This week's Bible Study - November 8, 2009
Celebrate Your Trials
 Background Scripture:
James 1:2-18
Quote of the Week:
“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved.”
-- Helen Keller
What are trials? Dictionary.com brings up a few possibilities. There is the law context, in which a person's guilt or innocence is determined; the act or trying, testing or putting to the test; an attempt or effort to do something; an experiment; subjection to suffering or grievous experiences; an affliction or trouble and a trying, distressing or annoying thing or person. I also think of speed trials, in which track athletes compete in stages to advance to further levels.
In short, most of us cringe when we hear about trials. It is something that we feel we must endure. They are most often things that people are uncomfortable with or seek to avoid. Few people will look forward to a trial that they will have to face tomorrow, or will enjoy one that they face today. When I think of trials, I think of the one hit wonder of Bobby Derrin - 'Don't Worry, Be Happy'. Truthfully, he may have more than one hit and also, I know his name and his song - while none of these lessons have made the top seller list, and he doesn't know mine. His song was catchy, and you may find yourself humming it right now. We all know what trials are like, and that song may inspire a little cheer in the middle of a trial.
However, when we experience trials or anything else that we must go through in life, we should not be turning to Bobby Derrin or any other musician. We are to turn to the Bible to begin to understand how God uses everything in our lives, including our trials, to impact our lives. When we gain the proper perspective, it may not make the experience more pleasant, but we can know that God is at work in our lives.
This is one of the more difficult passages in Scripture and James dives right into it in the second verse of the first chapter. Consider it pure joy. What do you consider pure joy? We think of joy when things are going our way - our favorite teams are winning, we are doing well at school or in our jobs, we meet with success or life just seems rosy. We surely can relate to considering it joy when things go our way. However, the rest of the verse says to consider it joy whenever you face trials of many kinds. When you are in the midst of the trial, is the first thing you are thinking about joy? Most of us tend to think of the way out of the trial. However, there are trials that we cannot get out of. Many who read this lesson know of those trials - the loss of a loved one, the news of a disease, issues associated with broken relationships, the loss of a job or many other things that people experience. Is joy what people are thinking about in the midst of these trials?
Why should we consider it joy? James tells us that the testing of our faith develops perseverance. If you've ever tried a workout program, you know how it takes perseverance to stick with it. We certainly enjoy the results that we can accomplish when we stay the course, but it can be very difficult to stay the course. Last year, I thought I would try one of these workout programs advertised on TV. I found the DVD on ebay, without the associated documentation. I was somewhat excited and I started working out. There were five DVDs, but I focused on one for a week. I could see tremendous results, but I hurt and badly. I remember going to bed and not being able to move - and with each night's workout, it got worse and worse. The beginning of the end came while playing basketball. I have played basketball for years and my shot has always been one of the better parts of my game. I shot three consecutive air balls for free throws. I knew it wasn't right. I quit the workout and later found out that I was supposed to do a different DVD each night. Lesson learned. I was persevering, but in the wrong way, so the results were not what they should have been. (I haven't started it back yet)
James tells us that perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Every person goes through trials, but not everyone comes out more mature. Some people end up in a negative state - their attitudes change and they become bitter people. Other people go through a very similar experience (no two experiences are exactly the same) and come out with a maturity that they could never have achieved in other ways. This tells us something about how we approach the trials of life - are we learning perseverance, leading to maturity, or are we only going through it and finding ourselves worse off than before?
We are told that when perseverance has run its course, we will be mature and complete, lacking nothing. But, then James goes along to say that when we lack wisdom, we should ask God. We will always lack something in life - we never achieve perfection, nor will we have the mind of God. However, God tells us to ask when we need wisdom. We are so prone to go on our own and make decisions that align with what we want. Each of us will encounter situations that are beyond our ability to make the right decisions. James tells us to approach God and ask for his wisdom. What is there in your life right now that you are seeking? Are you seeking the wisdom of God or do you want to go on your own?
James goes ahead to say that God gives generously to all without finding fault. There are some places that you can go for advice that will end up telling you everything that is wrong with you. None of us is perfect, so when we approach God, we are frail humans. But, God will give wisdom generously to all without finding fault. However, we are to ask in faith, believing that God will answer our call for help. When we do seek God, do we really believe he will answer or are we just going through the hoops for a period of time before we make our decision? I know that God has given me specific answers at times in my life. I also know that there have been times that I have ignored God's answers and gone on my own, finding the consequences that accompany our own bad decisions.
We are not to doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. Have you ever been on a boat in the ocean and felt the power of the waves that seem to blow every which way? There is a show called "The Deadliest Catch" in which a fishing boat goes in the deep seas. The storms that they face are often brutal and inconsistent. When we seek God while doubting, we will find ourselves being blown all over the place, much like those ships. James goes along to say that the one who doubts should not think that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double minded man, unstable in all his ways. When we are asking for God's wisdom and direction, we need to listen and wait for his answer. When we ask and decide to do what we want to do, we will find instability in our path.
James then moves to talk about the problem of pride. As stated in the previous lesson, the book of James is very tangible to our lives. You really can't do a study of James without being convicted. In our world, we put such a premium on the worth of person, based upon the money that they possess, where they live and the type of car they drive. It is, in fact, the American dream (as well as many other nations), with people wanting more and more and more. Those who don't have the possessions end up wanting to get them, and those who do have want more. It is an addiction that can never be satisfied.
