The Book of James - 4
Facing Troubles
We're looking at some very good advice given to us by James, Jesus' brother in his letter in the New Testament. This time we are going to hear what he has to say about facing troubles. Christians can't escape the troubles that come to all people in one way or another, illness, difficult situations of many kinds and sorrow and bereavements. Our Lord did not say that we should not have our share of these things; they come to us as part of our being human, fallen away from God our Father. What, however, James (and other parts of the Bible) teach us is that these troubles can be a source of good.
James writes: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything", (Chapter 1 verses 2 to 4).
This is startling. He is saying that whenever our faith is tested by trials, small ones or great ones, we should be really glad. I know a couple who, when they receive bad news, look at each other and say "It's all joy". Now this isn't being silly, it's being sensible, because to buckle under trial and to say "Oh, this is terrible, what shall we do?" automatically puts us at a disadvantage. We become open to depression and gloomy thoughts. But if we say, "this bad news can help us to grow more like Jesus, let's see how we can make the best of it" then we mature as Christians. Of course, it depends on whether or not we want to become more like Jesus, mature and complete.
Florence AlIshorn was a Christian lady who went to be a missionary in Africa. When she arrived at the mission station she found that the senior missionary was a difficult person to get on with. Florence was allowed only a tiny room of her own while the senior missionary had all the comforts. One day, a fellow lady worker found her crying about the situation. She asked Florence what was the matter and so Florence told her of her trial.
The lady told Florence that others had come out from England and could not cope with the senior missionary so went home. She challenged Florence: "Do you really believe that Jesus is your saviour, then why are you so depressed". This made Florence repent of her selfishness. Every day for weeks afterwards she read Paul's description of Christian love in 1 Corinthians 13 and so she found joy in her trouble and stayed on as a Christian missionary.
James wants to make it clear that testings can come from God to help us become stronger Christians, but temptations, the same word in the Greek the language in which James wrote, do not come from God. We know the difference between testings and temptations. Testings are to make us stronger, temptations come to us in order to make us do wrong. God may test us, but he never tempts us. James writes: "When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me". For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death", (Chapter 1 verses 13 to 15).
It is our own evil desires that drag us away to do wrong, says James. Adam and Eve, in the story in Genesis, the first book in the Bible, could not blame Satan for putting in their minds to disobey God. Eve did blame Satan and Adam blamed Eve, but it was Adam and Eve's own evil desires that made them want to be as great as God. Satan tried to tempt Jesus to do wrong, but Jesus did not let him drag him away from doing God's will.
So, testings come into our lives and can be used to make us stronger and more faithful Christians, and even give us joy, but temptations come to drag us away to do wrong. The way to counter temptations is to do as Jesus did, cast them away from him, not to let them settle in our hearts. James puts it like this: "Don't allow evil desires to get inside you and grow within you".
Suppose a man is tempted to steal a computer which is lying on the back seat of a car. What he should do is walk right past the car and put the idea out of his mind.
James asks us to remember the great men and women of the past who were patient and persevered in the face of trials and sufferings. He writes: ''Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord", (Chapter 5 verse 10). The prophet Jeremiah was put into a deep underground prison; his words were constantly rejected by his own people; Isaiah, Hosea, and Job had severe trials, but all lived to praise God and count it all joy. James is saying and so can we!
Here are some verses from James on the question of facing suffering:
"Count it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds", (Chapter 1 verse 2).
"The testing of your faith develops perseverance", (Chapter 1 verse 2 again).
"The Lord is full of compassion and mercy", (Chapter 5 verse 11).