what are you called to do? Seek wisdom from God and remember our home is in heaven and in the light of eternity our current suffering pales in comparison right? God’s ultimate purpose from verse 4
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
God wants to perfect your faith. Trust God. He is always faith. He will sustain you until He calls you home. His ways are higher than your ways and when you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.
Let’s pray
What did you learn about god this morning?
What did you learn about people?
What should you do in response?