The Foundation for Testing James 1:2-4

The Foundation for Testing

James 1:2-4

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Consider it pure joy ...whenever you face trials
After a brief introduction James wastes no time getting to the point of his letter.  He immediately challenges his fellow Jews to consider their current situation of persecution (trials) with a joyful heart.  If we are honest we would admit that feeling joy in the middle of trials and trouble is not normal…. and its not!  To rejoice in difficult times takes a conscious effort for the believer, ...but it is possible.  The question I am asked most is this: “How do I have joy in trials?”  The answer lies in seeing beyond the trial.  When looking beyond the trial and understanding what the trial is doing (in this case bringing about maturity) you are enabling yourself to experience a certain level of joy.  Also remember that joy is more than happiness or temporary exhilaration.  One can experience joy in the most difficult times.  

Some time ago I was dealing with constant pain because of a severe ankle injury.  The diagnosis required I have ankle fusion surgery due to the erosion of cartilage in my joints. The procedure would require five screws to be inserted to secure the repaired joint.  My response to the thought of surgery was not a happy one.  I did not high five my friends or throw a party.  But, on the other hand, there was a sense of joy present when I looked beyond the problem.  I recognized the next eight weeks in a cast would be tough, the following physical therapy would be difficult, but in the end my ankle problem would be resolved and I could get back to a normal lifestyle. By looking beyond the painful period of the trial and toward the end result of the trial, I experienced a sense of joy.  As I look back on the event I continue to look at the entire experience with satisfaction and joy.

As we continue, notice the text did not say to have joy “if” we face trials, but “when” we face trials.  The NIV Bible uses the word “whenever” here but the original context tells us that trials will come.  In the original Greek language the word for trial here is a word that means to test something in order to make it stronger.  A simple example would be a young bird testing its wings as it learns to fly.  The same idea applies to the Christian as we are tested by God to build us into stronger and more mature believers.

I love what William Barclay, in his Daily Study Bible series on the book of James, writes on facing trials:

“...they are not meant to make us fall; they are meant to make us soar.  They are not meant to defeat us; they are meant to be defeated.  They are not meant to make us weaker; they are meant to make us stronger.  Therefore we should not bemoan them (be sorrowful); we should rejoice in them.”

Because you know...
The reason we are to have joy when we face trials is because we “know” God is sending the trials and we “know” God is using trials to make us stronger.  The word “know” here implies understanding the purpose for the trial.  Trials are sent by God to test our faith and develop perseverance in our spiritual life so we can be more effective in our witness and works.

Trials are used to test your faith.  The word testing here is the Greek word “dokimion” (pronounced dok-im-ee-on) and it means to prove the genuineness of something.  The word was often used to describe the purification process of metal.  When metal is heated up to liquid form the impurities in the metal would float to the top where they are scooped out leaving the metal in its purest form.  The same idea applies to the believer as God tests us through trials and works out the impurities from our spiritual lives. 

The apostle Peter used the same word for testing (dokimion) in 1 Peter 1:6-7 where he wrote: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These (trials) have come so that your faith, of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire (dokimion), may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

God tests our faith to prove it is genuine, to strengthen it, and to purify it.  He wants to remove all sources of sin, fear, and distrust so our relationship with Him can be as strong as possible.  So why is the focus of God’s trials directed at our faith?  Because your faith is the foundation of your relationship with God. 

The result of this testing of your faith is it will produce what the NIV Bible calls perseverance.  Other Bible translations have called it patience or endurance, but the original Greek word describes it as “cheerful endurance, standing firm, unshaken, and firmness of mind.”  A mature believer can demonstrate these qualities when trials, enter their life.  How do you feel you would handle the loss of your job right now?  What if your car would get stolen?  How would you handle life if you came home and your house had caught fire and burned to the ground?  How would you respond to such events?  Many Christians have faced these very same trials.

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Trials are sent by God to test and build our faith.  These trials develop our perseverance and bring about three things in the life of the believer:

1. They make the believer mature.  Why is it important for the believer to be mature?  Ephesians 2:10 explains it best, “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. “   God has prepared specific “good works” for every believer.  He has prepared them in advance, saving these good works... waiting for you to become mature enough to accomplish them. 
2. They make the believer complete.  The idea here is to be fully developed.  The maturing process is removing all weakness and imperfections allowing the believer to be completely equipped for service to God.  Do you feel complete?  Do you feel completely equipped for service? 
3. The believer will not lack anything.  You are probably thinking this is impossible… that you will always be lacking in something when it comes to serving God.  The real question is this: Do you believe God’s word, God’s promises?  It is clear in this passage that the maturing process will make the believer mature, complete, and not lacking anything.  The real question is will you allow God’s process to work in your life.

Note that perseverance “must finish its work” in order for these three qualities to flourish within the believer.  So, what would hinder, or prevent, perseverance from finishing its work?  I believe the key is whether we you accept trials with joy and recognize God working in your life.  Many will whine, complain, and respond negatively to trials, which in turn defeats the process of maturing.  How do you think most believers respond to trials? 