James says that the brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his position. Our position comes as a brother and a child of God. It isn't based on money in the bank. James gives a stern warning to those who are rich and only wanting to get richer. If we depend upon the things that we have, we will find that those things, as well as our lives, will pass away like a wild flower. The picture is painted of a plant that seems to be healthy being withered by the scorching heat of the sun, and its blossom falling and its beauty being destroyed. What is in it life that we can get that will really last? We go through possessions quickly. Technology changes all around us - the latest thing of next year will be the thing that is thrown away in a few short years. We have seen large businesses come and go. Some of them seemed to be unstoppable, yet they have been brought to their knees by a weak economy.
There is that dream of wanting more and more. We all know about it. We say that we aren't impacted by it, yet we face it everywhere we go. There are commercials on the television telling you that you need more. There are billboards and other ads that make you feel incomplete because of a lack of things. James gives the stern warning that life is not about the things - they will come and go. Don't become too attached to things. Own the things you need, but don't let the things own you.
James goes back to the issue of trials. He says the man who perseveres under trial is blessed. When he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. We live in the perspective of this world. It is all we have known. We see the desire for life and issue free living. As we grow, we see that is never the case. Sometimes, life will become very difficult. If this life was all that we had, we would be right to become depressed and despondent. If it was just this life, and you had to deal with the terminal disease of a loved one, or some other thing that just seemed to destroy your world, it would be terrible indeed. There are people that deal with these things on their own, having no hope of God in their life. I often wonder how they can cope with life that seems so brutal at times. However, James tells us that our eternal reward is much greater than anything we would have to experience in this life. We will receive the crown of life when we have persevered. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and that light goes into eternity.
When any of us are tempted, we should not blame that temptation on God. God offers the way out of temptation, but we are so easily drawn into temptation. At some level, it is human nature to seek the things that we are supposed to avoid. This is not God's doing. It is the human nature, or as Flip Wilson used say - "The devil made me do it". We take a light hearted view towards temptation at times, not fully realizing the extent of damage that sin can bring. I'm sure if we were able to see the consequences of sin before it happened, we would strive much harder to avoid it.
There is a progression that is mentioned and it isn't the progression that we really enjoy to hear about. I've heard of progressive dinners in which a different course is served at different homes. Those were always fun and exciting to find out what was next in. However, in the progression of sin, it isn't so fun. James tells us that we are tempted when we are dragged away and enticed by our own evil desire. That desire comes from within. It may be some addiction or some other area of our lives that we have fed. Generally, people think they know their own desires and they think that they can handle them. James tells us that after our desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it leads to death. There are the desires that we have in our lives that we know to be wrong. It can be very difficult to change those desires, but when we allow ourselves to focus on them, the progression starts, leading to sin and then to death. The little steps that we think we can handle become bigger steps and more involved in the sin. It isn't long before that sin starts to take over and drive the decisions we make. It is never where we wanted to end up.
We are told in these last verses that we are not to be deceived. We all deal with the great deceiver of this world, Satan. Satan is not a figure with a pitchfork and a red suit that may show up on some comedy shows. He is a force that seeks to destroy mankind. And, if you are attempting to live your life as a believer, you are sure to be under attack from Satan. The deceiver wants to bring destruction to your life.
Contrasted to this destruction, every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. Isn't it amazing just to consider the technological changes that have occurred in our lifetimes? It is quite incredible. However, to me, it is more amazing to realize how God has not changed and he still meets the needs of people. He doesn't need technology to give you peace. God doesn't need a facebook or myspace account, and he doesn't have to worry about a cellular plan so that he can send text messages. He still works with people today as he has for hundreds of years. Every other part of life has changed, yet God remains the same and he is still enough.
God chose us for a purpose. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, so that we might be a kind of firstfruit of all he created. We have been given birth through the word of truth, the Bible. We don't have some supernatural experience, but God works in a consistent manner with his word of truth. The Bible is amazing, as it speaks life to our souls. I don't know where you are now, but I do know that if you allow yourself to seek God in his word, he will speak to your situation. It is an incredible power that touches our lives. God did all of this, including the gift of his Son, to reach you. But, he didn't intend for that to be the end of his plan. You were bought with a price, for a purpose. We are called to reach others with this love that has changed our lives.
Closing
We all will have trials. They are never the same, exactly, but they change us. We either draw closer to God, giving us the ability to have joy in the midst or we become bitter. Some people look at them as war wounds that destroyed their lives, while others grow through them. Which have you done and which will you do in the future? James tells us that when we persevere through these trials, we will receive the crown of life which God has in store for those who love him.
We are told to approach God and ask for wisdom, when we are lacking. In what area of your life do you need God's wisdom today? Are you really seeking him or are you doing it half heartedly? When we seek God, we need to seek in faith and wait for his answer. If we doubt, we will find ourselves living a double-minded life. Seek God and his wisdom, knowing that he wants to give that to you.
James tells us about the problems with possessions. There is nothing wrong with having a house and nice things. There is no problem with driving nice cars and enjoying the money that you work for. However, there is a tendency to let that drive our lives. Those things will come and go. They will quickly be destroyed. What is it in your life that is priority and will it continue to be here, as time goes by?
We learned about the issues with the wrong desires. Desire in and of itself is not wrong, but when the desires are ungodly, we will find that they will eventually bring ruin in areas of our lives. You may not deal with these to the full extent, but when you allow yourselves to focus on these areas of your life you will find that they will bring negative consequences. Where are you desires focused?
Yes, we will encounter trials and, yes, we will have to deal with our sinful desires and temptations in our lives. Even with all these negative things in our lives, we see that God has every good and perfect good from above in store for us. God truly wants to work in your life and he wants you to be his. The life of a believer can be hard, but the life of a person without Christ must be unbearable. Know that God intends to do great things for those who stick with him.
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