The book of James is a treasure trove of encouragement when it comes to these types of challenges. James is attempting to change our perspective of the testing to what God is
attempting to work into our lives by what is set before us.
James sees an eternal perspective rather than
a temporal one, sure the immediate testing is difficult and seems at times
impossible, but that is where endurance comes into play. Another word for endurance could be “patience”,
which is God’s desired outcome of the testing in the first place.
“Consider it a sheer gift, friends,
when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under
pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So
don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become
mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” James 1:2-4 (MSG)
James was originally
addressing the Church gathering in Roman Judea, where he was overseeing this gathering. James was the brother of Jesus, and he was
known for his faith; he was recognized as a powerful leader, and he was given the
title “James the just.” This letter was
written before AD 62, the year he was killed.
The
importance of this letter from James stands out as an example of courage and
faith put to the test.
Not much had
changed from the days when James first penned this letter, today our society is
plagued with the same types of evils that existed then, corruption, injustice,
and poverty. Even though
our challenges of today may be different in scope and flavor, they are mostly
the same.
“ Anyone who sets himself up as
“religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is
hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God
the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight,
and guard against corruption from the godless world.”
James 1:26-27 (MSG)
James called
it as he saw it and he didn’t mince words, he points out that there are more
than enough opportunities to reach out to those who are homeless and who are displaced and need our help to feel secure in this hostile world.
He also mentions that there are some who are unloved and
forgotten, which need our mercy and compassion, these are important to God, and He
wants us to reach out to them as we are given an opportunity to bless them and extend God's grace.
“Dear friends, do you think you’ll
get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything?
Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For
instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say,
“Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!”
and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does
that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous
nonsense?”
James 2: 14-17 (MSG)
James makes
a point that faith without works is a dead faith, putting our actions where our
words and actions demonstrates that Jesus is alive and working in our lives.
The Holy Spirit will lead us to others who
have a need and will give us provision for them as we are obedient to His voice.
“ Do you want to be counted wise, to
build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live
humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited
ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the
truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from
wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look
better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone
ends up at the others’ throats. Real
wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting
along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and
blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a
healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only
if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other
with dignity and honor.”
James
3:13-18 (MSG)
There are so
many things that can be said about the Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, but from a perspective
of faith, we are given a huge opportunity to share the love of Christ with
others in creative ways that we haven’t before.
As fear has become a response for many to hoard toilet paper and other products
during these past weeks, we can share the peace that passes understanding,
which is the love of Christ to others, that they may know that Jesus loves them and they do not need to be afraid.
This virus is not the end of life as we know it, so their fear is unfounded, and hoarding is unnecessary.
James saw an
opportunity in the challenges and testing that come to us so that we could
allow Christ to form in our lives much more fully, the real challenge becomes
our testimony of the victory that Jesus has afforded us at the cross.
The ultimate goal is eternal life, and what
greater blessing could we give someone than to introduce them to Jesus by the way we live our lives, that others may see the hope that resides within us.
“But dedicate your lives to Christ
as Lord. Always be ready to defend your confidence in God when anyone asks you
to explain it. However, make your defense with gentleness and respect.”
1
Peter 3:15 (GW)
Count it all joy when you fall into different
temptations, knowing this that the testing of your faith works patience (steadfastness
and sustaining perseverance).
Be Blessed;
Stephen
Barnett
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