Wednesday, Oct. 31

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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.  - James 1:2-4

The first century Roman Empire was not an easy place to live as a follower of Jesus Christ.  First of all, there was serious ridicule and opposition from Jewish authorities who saw Christianity as a perversion of the true worship of Yahweh.  There was also the  scorn and condescension of Greek speaking Gentiles who looked down their nose at these foolish Christians.  Finally, there was the fast growing hostility and persecution by the authorities of Roman Empire itself.  

So, when James talks about trials and sufferings, he is not speaking hypothetically.  The early Christians who would read his letter would likely have had very real, first-hand, personal experience of trials and suffering for their faith.  It would have made sense if James had written something like, “hang in there when times get tough”, or “don’t lose faith when trials come”, but he tells them (and us) to consider it pure joy!?  What must these first century Christians have thought to hear James say “consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of suffering”?  How could he say such a thing?  How can suffering and pain be a cause for joy?  

Now, before we write James off as an extremist or a wacko, we need to recognize that he is not alone in this view, there are many Biblical writers who share this perspective.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.   - 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.   - Romans 5:3-5

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.  - Acts 5:41

 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  - Philippians 4:4 
(Paul wrote these words from a prison cell in Rome!)

Now, either all of these Bible characters are crazy, or they know something that we don’t.  What do they know?  They know what James is expressing in verses 3-4, that suffering has the potential to equip us for spiritual maturity like nothing else can.  

C.S. Lewis puts it well in his book The Problem of Pain, when he says, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, and he speaks in our conscience, but he shouts in our pain; it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

Throughout the Old testament, we see Biblical authors using the image of a refining fire to describe how God uses suffering to refine the character of His people.

Proverbs 17:3 - The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.

Job 23:10 - But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.

Isaiah 43:10 - Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.

Zechariah 13:9 - And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. 

All of this tells us that while God does not necessarily send every trial or cause every suffering in our lives, He is with us in everything we face and He is working to refine our character through the trials if we let Him!  When you face your own trials and sufferings, do not forget that God is with you in the midst of it and He is even at work to refine your character through it, you may not feel like it, and you may not understand it at the time, but He is working to make you mature and complete, not lacking anything!

Jeff Frazier