Based on James 1:1-17 (New King James Version)
“James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
Everything in this life has an answer. Nothing is just because. And since everything has an answer, then everything has a purpose. Everything has its function, a reason to exist. All of the events on this earth and in our lives are like words in a sentence. Maybe words such as articles, conjugations, and even symbols like punctuation may not seem like great things on their own, but without them, our sentences would be incomplete, and the meaning of what is being communicated would be lost. And if you understand anything about the law, many times, those small words or symbols can mean the difference between a person spending the rest of their life in prison, or that a fine or penalty be worth millions of dollars, or a number of other things.
In today’s passage, we see that the Apostle James writes to a group of people that are going through a tough time, to the 12 tribes that were scattered abroad. The scattering occurred when much of the people of Israel fled from their land, trying to escape tyranny and destruction. To start, it is very difficult to leave your nation without wanting to (reasons that go beyond economic benefit), because your life was in danger unjustly, because a foreign power wanted to impose their dominion over you, by demanding, and even abusing and killing with the goal to conquer. This scattering did not consist of things that many people would consider today intolerable. The comedy that exists today was not present back then, what human rights have become (because I cannot reason Biblically speaking, that a group of people can call persecution when authorities are trying to establish some sort of order, for the good of its own citizens). Because even the Apostle Paul wrote that we should pray for our authorities (and he lived during the church’s great persecution under Emperor Nero), and that rulers must be respected, and that we should do good, as it is written: “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.” Romans 13:3-5.
In the end, James was writing to people that were not doing well at all. And what he was trying to teach to those that were scattered (and also every one of us that may find ourselves under similar circumstances) was that, even though they were suffering injustice, that enduring diverse trials had a purpose. The trial, although difficult to endure, has a why, a reason, and therefore, a function in the life of a Christ follower. And here comes the most important part, that we need to understand why, the reason for why things are happening. He continues giving his counsel, that we should ask for wisdom, and for a very powerful reason: so that the circumstances can have their full effect within our lives. Divine wisdom has as an intent to give us the capacity to understand what we need to understand, so we can act as it is convenient here and now, so that we can have the greatest blessing possible in our eternal future. Wisdom is what teaches us the value of the eternal so we can act now how it is most convenient for us. That’s why, whether we are rich or poor, or whatever our situation may be, it is convenient to live wisely, just as God counsels us through His Word, because the here and now will pass quickly, but the eternal is forever (obviously). Wisdom teaches us how we can best live out our lives, and that’s why it is so necessary.
We are encouraged in this passage also to endure the temptation. Notice that it is not talking about temptations, but rather of a temptation. And the temptation (by what we can deduce when seeing the prize that is mentioned) consists of abandoning the faith. The crown of life is reserved only for those who do not abandon the faith, as it is written: “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10. It is impossible for this temptation to come from God. God will never tempt you to leave Him. The only one that wants for us to abandon our faith in God is Satan. That is why he even tried to tempt the Lord Himself, and in His weakest condition (humanly speaking). The devil will try to tempt you to leave the Lord, that it is not worth following Him, and that you will live a better life here if you leave Him. And this temptation will always be present. This is the most important reason for why we need wisdom, because God’s wisdom will always point to what has the greatest value, to the eternal; not to what is temporary and disposable. Divine wisdom will always take you to that which has the greatest value, that it is convenient for you to love the Lord above all things, for your own good. There is no better advice, because that advice alone will take you to greater things, to resist the temptation of leaving the faith, to avoid eternal death; in the end, to be able to remain faithful until death, so you are able to receive the greatest prize: the crown of life.
So then, do you look to understand the “why” of things, so you are able to understand God’s purpose for your life, so you are able to receive every good and perfect gift which can only come from above? Lord bless! John