References: 
The Berean. (n.d.). The Berean: James 1:2-4. Retrieved from http://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Home.showBerean/BereanID/2293/James-1-2-4.htm

God’s Provision for Testing James 1:5

God’s Provision for Testing

James 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault…

Facing trials with the proper attitude is a difficult thing to do and God understands this.  It is hard to accept trouble in our lives, it is hard not to complain or let trials drain away your faith and trust in the Lord.  But God, who knows you better than you know yourself, has provided specific help for you.  God wants to give you wisdom to help deal with the trials.

Wisdom from God brings knowledge and understanding to the trial.  It is a source of strength to help you maintain the proper perspective and attitude while going through the trial.  Wisdom brings the ability to maintain joy and perseverance so the maturing process can be accomplished in your life.

The best part about getting this wisdom is that it is free… all you have to do is ask for it.  The first thing a true believer should always do when trials come into his or her life is pray.  The Lord does not want you to fail (yes, you can fail a trial) and he is ready to provide you with the help you need to be successful.  Therefore, your first step toward success and maturity is to understand your need for God’s help. 

God gives this wisdom generously, or liberally (KJV), when asked for.  God wants you to succeed in facing trials and is prepared to give more than enough needed to be victorious.  Remember God’s goal is to bring about maturity in his children, so equipping them for success fits perfectly within God’s character and plan.

God also gives without finding fault in us.  If you have failed trials in the past God will not withhold or limit the gift of wisdom.  He doesn’t hold a grudge or keep score of your mistakes.  He does not give it reluctantly or question your track record with previous trials.  No, He gives liberally to all without finding any fault or reason not to help you.  Remember... God loves you, wants the best for you, and equips you to succeed.

The Consequences of Unbelief James 1:6-8

The Consequences of Unbelief

James 1:6-8

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt...

When you see the word “but” in Scripture it almost always describes a change of direction or a comparison of some sort.  Here we see a change in direction as James describes the responsibility of the believer.  God has committed Himself to the responsibility of giving you wisdom in trials, but you have the responsibility of asking Him for it and you have the responsibility of believing He will give it to you.

There are two kinds of belief… 1) a head knowledge, or intellectual belief, and 2) a heart knowledge that penetrates the very soul and changes the way you live your life.  This heart felt belief affects your conduct, every day life decisions, and even your relationships with others.  Intellectual belief says that God exists, but a heart belief brings salvation and a personal relationship with God. Intellectual belief can make you a religious person, but a heart belief will make you a righteous person.  Intellectual belief can make you a Pharisee, but a heart belief will make you a child of God.  James 2:14-25 tells us this intellectual belief gives you dead faith, but a heart belief will create a living faith that demonstrates itself through a holy lifestyle. You must believe with all your heart that God will do what he promises and pour out wisdom, liberally, into your life.  The consequence of unbelief described in this text is not a form of punishment from God, but the result and natural consequences of our own sin. 

...because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

Unbelief attacks and destroys the relationship between God and the believer.  It is a barrier of doubt keeping us from experiencing the joy, peace and power of God in our lives.  Unbelief blocks prayer and shuts down the righteous deeds of the Christian.  Doubt is a powerful tool of Satan and he uses it all too well to bring your relationship and faith to a dead stop.

James uses word pictures to describe the person who is filled with doubt.  First he says the man who doubts “is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”  Have you ever been to the beach and watch the waves roll onto the seashore and then slide back again.  As kids my friends and I would try to withstand the push of the waves as the rolled in.  Most of the time the wave would push us back several steps, knocking us off balance. The idea here is that the water of the ocean is powerful and never at rest... it constantly moves back and forth, powerfully moving in and back out again.  The man who doubts is like the waves of the sea, never content, never stable, always moving into a relationship with God and then out again.  Thanking God one moment, angry with God the next.  Living for God one day, living for self the next.  Often, trials are at the heart of this wavering attitude.  

James uses the wind to describe the trials that enter our lives and push us off our feet.  Jesus used the same idea of wind (to describe trials) attacking our faith in His sermon on the mount.  Matthew 7:24-27 tell us, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Doubt and disbelief erode the very foundation of our faith and James says “that man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord”.  Again… this is not a punishment from God, it is the sin of the believer causing him to be a “double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”  The sin of disbelief causes you to literally have two minds.  One mind trusting in your own abilities while the other wants to trust God.  They are constantly in battle with each other, causing the man to be “blown and tossed” by every circumstance.  Another effect of being double minded is to be “unstable in all he does”.  Everything the doubting believer does or tries to accomplish is filled with instability.  He is inconsistent, indecisive, always questioning God, questioning every step, paralyzed by fear and doubt.

Look back at some of the trials you have gone through.  Did you pray for wisdom during those trials?  Did you pray at all?  Or, were you complaining about the trial?  I have failed many trials in my life and I can see a distinct difference between the times I prayed through the trial, asking for wisdom, and times I let the trial leave me doubting God.

Dependency on God James 1:9-11

Dependency on God

James 1:9-11

“The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.  But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.  For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant.  Its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed.  In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.”

The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position…

Some Bible teachers say James is moving away from the context of trials to another subject, but a closer look at these verses shows us otherwise.  The phrase “humble circumstances” here is a reference to a person who is poor.  James is saying the Christian brother who is poor economically, who does not have much in life, should take pride in his high position.  The idea behind the phrase “take pride” is the poor person should rejoice.  James’ congregation in Jerusalem had been scattered because of persecution and many of those believers in his church had been poor.  What little they had was left behind as they fled to live in safer areas outside of Judea.  Here James reminds them to rejoice in their trials… and not only rejoice, but to boast in their trials because God has exalted them.

