I’ve been listening to a Bible study series called “Rebuilding Your Broken World” by Chip Ingram based on James 1. I don’t know about anyone else, but verses 2-4 aren’t exactly the encouraging word I want to hear most of the time: “Count in all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness [perseverance]. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” It would be nice if we were instead promised, “This trial is only temporary, and pretty soon you’ll be past it and things will look brighter.” Unfortunately, Scripture doesn’t promise us short, easily endured trials. But we do have the assurance that our faith will be strengthened if we learn to rely on God in the midst of the trials.
James 1:5 is a verse I tend to overlook most of the time. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him.” Ingram points out four basic steps here: 1) Admit that you’re stuck, 2) Confess that you can’t do it on your own, 3) Ask God for His supernatural wisdom, and 4) Commit to do what He tells you to do. As James explains in verses 6-8, it doesn’t do you any good to ask for God’s wisdom if you have little or no intention of accepting it. You have to align your purpose with God’s, and follow Him single-mindedly.
Ingram points out that one of the reasons we tend not to ask God for wisdom is that we are afraid what He might tell us and that He might condemn us for bad choices we’ve made and lecture us on everything we’ve done wrong. But this verse says He gives “without reproach.” It’s the difference between a child who comes crying and confessing that he broke the cookie jar and the child who arrogantly denies having been anywhere near it. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).
The other issue with pride is that we never get to the point of admitting we can’t do it on our own. And even if we do realize we need help, we tend to turn to anyone and anything else before turning to God. Sure, there is a lot of good, and even godly, wisdom out there that may be helpful, but it’s easy to start relying on that without giving much thought to the Source of all wisdom. As James writes a few verses later, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…” (v. 17). I suspect that a lot of our trials come from our prideful self-sufficiency. God doesn’t generally use vessels that refuse to submit to His purposes, so brokenness is in order.
Some of the questions Ingram asks are ones that I’ve had to ask myself. Does my faith look beyond my present circumstances to that which is permanent and imperishable? Is my focus on my problems or on God’s promises and hope for the future? And is my motivation to find relief or to love God and others no matter what? He states, “Painful and difficult trials provide opportunity for us to express our love to Jesus.” Even if we are not necessarily suffering for Christ (i.e. persecution), we have a choice to either suffer with Him or without Him. If we choose to go through it with Him, we can be vessels of faith, hope and love in a fallen world. Even if we don’t find relief from our trials in this lifetime, our lives will be enriched by our relationship with God and with the people He puts in our path.
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him” (v. 12). May that be the encouragement we need when the trials come!
