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WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL SERIES: "Just Do It" Part 4
The last few weeks we've been zeroing in on having "pure joy" and contentment in the face of trials of many kinds and the testing of our faith. While it's never easy to persevere through trial, James is asking us to consider an alternative. Rather than giving up and throwing in the towel when adversity comes our way, we are encouraged to persevere, but not without reason or purpose. There is a method to the madness because James tells us to "Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." We persevere "so that" or "in order to" grow stronger, be more mature, complete, and not lacking anything. But that's not all, there's more!
In James 1:14 it says, "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." We get a crown of life! Pretty cool, right? However, I think it is important to point out that we will only be "blessed" or receive a "crown of life" if we persevere or have "stood the test". We don't get a trophy for just showing up. Effort is required. As we'll learn in the next chapter of James, "faith without works or deeds is dead" (James 2:26 NIV). Our deeds or works are how we demonstrate, live out our faith, or "do what the word says" (James 1:22 paraphrased) which if you remember is one of the themes of the book of James. Also there is an another requirement in James 1:14. The "crown of life" only comes "to those who love him". This takes us back to the greatest commandment to love the Lord our God with "all" our heart, soul, mind, and strength. So, this "crown of life" doesn't come easily, but it does come or is promised to those who are faithful.
There is a lot more in James 1 for us to explore, but for now I wanted to jump to James 1:5-8 that immediately follows the passages about perseverance and pure joy in James 1:2-4. James 1:5-8 says, "5If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.6But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do." So, while we're facing trails of many kinds and letting perseverance finish its work, we're going to have questions. We're going to need wisdom to navigate the minefield of adversity, right? Well, James has an answer for that. It's simple. We should "ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you". How do we "ask" or communicate with God? Through prayer and Bible study. Prayer is talking to God and Bible study is the primary way that God speaks to us. 2 Peter 1:3 says, "His (God's) divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." Where does our "knowledge of Him" come from? Only one place. The Bible, not public opinion.
However, there is a BUT there in verse 6. James says, "But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt," Hold up! Are we talking no doubt as in Nada, none, zilch? Remember we're still persevering here. We're not mature and complete lacking nothing yet. We're still cooking or in the process of sanctification. So what is James saying? Is he being literal? No doubts whatsoever? Well, only God knows for sure, but consider this. The Greek word for doubt here is διακρίνω (diakrinó) which means "to distinguish or discern one from another, to waver". To waver is to be undecided. When we have doubts or are wavering, we are usually lacking in confidence or uncertain. While I'm sure there are a few people out there who don't bat an eyelash when they are experiencing trials of many kinds, most have moments of indecision. It doesn't mean we don't believe in God anymore or have lost our faith. We're just struggling in the moment.
For example, in Matthew 26:36-46 Jesus is praying in the Garden of Gethsemane just before his arrest, trial, and crucifixion. He prays three times that His Father would "take this cup from me". The "cup" in this passage is symbolic and it's not about the cup. It's about what's in it or what it's filled with. In Jesus' case this "cup" was filled with suffering and death.
Jesus was God and knew that part of His purpose in becoming human or God incarnate was to be a living sacrifice. He knew all along what was going to happen or how it would all play out. He even warned the disciples that it was coming, and yet it says that He was "sorrowful and troubled". So much so, that in verse 38 Jesus says, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death." Does this mean Jesus was wavering or having doubts? Of course not. Was He overwhelmed in the moment? Absolutely! Remember Jesus was human, and He was getting ready to endure unimaginable suffering. Hebrews 4:15 says, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." Did Jesus succumb to the pressure and temptation in this moment to give up and run away? We know that He didn't. In Matthew 26:42 He says, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." While Jesus may have been overwhelmed in the moment, ultimately He surrendered to His Father's will.
If they were easy, they wouldn't be called trails of many kinds and tests of faith. Just as Jesus was overwhelmed, sorrowful, and troubled, so are we at times. But, that doesn't mean that we have to give up and run away. We don't have to abandon our faith, become double minded or tossed and blown by the winds of public opinion. However, many do turn away. One of the number one reasons for walking away from God is because of suffering. A popular question is "if God is a God of love then why does He allow suffering?" More on that next week.
James 1:5-8 is definitely one of those passages that is difficult to unpack. I will be the first one to admit I don't completely understand it. I can only hope that when I'm overwhelmed by adversity that I will seek the Lord first for wisdom and then persevere. I may wobble, but I won't fall down. Sorry I couldn't help it but the "Weebles Wobble" toy commercial song from the 70's just jumped into my head. Yes, I'm that old and that weird.
"Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16
Have a great weekend!
Robby Morris
Director of Youth and Recreation @ First UMC of Union County
[email protected]
704-942-8769
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