John MacArthur in his sermon titled “From Trouble to Triumph” defines the text in James as meaning: “...if you're poor, you're socially humiliated, you're economically humiliated. Accept that humiliation because poverty is a short-lived trial, it's just for this life. And those who are poor and in Christ have the hope of eternal riches. In other words, don't look to draw joy out of this world, and you'll never be disappointed. If you're looking for your joy in the circumstances of life, you're never going to have true joy. If you attach joy to any earthly possession, any earthly economic status, you miss the point. Accept your humiliation, it's good for you, it keeps your focus where it ought to be and it makes the spiritual realities and the eternal riches all the more precious.” 

...But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position...

Now before you start feeling all warm and gushy inside about feeling a connection with the poverty stricken people James is addressing, let us examine a comparison between the typical poor person in Jesus’ day and the living standards of today.  In biblical times most the average poor person lived in simple one room stone houses with little to no furniture.  Beds would usually be made of straw and covered with a goats hair blanket.  A woven straw mat on the floor would constitute the dining room table.  Homes were heated by burning straw, wood, or dried animal dung.  Most families lived day to day on the wages made working in the fields.  

Compare the poor of Jesus' day to those who are categorized as poor by the United States Census Bureau. According to the Heritage Foundation, "The Census Bureau's poverty report dramatically understates the living standards of low income Americans.  Here is a sample of facts that will not be mentioned in next week's poverty report.  38 percent of the persons whom the Census Bureau identifies as "poor" own their own homes with a median value of $39,200, 62 percent of "poor" households own a car, 14 percent own two or more cars.  Nearly half of all "poor" households have air-conditioning, 31 percent have microwave ovens, and nationwide, some 22,000 "poor" households have heated swimming pools or Jacuzzis."

Sorry to burst your bubble but most of us fall under the category of the wealthy in this passage.  The average “poor person” of today’s society would have been considered very wealthy in the time of Jesus, so this next portion of the verse is more applicable to you and me.  

James reminds the rich person to rejoice also, but instead of rejoicing in the high position God places the poor, the rich rejoice in their low position.  This low position carries the idea that the rich person will not be able to use his or her money to achieve success in Christ.  The rich person rejoices and takes pride in understanding that, even though they have money, they are still utterly dependent on God for his provision.  The trials and testings  sent by God to the rich person will make sure his or her hope is not in earthly riches.

It was a common belief in the Jewish world at the time of Christ that the wealthy had the daily blessing of God while the poor did not.  People actually believed the rich were closer to God and thought He smiled favorably upon them, prospering them, while the poor continued to struggle financially and in need of God’s blessing.  I know a lot of Christians who still lean toward that myth today.  Why do you think so many people, including Christians, desire wealth?  James clearly points out in this passage that whether you are rich or poor you will still be tested by God.  He wants both the rich and the poor to be dependent on Him and His provision.

 ...because he (the rich) will pass away like a wild flower.  For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant.  Its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed.  In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.”

James continues his teaching of this principle by giving an example of how quickly a dependency on money can fail us.  In Israel and several other desert regions of the world there is a condition called the "simoom".  A simoom is a strong, dry, dust-laden local wind that blows in from the desert.  Its temperature can exceed 130°F and the humidity may fall below 10%.  The storm moves in cyclone (circular) form, carrying clouds of dust and sand, and produces a suffocating effect on humans, plants, and animals.  The name means "poison wind" and is given because the sudden onset of a simoom can also cause heat stroke. This is attributed to how the hot wind brings more heat to the body than can be disposed of by the natural evaporation of perspiration.

James references a wildflower hit by this simoom, destroying it in a matter of seconds.  Just as the wildflower can be destroyed so quickly, the rich man’s wealth can disappear just as fast.  His wealth can be gone in an instant… “even while he goes about his business”.  Putting faith in money and possessions is foolish and dangerous.  The Lord wants to build our faith and develop our maturity as a believer.  The end result of maturity in the believer is proven by loosening your grip (need) on money and placing more dependence the daily on God’s provision.

References: 
Grace To You. (1999, February 14). How to Endure Trials, Part 3. Retrieved from http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/90-207/how-to-endure-trials-part-3

Rector, R. (1990, September 21). How "Poor" are America's Poor? Retrieved from http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/1990/09/how-poor-are-americas-poor

God’s Blessing for Persevering James 1:12

God’s Blessing for Persevering

James 1:12

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

James continues within the context of trials and walks us through God’s blueprint for building believers.  Here we find the blessing of God upon those who persevere under the testings of maturity.  The word “blessed” here is the same word used by Jesus in his sermon on the mount (Matthew 5:1-12).  The word describes an inner joy and contentment that is not dependent upon circumstances. 

Blessed, happy,  and cheerful, is the man who perseveres while going through God’s testing.  Why should you rejoice in your trial?  Because when you have stood up to the test, when you persevere through the test, you will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

The crown of life is your eternal salvation.  It is the promise of God to his children, and only God’s children are tested in this manner.  Only the child of God can go through the training ground of faith and maturity.  Only God's adopted children are developed and brought to maturity for future good works prepared for them by God himself. 

