James 1:2-4
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (James 1:2-4).
James words are well-known. So frequently parroted, perhaps, that we forget how much they challenge our culture in many ways. It challenges us in our spot in many ways--"This trial, Lord, even this? Am I supposed to count this as joy? How?"
It challenges our view of life: Our culture believes that life should be easy, convenient, fast. Our technological worldview has created a worldview value, that which is convenient, faster, quicker is better.
Our view of self: Our culture focuses on the immediate. Our culture values personality over character. We are attracted to the charisma over the chastity, the values over the virtues, the external image over the internal integrity. The public persona is celebrated. James reminds us that we are eternal beings. We can sacrifice comfort, convenience, the quick fix in light of the eternal joy. C.S. Lewis points our eyes to eternity when he says that each decision is shaping us into something we will be, and will be aumented so much more so, in eternity ("Weight of Glory"). Our culture does not necessarily value being "mature and complete"--thus, trials and suffering can never be joys.
Our view of God: Our culture feels like we deserve something, and it carries over in our relationship with God. He is often reduced to a vending machine, or a health-and-wealth-all-blessings giver, or a god who is not in control of circumstances because he values our participation in history so much, or all-love-and-no-discipline-fairy-god.
Joy in trials contradicts all this. It is a radical stance to take, against the world. He who has joy in trials is not a friend of the world, as James urgently adjures us not to be (4:4). It is a witness to Christ.
What makes it a joy? The eternal results. Knowing that teh Spirit is at work, using this Father-permitted trial to form us into Christ-likeness. James seems to allude to Jesus' teaching, especially the Sermon on the Mount, throughout his letter. I see the theme of "be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect" throughout the letter.
It is in the Gospel, in Christ, in which we can realize this impossible task of finding joy in trials. It is not anything the world will ever achieve.
In Christ, we are freed from the power of sin, flesh, devil, and the world, allowing us to exchange the values of the culture that surround us and see their sham.
In Christ, not only are we freed, we are made new creatures with new values, hearts, desires. We love Christ and the Father, and this love and gratitude flows into the desire to be like him (1 John 2:6), more than the desire to find comfort, control, or power over our circumstances. We desire God; and we rejoice in being sanctified and transformed into his image at whatever the cost.
In Christ, we are given eternal hope. We live in light of that, and trials diminish in light of the glory which will be revealed (2 Cor. 4:17). Our eventual transformation and glorification is assured (Rom. 8:28-30) in all things.
In Christ, each trial is imbued with purpose toward an eternal joy--that of glorying God by being, in Christ, by the Spirit, transformed into children of God who mirror him and reflect his glory (2 Cor. 3:17-18). This is joy that is beyond the world.
James words are well-known. So frequently parroted, perhaps, that we forget how much they challenge our culture in many ways. It challenges us in our spot in many ways--"This trial, Lord, even this? Am I supposed to count this as joy? How?"
It challenges our view of life: Our culture believes that life should be easy, convenient, fast. Our technological worldview has created a worldview value, that which is convenient, faster, quicker is better.
Our view of self: Our culture focuses on the immediate. Our culture values personality over character. We are attracted to the charisma over the chastity, the values over the virtues, the external image over the internal integrity. The public persona is celebrated. James reminds us that we are eternal beings. We can sacrifice comfort, convenience, the quick fix in light of the eternal joy. C.S. Lewis points our eyes to eternity when he says that each decision is shaping us into something we will be, and will be aumented so much more so, in eternity ("Weight of Glory"). Our culture does not necessarily value being "mature and complete"--thus, trials and suffering can never be joys.
Our view of God: Our culture feels like we deserve something, and it carries over in our relationship with God. He is often reduced to a vending machine, or a health-and-wealth-all-blessings giver, or a god who is not in control of circumstances because he values our participation in history so much, or all-love-and-no-discipline-fairy-god.
Joy in trials contradicts all this. It is a radical stance to take, against the world. He who has joy in trials is not a friend of the world, as James urgently adjures us not to be (4:4). It is a witness to Christ.
What makes it a joy? The eternal results. Knowing that teh Spirit is at work, using this Father-permitted trial to form us into Christ-likeness. James seems to allude to Jesus' teaching, especially the Sermon on the Mount, throughout his letter. I see the theme of "be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect" throughout the letter.
It is in the Gospel, in Christ, in which we can realize this impossible task of finding joy in trials. It is not anything the world will ever achieve.
In Christ, we are freed from the power of sin, flesh, devil, and the world, allowing us to exchange the values of the culture that surround us and see their sham.
In Christ, not only are we freed, we are made new creatures with new values, hearts, desires. We love Christ and the Father, and this love and gratitude flows into the desire to be like him (1 John 2:6), more than the desire to find comfort, control, or power over our circumstances. We desire God; and we rejoice in being sanctified and transformed into his image at whatever the cost.
In Christ, we are given eternal hope. We live in light of that, and trials diminish in light of the glory which will be revealed (2 Cor. 4:17). Our eventual transformation and glorification is assured (Rom. 8:28-30) in all things.
In Christ, each trial is imbued with purpose toward an eternal joy--that of glorying God by being, in Christ, by the Spirit, transformed into children of God who mirror him and reflect his glory (2 Cor. 3:17-18). This is joy that is beyond the world.
Well stated, Gillian. I especially like your idea that our culture values personality over character. I never heard it put quite like that & it's so true! I find myself heading that way at times.
ReplyDeleteI have a long-time family acquaintance (ex-sister-in-law) who recently has been brought into my life again. She is facing many, many trials this year & asks me to pray. She does not know Jesus. I tell her, of course, that I will pray for her. But I know what she really needs is just Jesus! I was praying last night about how to ask her about her faith... I have not been able to do so (to any real extent) thus far.
It is difficult enough for us Believers to "count it all joy;" how much more so for those in the dark!
Lord, help us in the process of transformation that the world may see You in us and be able to know that eternal joy.