Life in our household has been difficult over the past several months. My employment is precarious, my salary has been cut, our dishwasher sprung a leak, and my son fell ill over the weekend.
Of all those things, my son’s illness was the most troubling. He’s had a fever off and on and we chalked it up to teething. Yesterday morning, however, he was very feverish and we could tell it was time to take him to the doctor. Long story short, the unnamed HMO said that his insurance was suspended. Not sure why the appointment center couldn’t have told us this before wasting our afternoon. As a side note: you think government healthcare is a step in the right direction? Believe me, it’s not.
After spending half the day gathering up the necessary paperwork, my son was able to get into the doctor today. Gratefully, they told us the cause of his misery: an ear infection.
This morning, he was inconsolable. I have to say that I’ve not cried out to God before like I did this morning. When you don’t have health insurance–for all intents and purposes, this morning he did not–you get to a place to where you have no idea what to do. Perhaps that is a lesson that God has spent nearly 40 years to get me to realize that the only insurance we need is Him! It was a reminder that even with insurance, God is our assurance in times of trouble.
Thus, today, I was lead to James.
The Purpose of Trials
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. –James 1:2-3.
Some translations start this as “count it all joy.” Either way, this has always been something so difficult for me, personally. Note that it does not say “feel all the joy,” or “just enjoy.” No, it is to be a conscious decision to consider it all joy in spite of how we feel.
And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. –James 1:4.
I can sense that I’m only now starting to learn this lesson as I approach 40. Maybe I’m finally getting it? Lord knows none of us are “perfect.” But that’s not what the verse is implying. The word is meant to convey spiritual maturity.
“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” –Matthew 5:48.
The Greek word used here and in James 1:4 is τέλειος or “teleios.” It means “wanting nothing necessary to completeness,” or “mature,” as the rest of the verse in James 1:4 says: “lacking in nothing.”
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. –James 1:5.
Oh wisdom! More precious than all the riches of the world!
“But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man does not know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living. Pure gold cannot be given in exchange for it, nor can silver be weighed as its price.” –Job 28:12-13, 15.
More than anything else right now I’m begging God for wisdom in all things that are affecting my family.
But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” –James 1:6-8.
God isn’t demanding absolute, undoubting faith. I think that’s what most faith-healers and prosperity preachers would assert. The problem with that is you tend to have faith in faith and not faith in God. In Mark, we read of the father who wanted Jesus to heal his child. Obviously he knew Jesus could heal his child otherwise he wouldn’t have asked. The father says to Jesus: ”But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” (Mark 9:22). Watch what Jesus replies back to him:
And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” –Mark 9:23-24.
The phrase in James 1:8, “double-minded” is δίψυχος in Greek, or “dipsychos” which means “two souls.” In other words, it’s like having divided allegiance. Jesus spoke of such a division:
Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand.” –Matthew 12:25.
Back to James:
But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away. –James 1:9-11.
Here again is another verse about the futility of riches an an indictment of the prosperity gospel. James clearly states that we of “humble circumstances” should glory in our high position. We are not of this world! We aren’t home! Why would we desire to have our creature comforts now? Nothing this world can offer what is in store for the believer in Jesus!
Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. –James 1:12.
My hope is that God is polishing my crown of life right now. That is my desire. I don’t want a crown right now, I want the crown of life when I meet my Redeemer face-to-face! I want Him to be able to say to me:
“Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” –Matthew 25:21.
Is God polishing your crown right now?
May He Increase!
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