The most important question in all of life is this: Are you a child of God?  I did not ask if you believe God exists, nor did I ask if you go to church, or read a bible, or if you perform what you feel are good deeds.  Are you a child of God?  Within this question are certain non-negotiable facts that must be understood.  A child of God has been rescued from the curse, and death sentence, caused by sin.  A child of God has been rescued because Jesus Christ fulfilled the death sentence by dying on a cross.  This act of love by Jesus restores the pathway to God and provides a place in the family of God.  God then seals the deal, and in symbolic form signs the adoption papers, securing the child's future in heaven through His Holy Spirit.  This child will be trained (tested) by God and will receive the crown of life. 

In Romans 10:9 the scriptures tell us, "If you declare with your mouth,'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."  To declare with your mouth and believe in your heart also requires certain non-negotiables.  Remember our earlier discussion on head belief versus heart belief (Ref: The Consequences of Unbelief - James 1:6-8)?  The same understanding applies here.  Heart belief always takes some form of action.  To become a child of God one must take action.  Here are the action steps that enable you to declare "Jesus is Lord" from your heart.  

Step One: The first step before declaring Jesus is Lord is to admit you are a sinner.  This is not an admission that you have done "some things wrong in life" but an admission that everything you have done in life is sinful and worthless to God.  Yes, I said everything.  Every good deed you think you have done was worthless and tainted by selfishness.  Therefore, admitting you are a sinner is not easy, but necessary in becoming a child of God.  Admitting you are a sinner attacks the core of your humanity... it attacks your pride, your self-worth, and strikes down any value you thought you had in life.

God made this clear when he said, "There is no one righteous (sinless), not even one; there is no one who understands (the consequences sin has brought about); there is no one who seeks God (to remedy this sinful state).  All have turned away (from God), they (the unsaved) have together become worthless (corrupted and unable to be used by God for His work); there is no one who does good (deeds that qualify as righteous), not even one" (Romans 3:10-12).  Isaiah 64:6 describes how God views the good deeds of an unsaved person saying, "All of us have become like one who is unclean (stained by sin), and all our righteous acts (perceived good deeds) are like filthy rags."

Admitting you have lived a sinful life empties yourself of everything you thought had value and prepares you to be filled with something else.  God says, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws" (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

Step Two:  The second step before declaring Jesus is Lord is to "believe in your heart that God raised him (Jesus) from the dead" (Romans 10:9).  Once again, there is more to this than simple intellectual head knowledge.  Let me explain it this way.  Most people recognize the name John Madden.  He is a former NFL player, coach, and commentator who is also widely known for the long-running "Madden NFL" video game series.  What you may not know is that John Madden has a fear of flying and will not get onto an airplane.  Instead he travels for business events in his legendary motor home.  Notice how his beliefs about flying dictate how he lives.  The same concept applies in our understanding of the biblical text.  What we believe in our hearts will dictate the way we live.

To believe God raised Jesus from the dead implies several things.  First, it implies we believe Jesus was without sin, yet falsely accused, arrested, and crucified on a cross.  Second, it implies Jesus had the power to stop His crucifixion at any time, but willingly allowed Himself to be crucified as part of God's plan to rescue us from our sinful condition.  Thirdly, Jesus literally died in our place.  He paid the price, or penalty, of sin so we would not have to.  Jesus took every sin we have committed... and every sin we will ever commit in the future upon himself.  He took our punishment, our death sentence in our place.  Jesus did this because he LOVED you.

During His last moments on the cross Jesus said, "'It is finished.' With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit" (John 19:30).  His part of the plan was finished as he took our death sentence, and now God the Father would step in to finalize the process.  God's plan extends beyond physical death and the grave.  His plan is to adopt you as His child and place you in His family.  God wants you to be with Him in heaven long after your life on earth.  With this in mind God raised His son Jesus back to life to establish victory over the death curse brought about by sin.  Do you believe... in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead?  If you do, your belief must be accompanied by action, which leads us to the final step.

Step Three: Believing in your heart must be followed by action.  Our original text stated you must "declare with your mouth Jesus is Lord" (Romans 10:9).  To "declare" means to proclaim something publicly.  Once again we must understand to believe in our heart requires action, but we must understand what the phrase "Jesus is Lord" means.

Let us use another example to explain the text.  Imagine a king's throne... the chair he sits in that symbolizes his power and authority over his kingdom.  Before we become a child of God we sit in this chair, symbolically, as we choose to live our lives the way we want.  Each of us dictates what we want to do, how we will live, what we will spend our money on, who we will love, and who we will hate.  We are the Kings, or Queens, of our lives and no one can tell us how we should live.  Have you noticed how many commercials, billboards, movies, or interviews are promoting this message in today's society?

To declare "Jesus is Lord" forces you to get off your throne of life and hand it over to Jesus.  You are willingly allowing Jesus to be your "Lord" which means master.  Remember the word "doulos" used by James in the introduction to this study (Ref: Who's the Boss? James 1:1).  He understood this concept and proclaimed Jesus is Lord of his life.  Are you ready to proclaim Jesus as Lord of your life?

