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James 1:1-8 Review: ● The book of James is one of the most intensely practical books in the Bible. “Practical” because of its demands for a faith (belief system) which is authenticated through lifestyle. * James desires for his fellow believers a faith that is “perfect and complete, needing nothing”; a faith that is able to meet any challenge (that speaks to every aspect of our lives… even suffering). * Discussion on the topic of adversity, in its various forms, makes no sense outside the realm of “experience” (it’s not fully grasped in a lecture on the subject) and is even more confounding outside of a relationship with God (at least faith offers some explanation; it doesn’t ignore human suffering or deny its presence in our lives). * We must be cautioned, I think, to not allow our conclusions about God and adversity to be ‘premature’. The conclusions we draw about God and adversity are not easily reached; in fact, they are forged over a lifetime. * Our views are often distorted by… … the unpredictability of suffering (it happens at the most inconvenient times!) … the often apparent senselessness of our suffering (absence of perspective), … the inner-turmoil we experience as we attempt to determine God’s role in all of this, … unrealistic expectations (of God and life). * James’ comments are not meant to diminish human suffering nor minimize the pain associated with adversity, but to present it as an unavoidable aspect of life in a ‘broken’ world.
1 Peter 4:12
Proverbs 17:3
Isaiah 48:10 Do you get the feeling that this is one of those obligatory bible sayings; one of those things that no one really believes, but feels obligated to say. In fact, “joy” and “trial” seem so irreconcilably disconnected that we cannot even consider them in the same breath (one naturally negates the other!) Not just ‘joy’, but ‘great (pure) joy’! Not the ‘Put on a happy face and pretend everything’s OK’, joy! That’s not being joyous, that’s being delusional! (out of touch with reality). Good faith puts us ‘more in touch’ with reality; it makes us more aware. Reflections… ►Faith is the ability to look honestly at your confusing and often painful life-circumstance and see something else! * Suffering, in and of itself, is not a virtue; it has no redeeming value and no ability to add value to your life on its own. It’s only value appears to be in the opportunity that it provides. * Herein lies the chance for maturity (wholeness)… finding joy in unexpected places. The reason we don’t typically find joy in adversity is because we are not looking! (i.e. Why is it that we find lost items in the least obvious place? Because it’s the last place that we would look; we wouldn’t expect to find it there; it doesn’t make sense). * But, even though it’s not the most obvious place, maybe it’s the best possible place to find it! Romans 5:1-5 “Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us – they help us learn to endure (unwillingness to attempt to change our circumstance). And endurance develops strength of character in us (where we change even if our circumstances don’t), and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us (because our expectations have been refined). For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love (it’s our resolve to trust God which births hope. It’s fearlessly offering ourselves to one so stubbornly committed to us)”. Illustration: New car smell Remember your first new car? The lengths to which you went in order to preserve it; to ensure that nothing adverse happened to it. Your expectation was that as you pampered it and garaged it that you could maintain that flawless exterior forever. You positioned it out in the most remote recesses of the parking lots (take the shuttle into the store), convinced that no one can compromise it there. Having done all that, you encounter the dreaded ‘flying projectile’ from the roadway. * Maybe a degree of our frustration and disillusionment was created by the unreal expectations that we developed as ‘new car owners’. * I often find that we attach the label ‘faith’ to our own expectations and then anticipate that God will accommodate us. When those expectations are not met, we conclude that faith doesn’t work! ►Our expectations rarely exceed our experience. * Everyone has a philosophy of life which we utilize to interpret various life-circumstances. Unfortunately, these philosophies are usually formulated outside the realm of experience (i.e. philosophies about parenting prior to having children). * The only way that your expectations will result in hope (which will not disappoint you) is if your expectations are realistic (in keeping with reality). * When our conclusions about life prove to be accurate, our theories become convictions (fortified beliefs) which will determine the course of our actions (convictions are less likely to be compromised). * From what I gather from the Scriptures, the “blessed life” seems to be the life that ‘works’ (functional belief). It’s the stability that one enjoys when their beliefs are put to the test and proven to be relevant and reliable. Such faith results in a steadiness that need not be ‘sheltered’ from the harsh realities of life, but allows us to navigate successfully through them! ►We spend an inordinate amount of time trying to avoid adversity. When we were initiated into faith in Christ, we presumed that life would always be characterized by the career path of our dreams, a steady flow of liquid assets, periodic advancement; a marriage that would never lose its vitality; bodies that would carry us into retirement with no threat of weakening or life-threatening illness. What do we do if our expectations are not met? 1) Be certain that your expectations are realistic. 2) Expect more! ►Faith is not about eliminating expectations, but expecting more! The objective is not to just concede to life, but to expect that our faith actually broadens the possibilities. Without faith (availability of interaction with the ‘other’- God), our experience IS our reality. ►The ‘blessed life’ is not one that is void of adversity, but one that endures it. Very little significant growth happens in our lives apart from adversity. There are some aspects of our faith development which are only realized through suffering. * Crisis has a way of exposing you like nothing else can. It quickly reduces us; it prioritizes our lives in a way that success cannot. It stops us in such a way that we are forced to consider where all of our activity has been leading us. It awakens us; makes us aware of the current condition of our faith and all the components which make up our current faith. * Suffering has a way of stripping away all the excess from our faith (all the theory; all the misconceptions; all that lacks substance). God’s desire in this is not to extract any remaining remnants of faith, but to leave us with a faith that is more authentic. ►You will often be asked to trust (believe) beyond what you believe you are currently able to handle. It may mean that your faith, in its current condition, is inadequate for the challenge, but expect more grace! ►I get this feeling that grace (as divine influence on the heart), although sometimes not excessive, is always enough! 2 Corinthians 12:9 “Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness’.” ‘sufficient’- (Gr) to be possessed of unfailing strength; to be strong, to suffice, to be enough.
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