Lilac Ministries

Bible Study Lessons

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Scripture: James 1:2-5 & James 1:22-25

Topic: Responding Courageously to Trials


Count it all JOY? Can James be serious? Is he being overly (or impossibly) pious? What’s wrong with this picture?

Many people are quick to say that scripture contains all the answers. Passages like today’s, however, point to the need to discern WHICH answers are appropriate WHEN. Perhaps that type of discernment - that is, the ability to apply what we already know, in “unknown” or not-yet-experienced situations - is a good definition or description of the “wisdom” James mentions. What a relief to know that our God is pleased to provide such wisdom, when we seek it!

When disaster has just occurred, when a loved one has just died, wisdom would tell us NOT to quote James’s exhortation to “count it all joy.” We determined that James was NOT saying that we should deny or minimize our own sorrows or those of others. And this is particularly true in “acute” or right-this-minute situations. But as we consider our lives over time, as we take the “chronic” or longer-term view, James’s words ring true. Be encouraged that God will not allow our sorrows to be in vain! God intends to redeem our pain, to transform it into spiritual strength and beauty (but maybe not RIGHT NOW!).

As we discussed our second passage in James (we are called to be “doers”), we spoke of how it is that things, including faith, acquire meaning. While we tend to collect and hang on to mementos, we realize that the value of those souvenirs (those things that cause us to remember) can change over time. We might look at our treasures every day, but without really SEEING them. Sometimes we SEE them, but they don’t spur us on in any way. They might, rather, lead us to yearn for “good old days” that never WERE.

James seems to be encouraging us not to allow our faith to become a nice “museum piece” or “decoration.” As we seek to apply our faith, we’ll probably make decisions that are less than perfect. That is, our spirituality may prove to be messy, rather than pretty. But James seems to pushing us into the fray of this thing called “life.” He seems to be saying, “Take your faith off its comfortable shelf and put it to the use God intends.”