Declaring Jesus as Lord involves one last action.  You must confess, or admit, your sinful condition to God.  He already knows you are a sinner.  What God wants is your agreement with Him on this matter.  From a heart belief you are admitting this: 1) God, I agree with you that I am a sinner and I am deserving of death.  2)  God, I agree with you that nothing I have done qualifies as good or righteous and therefore, nothing I have done gives me the right to think I deserve to go to heaven.  3)  God, I agree with you that Jesus lived a sinless life and freely, of His own choosing, died on a cross in my place.  He took all my sins upon Himself because He loved me. 4)  God, I agree with you that you defeated the sin curse of death by raising Jesus back to life.  5) God, I humbly ask for you to make me one of your children and I willingly give up my throne to become your (doulos) servant and live for you.  

The truth behind your declaration will reveal itself in the way you live hereafter.  Please do not think you will live a perfect life after this declaration, but understand you must strive for perfection and seek forgiveness when you fail.  This is why God brings trials into your life.  Once you have given your life to Him, God begins the process of maturing you and developing you for works He has planned for you.

References:
Provost, A (Photographer). (2013, March 23). John Madden's Awesome Bus [digital image].  Retrieved from http://busdigest.blogspot.com/2013/03/farewell-to-john-maddens-awesome-bus.html.

A Final Warning James 1:13

A Final Warning

James 1:13

When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone

James closes out this section of God’s blueprint for building believers with a final warning.  He reminds us that God is only interested in bringing out the best in us and would never tempt us to sin.  So ask yourself an important question, “Can I fall into sin while going through a trial sent by God?”  The answer is YES!  Even though God’s intention to build your faith through trials is something good, you can still fall into sin by your attitude and response to the trial.

Philippians 2:14-15 says, “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.”

Let us review the situation.  God sends a trial into your life to mold you into a mature and complete believer, not lacking anything.  This would be a good thing God is doing, so he asks you to demonstrate a heart of joy as you go through the testing.  He promises to give you wisdom to help with the trial and promises a blessing once you have gone through the trial.  BUT… you struggle in the trial and begin to grumble and complain.  You have no joy, you have a bad attitude, you are not praying through the trial.  The trial overwhelms you and deep down you become angry with God about the trial.  Did God cause you to sin?  Is it God's fault you have failed the faith building test?

Something very similar happened to the Apostle Peter.  Take some time to re-read the story in Matthew 14:22-33 before continuing into the next section of our study.

Peter and the other disciples experienced a trial while on a boat in the Sea of Galilee as a sudden storm pushed them far from the shoreline.  It was dark and they were all afraid.  The wind and waves pounded their boat. They became exhausted from trying to row back to the shore when all of a sudden they saw something walking towards them on the water. The disciples became terrified thinking the figure was a ghost, not recognizing it was Jesus.  "But Jesus immediately said to them: 'Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.'”  Once Peter realized it was Jesus, he asked, "Tell me to come to you on the water" and Jesus replied, "Come."  So Peter stepped out of the boat and onto the water.

Now, ask yourself this question: Why would Peter get out of a perfectly good boat in the middle of a raging storm?

Peter did not sit down in the boat, cross his arms, and complain about why Jesus did not come sooner.  He did not complain the other eleven disciples weren't rowing as hard as he was.  Peter did not give up.  Instead, he decided it was safer in the water, in a raging storm, with Jesus than it was with his fellow disciples in the boat.

When a trial begins to feel overwhelming you have only two choices to make.  You can either step away from God or step towards Him.  Stepping away from God means you will endure the test alone and in your own strength.  This choice usually ends with complaining, anger, and frustration.  Stepping toward God means you will seek His wisdom and strength to endure the trial.

Now back to Peter.  He steps out of the boat and onto the water... his eyes on Jesus as he walks toward Him. Then all of a sudden Peter takes his eyes off Jesus and "when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!'”  Jesus immediately reaches out and catches Peter asking him, "Why did you doubt?"  

There is a lesson here.  Peter took his eyes off Jesus and focused his attention on the raging storm.  He let fear enter his life which resulted in his doubting of Jesus' power over all things.  Hebrews 12:2 reminds us to fix our eyes on Jesus because He is the author and finisher of our faith.  Remember, this entire study in the book of James is about faith building.  If you find yourself complaining, angry, frustrated, or overwhelmed by a trial, check to see if you have placed you focus on the trail itself instead of the One who sent the trial.  Turn to prayer and ask for wisdom, and strength, and perseverance.  Ask others to pray for you.  Dive into the Word of God and remind yourself of God's sovereignty and power.

When we fail a trial we must not blame God.  James says when you are tempted, which is another word for tested, no one should accuse God of leading them into sin.  Why?  Because God’s character has two great truths in regards to this matter: 1) God cannot be tempted, or tested, by evil.  James is saying it is impossible for God to be tempted, or influenced to do evil; and 2) God does not tempt anyone do to evil.  God will never tempt you to sin.  His desire is to test and build your faith but if you sin in the process it is not God's fault... you simply failed the test.  The good news is this...God forgives sins and will always reach out to catch you.

The True Source of Temptation to Sin James 1:14

The True Source of Temptation to Sin
James 1:14

"...but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed."

If God is not the source of our sin temptation then where did it come from?  James reminds us the source of our temptation can be Satan, but often comes from ourselves, ...from our own desires.  As believers we know we have been saved and become new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) but we still live in what the Bible calls “the sin nature” (Romans 7:21-25), or “the flesh” (KJV; ASV), meaning as long as we live in a body born to sin we will still battle the desire to sin. 

