rects his first attention (1:2-16). This section deals with both temp tations as they relate to testings and tributions as well as the aspects of solicitations to evil. In either situa tion it means that something is try ing to draw us out of God's will. James says, "Count it all joy, my brethren, when you fall into mani fold temptation, knowing that the proving of your faith works pa tience, and let patience have its perfect work that you may be per fect and entire, lacking in nothing" (1:2-4). What is the attitude that we should have with regard to trials? It can be an emotional experience, coming in nearly any form. We have confidence in God, yet we some times consider trials to be a dis tasteful thing. Somehow we feel we should be exempt from tribulations because we know Jesus Christ. Such is never promised to us at all. In fact the Saviour said we could ex pect to have hardships. It is a very easy thing to be happy when every thing is going well. Yet, we are to be joyous, too, when trials come. Perhaps you have lost your job or home or loved one. You may lose a number of things because of the upheaval of persecution. And yet out of all this James says, "Count it all joy, my brethren." Because we know the Lord and are His children, we can rest in any situation of life, knowing that God has a great pur pose and plan for each of us. The Apostle Paul remarks upon the progress that this kind of trial can bring. Read Romans 5:3 and see a comparative exhortation which he gives there. Cod has a purpose in every trial! Because our emotions are the first thing that might cause defeat in the midst of trials, James intro
duces an important point concern ing our intellectual attitude. Note the phrase, "knowing this" (vs. 3) which has to do with what we learn by experience. Some things are dis cerned by logic and become theo retical. Actually, it is in the crucible of life that we really learn the les sons so vital for our existence. You will discover that the proving of your faith is working patience. James tells us that these trials are to be the proving of our faith. Liter ally it is the faith that has to be proved. The Apostle is talking about the body of doctrine to which these people (as well as we) adhere. The doctrine to which you hold is really not valid until you have found that it works and have experienced it in the various areas and arenas of life. Certainly those who have walked with the Lord for a number of years have found that this is true. As we follow the Word of Cod everything really works for the Lord's benefit and eternal purposes. One of the key things we believe is that God is omnipotent. That means that He can keep us in any situation with which we may be confronted. How easy it is to be come discouraged as we look at things from a human point of view. The Saviour may seem to be no where in sight. Yet we can rely on the promises of Jesus Christ Him self who said, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). Scripture is filled with promises which talk about the Lord's presence in our behalf. Secondly, we are to know some thing about the substantiation of our belief. James declares that the purpose of trial is to prove our faith. He would have it placed in a cru- Page 39
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