Profiting from Wisdom

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like the wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.  James 1:2-8

If you’ve been a Christian long enough, you have probably wondered, how can anyone going through trials rejoice over them? Yet, that is exactly what we are being told by James to do here. Let’s have a closer look. James’ audience was the twelve tribes of Israel, a Jewish people who had been scattered abroad through persecution after the death of Jesus Christ. And its to those believing Jews that he states: Count it all joy—We are constantly faced with temptations. It’s just part of life. And in each temptation there has to be a decision on our part, whether or not we are going to walk in the flesh or to walk in the Spirit. For the root of temptation is any situation that would draw me to the flesh and into a fleshly reaction. I have to choose, will I walk after the flesh? Or will I trust in God and walk after the Spirit? The Greek word for “count” may also be translated “consider” or “evaluate.” The natural human response or tendency is certainly not to rejoice; therefore the believing Christian is being taught to consciously face them with joy. It is with certainty a commitment I make that gives it all back to God in prayer. Then I must with conscious effort, resist taking it all back from God through my worrying over it. How in the world am I going to fix this? What is taking place however, it is my limited understanding of things that causes me to be in a dilemma, yet when I through faith bring all of my burdens to God in prayer (Psalm 55:22), I am leaving them in the hands of the supernatural God. He sees the end of matters in this life from the beginning. Of whom Paul wrote: Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33) The majesty, grandeur, and wisdom of God’s plan revealed in verses 1-32 of Romans chapter 11, caused Paul to burst out in praise. For God’s future plans for Israel, but also to justification by faith. We are bringing ourselves with all our besetting problems to no higher authority. So why then should we be so quick to want to take them back from God and worry over them, as if somehow, I could do better than He could?

Various trials—This Greek word connotes trouble, or something that breaks the pattern of peace in our lives. Whatever opposes our comfort, joy, and happiness in our life or be it in the life of our loved ones. The verb form of this word means “to put someone or something to test,” with the purpose of discovering that person’s nature or quality of self. God brings such tests to prove and increase the strength and quality of one’s faith and to demonstrate its validity. Every trial becomes a test of faith designed to strengthen: if the believer fails the test by wrongly responding, that test then becomes a temptation, or a solicitation to evil. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. (James 1:13-15) It doesn’t ever have to go this far. Be relieved that our sin debt has been paid in full. What we must learn to do, is keep short accounts with the Lord. Confess your sins to God, He shall sustain you in your hour of trial. A reminder for us all!

Testing, Patience—Testing means “proof,” or “proving.” Patience better translated “endurance,” or “perseverance” through these timely trials does a Christian learn to withstand the pressure of a trial by their steadfast position in Christ, until He removes it at His appointed time. For our maturity comes, when we, on this side of the trial, meaning before we even know its outcome, start to pray, “Lord, I know this will end up being for my good, yet I don’t understand it, please help to endure.” We are in need at this time a quality of patience, so often our failure is in waiting upon God. And that is true throughout the Bible. So many in the Scriptures got into more serious troubles because they didn’t wait upon the Lord. This testing of our faith then is certainly not new to God. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing—In regards to perfect, God is not saying, “sinless perfection,” but to spiritual maturity. And that’s the whole purpose of God, is to bring us into a maturity, that we would quit acting like children when we don’t get our way in responding to life’s disappointments.

God wants us to be lacking in nothing. Yet, if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him—We should all be asking for wisdom from God. It is His to disclose for our learning and increase  our ability to understand more and more the will of God for our lives. Now James’ Jewish audience would have recognized the Hebrew meaning behind the word “wisdom.” As  a word to mean “skill to understand,” that was necessary to live life to God’s glory. It was not a wisdom from the world’s philosophical speculation, but the wisdom contained in the pure and peaceable, gentle will of God (James 3:13-17). It is only by the working of the Holy Spirit, and by the believer’s willingness to yield, does this divine wisdom enable us, to be joyous and submissive in the trials of life.

Beloved friend, By faith we approach a holy and righteous God who has enabled us to come boldly to His throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16), where not only to ask God, but to have that expectancy that He will deliver. He will always be on time, and without ever my doubting that He cares for all things that concern me. Knowing this truth, enables me to be asking, seeking, and knocking all the time for the Lord to be at work not just in my life, but in the lives of my loved ones, family members, neighbors, and friends. It is to His glory to reward all those who come to Him in faith, as a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

May the Lord bless your walk with Him.

Author: rontrujillo

Married 37 years We have six children. All of whom are adult. Three are married one of them blessed us with three beautiful grandchildren. Retired Firefighter @ Boeing Aircraft 37 years (Formally McDonnell Douglas) Born Again Summer of 1981 View all posts by rontrujillo