Let me give you a very simple example to explain the desires stemming from our flesh.  I have often tried to lose weight and eat healthy.  I also enjoy ...really enjoy eating ice cream.  As a matter of fact I just had ice cream last night!  We all know ice cream clashes with weight loss and healthy eating, so I decided to stop eating ice cream.  After a few days without ice cream, something inside my body started crying out for ice cream.  This is called a craving. In my mind I know ice cream is not going to help me reach my healthy goals, but the cravings began to grow and overtake any concept of common sense.  The cravings grew stronger and I began to rationalize saying to myself, "A little bit of ice cream will not hurt me."   All of a sudden I found myself eating ice cream and my goals of healthy eating were "rescheduled" for another time.  Sin, in the same way, causes us to step away from God and choose rationalized, temporary alternatives, to resolve or endure trials.

There are some key phrases we need to understand here in James’ explanation of how we are tempted.  First we are tempted when a person “is dragged away”.  This term is defined as a baited trap that lures you in close to the sin.  What happens when a hungry mouse smells peanut butter on a mouse trap?  The aroma fills his nose and his mouth begins to salivate as he "dragged away" from the safety of his nest toward the danger.  The second term James uses is the word “enticed” which is the second stage of the trap. The mouse comes upon the trap and his mind can’t focus on anything but the food.  He wants it so badly that he is “enticed” to come closer to the trap.  It would be nice to say the mouse still has a chance to change his mind, but the power of the craving has cast all sense of caution to the wind, and the choice has already been made.  Sadly, we are not different from the mouse when it comes to these "evil desires".

We all have forms of desires, or weaknesses within us.  Do you know what your weaknesses are? Internet pornography, alcohol, and drug use have become an increasing craving for many people in today's society.  According to JF Men, a christian ministry website, pornography is a serious problem among both men and women. Consider the statistics below:

The web article also reveals:

• The average American is exposed to over 14,000 sexual images and message each year.
• According to Google, sex and porn are both in the top 6 of most searched terms.
• 43% of addictions start during the teenage years, yet 75% of parents have never discussed pornography with their children.
• 88% of porn scenes include physical aggression & abuse.  This is warping teenager’s minds of sexual intimacy and creating a war zone in the dating world for teenage girls.

Additionally, according to statistics from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, most teens have turned to other sources to deal with problems in today's society.
 

This does not include other addictive types of activities including video games, sports, food, sexting, and social media, etc.  There are many, many, things drawing us away from the Lord and preventing us from learning through the trials God sends.  People are not maturing and growing in their faith.

Our society is in desperate need of Christian role models and mentors.  Our children need to see adults who reject the cravings of the world and cling to Christ.  They need to see, first hand, believers who have found victory over trials and temptations.  They need to see that prayer works, studying the bible is profitable, and a relationship with God is better than anything this world can offer.   

Can one person change the world?  Many would answer, "No" to the question, but we are asking the wrong question.  The real question is, "Can God change the world?"  And, the answer is a resounding yes.  You and I need to focus on our part, as a servant of God, working in the area of ministry He has placed us in.  Jesus focused his attention on twelve disciples and kept the majority of His travels between Galilee and Judea.  Who has God given you to focus on?  Who are you influencing? 

Chuck Swindoll said this on the question of making a difference in today's society:  

"One person cannot beat the odds. There will always be more to reach than time or energy or commitment can provide. But the truth is that each one of us can touch a few. How wrong we would be to stop helping anyone because we cannot help everyone. Don't panic. Count on the Lord to honor and multiply even your smallest efforts. Last time I checked, He was still rewarding faithfulness" (2015, para. 5-6).

References

JF Men. (n.d.). Pornography | JF Men. Retrieved from https://jfmen.org/pornography/

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcholism. (2015). Underage drinking. Retrieved from pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/UnderageDrinking/UnderageFact.htm

Swindoll, C. R. (2016, March 26). You can make a difference. Retrieved from http://www.insight.org/resources/daily-devotional/individual/you-can-make-a-difference-1

The Danger of Sin running its Course - James 1:15

The Danger of Sin running its Course
James 1:15

“Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

What happens when we do not deal with sin in our life?  James gives us a picture of the sin process when left unattended.  Just as a child is conceived in the womb...sin is conceived in the heart.  Sin doesn’t happen by accident, instead, it is almost always a conceived and premeditated plan.

Sadly, marital infidelity has permeated our society and our churches.  Consider a married man who lustfully looks at a coworker.  He sees her day after day allowing his mind to fantasize about her giving birth to desire.  He thinks he is okay because he hasn’t done anything... hasn’t taken any action toward his thoughts.  Jesus, in his sermon on the mount (Matthew 5:27-28) reminds us how sin begins in the heart long before the action takes place.  "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."  This is why Proverbs 4:23 tells us, “Above all else, guard your heart…” 

Getting back to our example... the man succumbs to his desires, putting them into action.  He begins to flirt with her, again justifying himself that no sin has been committed, but James tells us this action is the birth of sin.  Desire conceived in the heart gives birth to sin in the form of action.  Let's be honest with ourselves.  Why is the man flirting?  He is seeking a response from the woman, a sign of approval, something to give him permission to proceed to the next step in fulfilling his desires.  Just as a newborn baby begins to grow so does the act of sin.  As the flirting increases the man begins to spend more time with the woman.  Please remember this same sin pattern can develop in women. "Most statistics found that about 50 to 60 percent of women admitted to having an affair" (Penn, 2012, para. 6).

