Week 15: James 1:4-5

James 1:4,5: And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask God, who gives generously to all and without reproach, and it will be given him.

1. From last week we learned that the testing of our faith produces steadfastness.  What do we do with this steadfastness?  We let it have its full effect, let it work in our lives to become more loyal to God, more devoted, more clingy.  For if we hold fast to God, then we will become perfect and complete.
1. Perfect.  James is telling us (via the Spirit, of course) that we'll become perfect.  This is staggering.  Jesus was the only perfect man to have ever lived, and yet here we see that we can become perfect through our trials.  Sanctification, that is, becoming more like Christ, is one of the purposes of our lives, so that we may give God the glory, and this passage (along with last week's verses) tells us exactly what to expect and how to achieve perfection.  Enduring trials by holding to faith in Jesus yields perfection.
2. Complete.  Alongside our perfection, we'll become complete.  Our longings will be satisfied.  Our hunger will be filled.  Our desires will be met.  Completion comes from God, by God, through God, and in God.  Indeed, we will drink from the Well of Living Water and never thirst again (and truly we already have).
3. Still, while we yet live on earth, we will not ever be perfect or complete.  Nevertheless, God promises to bless us along the way, and time and time again throughout Scripture this blessing comes in the form of Godly wisdom.  James tells us that God gives wisdom generously and without reproach.  Thank God that's He's not a stingy god, but a generous one.  Wisdom is vital to the Christian walk, and I believe we become wiser through the Word and Godly blessing, and James affirms that if we ask for wisdom, the Father will give.

Week 14: James 1:2-3

James 1:2,3:  Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

1. James is telling us that whenever we encounter trials and problems we're supposed to rejoice.  Rejoice!?  Rejoice is often the thing we least want to do, and yet there it is, sitting right alongside the rest of the holy Words of God.  If we've read much of the bible, especially when it comes to Jesus' words and teachings, then this passage shouldn't come as a surprise.  God has a way of turning things on their heads and making us cling to Him.
2. Why should we count it as joy?  Because our trials produce steadfastness.  Steadfastness means to "resolutely or dutifully hold to something; to stay loyal."  If trials yield this attitude, an attitude where we become more loyal to God, then why would we not rejoice at this?
• We don't rejoice because we're finite and mortal, unable to see beyond our own minds and ideas of how the world should work.  God is sovereign, all powerful, and all knowing, and He knows exactly what He's doing.  We struggle to accept this mindset with everything, and the same goes here.  We expect to be treated better because we love and serve God, when that idea is unbiblical and wrong (see Matthew 5:45).  We need to understand that God loves us and that we endure trials to get closer to Him.

I am thankful to God that the trials in my life have been nominal compared to many others.  For me, it is easy to see God is in control.  For others, I understand, this may not be so.  And so while I am probably unqualified to opine on certain situations, in the end, all situations are under God's sovereign control and we have to just trust in Him.  These verses are tough to chew on, but it's so rewarding to know that we draw closer to God through pain and troubles.