Just as a baby will grow up into a full-grown adult, the sin pattern will also mature until it becomes full grown.  The man pursues his ultimate desire to have a sexual encounter with the woman…which was the conceived fantasy from the start, and his sin becomes full grown, or complete.  

The aftermath of sin can be devastating.  James’ describes the final state of sin as giving "birth to death.”  The moment a baby is born, his or her (physical) life timeline begins and will end in death at some point in the future.  Because of sin, the baby is also also placed on a spiritual timeline that will end with eternal separation from God ...unless the gift of salvation intervenes.  This sin curse has been passed along from the baby's father, and every father throughout history since Adam and Eve (Romans 5:12).  The end result is every person born on earth will die.  Sin, when left to become full grown (without Christ), will end in spiritual death.

This passage is not teaching a person will lose their salvation if they commit a sin.   Remember James is dealing with many people in his church who are not truly saved.  Some in his Jewish congregation are clinging to their incorrect view of being God's chosen people.  James is warning these “pretenders” in his church about spiritual death, an eternity without God.  He wants to point these pretenders, these unsaved individuals in his church, to the only answer, to Jesus Christ, who can save them from the path of death and the sin curse.  

So what happens when a believer, secured in his or her salvation, allows sin to become full-grown?  The aftermath of sin can be catastrophic.  Sadly, when it comes to marital infidelity we have all seen, and some have experienced first hand, the result of marital sin.  The consequences of adultery reach far beyond the two individuals involved in the sin.  Spouses feel betrayed, confused, and blaming themselves.  Many wives are left financially destitute.  Children are left wondering why their mother or father do not love them anymore.  The consequences of divorce spread like a wild fire of destruction ...and with some cases even in suicide.

I know of a man ...let's just call him John.  John was married and had two precious little children under the age 8.  He was a prominent and active member of his church, well liked by everyone.  John worked as the principal of a Christian School and fell prey to the devastating effects of sin described by James in this study.  An affair with one of his teachers became public and John, becoming consumed by the shame of his sin, momentarily lost sight of God's forgiveness and his family ...and took his own life.

A recent study by the National Institute for Healthcare Research in Rockville, MD states, "Divorced people are three times as likely to commit suicide as people who are married. The Institute says that divorce now ranks as the number one factor linked with suicide rates in major U.S. cities, ranking above all other physical, financial, and psychological factors" (Borden, n.d., para. 2).

There are many dangers when sin is allowed to run its course.  I ask you consider your life and family when it comes to sin.  I ask that you examine yourself and cling to God, confessing your sins and seeking the forgiveness that God is more than willing to provide.  Left unchecked, your sin can, and will, cause catastrophic pain and suffering to you and those you love.

 

References

Borden, L. (n.d.). Suicide and Divorce. Retrieved from http://divorceinfo.com/suicide.htm

Penn, L. (2012, June 7). Cheating Statistics: Do Men Cheat More Than Women? Retrieved from http://magazine.foxnews.com/love/cheating-statistics-do-men-cheat-more-women

 

God Never Changes James 1:16-18

God Never Changes
James 1:16-18 

“Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers.  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”

Appealing to his church James says, “Don’t be deceived, my dear brother” into thinking God would ever tempt you to sin.  The word deceived here relates to how you are thinking about God and his character.  Don’t let the circumstances of the trial trick you into believing God is tempting you to sin.  Some have allowed themselves to believe God is angry with them and is punishing them by sending trials.  James offers comfort and confidence in God by saying, “Every good and perfect gift is from above.”  The gifts, the blessings, God gives us are always good and always perfect.  Remember, the word “perfect” here is the same word used back in verse 4 where God is making our faith complete.  

God's gifts are never lacking in giving us everything we need.  For example, the gift of salvation is complete... there is nothing more to add to it, nothing that can take our salvation from us. From the day you accepted Christ into your life, your position in God's family and place in His Kingdom has been eternally secured.  I have been graciously blessed by God with the gift of teaching.  

God is the “Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”  God is not only the Father, meaning the Creator of light (Genesis 1:3), but He is light himself.  Psalm 36:9 tells us, “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”  Jesus also proclaimed himself as God in the same manner in John 8:9 when he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  

In contrast to God being light is the image of "shifting shadows.”  When I was a kid I would sit in the shadow, or shade, of a tree to keep cool in the summer.  I would lay down on the grass and close my eyes only to find my shade had moved away.  So I would get up and move back into the shade only to have it slowly move away again and again.  Shadows are always moving.  Another thing to remember is that a shadow is only an image of the real thing.  God is the real thing and He does not change.  There are many things and people in this world we can not trust completely, but we can place our complete faith in God who will not tempt us to sin.  We can also completely trust God to give us blessings that are good and complete.  He is reliable, He can be trusted, He will be there for you every moment of every day.  God does not change (Malachi 3:6).

God chose “to give us birth through the word of truth that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”  It was God’s choice, His decision, His will and desire, to bring salvation into our lives.  He wanted to bring us into His family so much that He even sent His own Son to die and rescue us from our sins. 

God chose to give us birth through the vehicle, or by the means of, “the word of truth”.  In John’s gospel (John 1:1-4) we find a clear picture of how God would give us birth through the word of truth.  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of men.”  Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).  Through Christ we become a type of firstfruits.

We will be a “kind of” meaning a type of “firstfruits” similar to the command God gave the Israelites in Deuteronomy 26:1-15.  They were to bring an offering from their harvest to the Lord.  What made this offering special was the offering was to be from the first produce picked.  These firstfruits of the harvest were considered the best of all the produce picked.  The idea behind the command was to make God first and foremost in their minds and to always bring God the best of what they had to offer before meeting their own needs.  Believers are symbolized by James here in the same way.  We are the first of the harvest (of salvation) and a small picture of how great the total and complete harvest will be once it is complete.  Do you see the picture James is presenting?  A day is coming when the harvest, those being saved, will be complete and the church which often referred to as the bride of Christ will be ready for the her groom.  The church will finally be with the Lord forever.

Are You a Person of Integrity? James 1:19

Are You a Person of Integrity?

James 1:19-20

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.   

Most dictionaries define integrity as a person who lives by moral and ethical principles, a person of good character, and honesty.  But I think a stronger definition is needed to understand biblical integrity.  Integrity in the life of the Believer is when your beliefs match your behavior.  What a Christian believes about God and His Word will be lived out in his or her life ...this is true integrity.

Let me give you an example.  Most Christians would agree that God, through the bible, commands us to attend church (Hebrews 10:25), pray (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), study the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15), and give of our resources/income in service to the Lord (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).  So, ask yourself the hard questions:

• Is God within His rights to ask you to obey these commands?  
• Is Jesus within His rights to proclaim "If you love me, keep my commands" (John 14:15)?
• Do you obey these commands? The path to integrity is to first admit our weaknesses and faults.
• Based on the definition of biblical integrity, how does your behavior line up with your beliefs? 

Most of us, including myself, do not fair well in these self examination tests.  The good news is that God already knows our weaknesses and faults, and He wants to build our integrity through trials.  The Holy Spirit, speaking through James, begins to guide us through the process of building integrity by asking us to develop three character qualities in our lives: 

1. Be quick to listen 
2. Be slow to speak 
3. Be slow to become angry

In the original Greek language the passage begins with a word meaning “wherefore” or “therefore” telling us the context of this passage is connected, in context, to the previous verse.  So let us refresh our memory on what James said back in verse 18, “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.”

Because God gave us salvation (birth) through the word of truth (Jesus), we should (therefore) be quick to listen to what God is telling us, slow to speak our opinions too quickly about what God is telling us, and slow to become angry when we do not like what God is telling us.

Quick to Listen

The concept here is every true believer should be eager to listen to what God tells us in the Scriptures.  In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (ref. Matthew 5:6) he said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness”.  In the Old Testament God commanded the Israelites to have this same sense of eagerness in regards to His laws.  Deuteronomy 11:18-20 says, “So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders.  Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.”

How’s your integrity looking?  Does your behavior towards God’s Word match up with your beliefs? 

Slow to Speak
Some people are always ready to offer opinions on subjects they know very little about.  Those professing to be believers, especially new believers, need to be careful when speaking their opinions about the Scriptures.  No one, even experienced teachers, should think they are an expert in the Word of God without careful consideration of what they are about to say.  James 3:1 reminds us of this, “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”  The idea here is not to be silent, or ever offer an opinion, or never give input in a discussion, but to carefully think over what you want to say before actually speaking out.  There are many who offer opinions in justifying why they do not pray, study, give of their resources, or why they do not attend church.  Some have become highly critical of churches, not realizing they are speaking poorly about the bride of Christ.

I remember being in a Bible study several years ago discussing salvation when one person in our group boldly stated that “all religions lead to heaven!”  I gently reminded the group of Jesus’ own words (John 14:6),  “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  This individual became angry with me for point out the error of his or her thinking and continued to argue the point… thus leading us to the next step of being “Slow to Anger”.

Slow to Become Angry
The Word of God will always challenge us to change our way of thinking, our way of doing things, and our way of living.  As I previously mentioned, I came in contact with an individual who became angry when I pointed out the biblical truth stating Jesus as the only way to heaven.  This person had the opinion that only one way to heaven was narrow-minded and unfair.  I can only assume this person had loved ones who were either not involved in church or following other religions.  We cannot re-interpret scripture to suit our needs.

The type of anger James’ describes in this text is not referring to a physical display of anger, but an anger of the mind.  It means to be indignant, to show anger or annoyance at what you feel is unfair.  It is an argumentative anger that wants to justify its own behavior.  This anger holds a grudge against others, including God, and can express itself in complaining, slander, and gossip, as the individual attempts to persuade others to agree.  I find it troubling how many people have expressed this type of anger against me, as a teacher, when his or her real disagreement is actually with God and His Word.  

God will send trials to develop our ability to be quick to listen to His Word, slow to speak our opinions about His Word, and slow to become angry when we do not agree with His Word.  Biblical integrity is God's goal to make sure what we say we believe actually lines up with how we are living.  How is your integrity?  Maybe it is time we all get down on our knees, admit we are not doing well with integrity, repent of the sin, and ask for wisdom to start growing into the "righteous life that God desires" for us.