The Most Important Thing

In keeping with the same theme of trials, and enduring those trials, James uses some figurative language to highlight that which is truly important in life.

Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: (Jam. 1:9)

Why? This seems like a bit of a strange thing to say given the type of person James is speaking of here. During this period of time most Jews had fallen into economic hardship. Poverty to western culture may not seem terrible given all that governments do to help out, but the Roman empire had no such social programs. Life was more akin to the poverty that is found in parts of Asia and Africa. So why does James tell these Christians to rejoice despite their suffering? Because they are already rich.

They are rich because they have the precious life of Christ within them. You see there is not a single person living who, when presented with eternity in hell, would not give up all their earthly possessions for one more day of life. As Christians we are wealthy beyond measure because despite our economic position here on Earth we will one day be part of the Glory that awaits us in Heaven. No matter how poor our health is during life, we will be given perfect bodies with which to worship our creator for eternity.

Sometimes it is easy to let social and economic hardship lead us into thoughts of depression and despair. However, we ought to rejoice because God has taken away those comforts that can be deceiving (Mat. 13:22), causing us to blend in with the world rather than stand out. The suffering that brings us closer to dependence on God is our wealth (1 Pet. 1:7). Sometimes we do not know that God is all we need, until He is all we have.

God's Grace > Your Sin

In James we have a wonderful promise of wisdom from God if we simply ask for it.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (Jam. 1:5)

The Bible is full of God's promises. There are promises of wrath against unbelieving disobedience (Deut. 11:16-17), and there are promises of great blessing for those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:28). The amazing thing about the latter group of promises is that they are not based on personal merit or works (Eph. 2:8-9). Unfortunately it is easy to forget this. James goes on to define what a true request is in the verses following.

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (Jam. 1:6-8)

I used to think that these verses referred to someone who was so self absorbed that they only wanted wisdom from God in order to help them get ahead in life. It is true that these verses encompass that type of person; one who is vain and cares more about what God can give them, then what they can do to glorify God. However, there is another type of person here who is equally as self absorbed. I refer to the person who asks without believing that God can fulfil His promise because of their sin. I refer to what I have only just now realized that I have become.

It can be a great temptation of ours to focus on our own sin and wretchedness, and assume that God's grace is not sufficient to cover our transgressions. It is true that our sin is great, but it is also irrelevant. It is true that we are undeserving of God's grace and mercy, but equally as irrelevant. This is a sin of self-righteousness under the guise of humility.

My sin cannot, and will not ever outweigh the infinite Grace that was poured out on Calvary the day that Jesus was crucified. If I have truly been born again, then the price for the promises of God have already been paid for and I have but to ask faithfully to recieve them (John 16:24). Even times of chastisement from God for disobedience are a promise of blessing to Christians (Heb. 12:3-17).

Father God, grant us the wisdom to see you as we should see you. Do not allow us to regard our own hand mightier than yours, or our sin greater than your Grace. Create in us a single mind in our walk with you, focusing on the greatest promise of all that was secured for us by your son Jesus Christ.

Suffering Embraced...

This has been a strange week. Last Saturday, Patty and I discovered that we were going to receive a car from her grandparents for free. I literally wept once we found out. We have been in prayer about our car situation for some time, and God literally dropped one in our lap. I wept because we are so very undeserving of such a gesture, but God is gracious enough to overlook what we deserve in so many aspects of our lives.

The following day at church, we discovered that the preacher's wife has a brain tumor. The pastor preached a difficult sermon about facing trials. I have some idea of what the family is going through as there is terminal illness in my family as well, but I can't begin to imagine how difficult it must be when it is your wife, or mother.

On Monday, I talked to a good friend of mine on the phone who I have not spoken with in almost two months. I am horrible about returning phone calls, and my good friends and family are made to suffer because of my irresponsibility with those relationships. My friends message was sobering as he explained to me the reason for the call. He had been trying to reach me for about a month and a half to ask if I would pray for his fiance. She found out she has skin cancer, and has been receiving treatments for the last month and a half. I had failed my friend, and his wife to be, as a Christian brother.

It doesn't seem fair that God would visit such a blessing on someone so undeserving as me, and such horrible illness on these two very sweet women. A secular philosophy professor once told me that suffering detracted from a meaningful life. He also acknowledged that Christianity was very unique in the way that it viewed suffering.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations... (James 1:2)

You see, whereas most religions on earth are trying to avoid suffering at all costs, Christianity calls it's followers to embrace it.

WHY?

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (James 1:3,4)

Faith and religion tend to go hand in hand, and we sometimes use the word faith as a synonym for an individuals particular religion. In Christianity, faith is the instrument by which we are brought to the saving Grace that comes from Jesus Christ (Eph 2:8,9). But as Tyler mentioned in his previous post, while salvation from Hell may be a one time event, the act of salvation goes on in our lives in the form of sanctification. Sometimes this sanctification comes in the way of suffering.

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:7-9)

Faith continually draws us closer to Christ and away from the comforts of the world as Troy pointed out. In order for us to have that kind of reckless faith, God has to put us into situations where our comforts are stripped away. When we have only that which we cannot see to rely on (Hebrews 11:1), then we have true faith; the kind that moves mountains.

You may think it unfair that I received such a blessing from God, and those two women received such suffering, but God knows what He is doing with His children (Romans 8:28). When the suffering is through, their faith shall be multiplied, and they will have received the greater blessing.

The Second Greatest Commandment

Matthew 22:35-40

35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Jesus seemed to invoke trouble no matter where he went during his ministry. Every time Jesus opened his mouth to speak, the "religious leaders" of the times, the pharisees, were trying to find something they could use against him.

The previous passage is no exception, as the pharisees were attempting to corner Jesus and make him say something incriminating. As it turns out, this is remarkably difficult to do when the questioned is omniscient. Jesus lays out two Old Testament passages that beautifully highlight the purpose of the Christian in as few words as possible.

1. Love God wholeheartedly
2. Love others as yourself

Who could possibly argue with that? Even today, those who would find fault with those two teachings are few and far between. With all this talk of love the pharisees must have been feeling pretty good right? You might even think Jesus went over and gave them a big hug and invited them all over for an evening of pleasant, loving conversation with the disciples that night. However, you would be wrong. Jesus goes on to tear them a new one in (Matthew 23). Seriously, I think this is the worst tongue lashing in New Testament.

I say all this to bring about a twofold point in why this Blog exists. First and foremost if we love God then we are going to do what he says.

23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

We cannot say we truly love God unless we obey His Word. Accountability starts at the great commandment to love God with every fiber in your being, every step, every breath, every thought should be to glorify Him. If we do this, then the second greatest commandment just falls into place naturally.

So how does love for fellow man, love for God, and the severe tongue lashing all go together? Christian accountability is about love, and love is messy, not warm and fuzzy. Don't get me wrong love is awesome, and can be warm and fuzzy at times, but for the most part it is down right messy. Christians ought to love each other enough to be willing to get their hands dirty. We need to be willing to help our brothers when they are down yes, but we also need to have the courage to correct, and be corrected in love when necessary. Jesus may look like he is just attacking the pharisees, but he is really giving them a chance to repent. Had they done so, he would have embraced them with compassion.

This kind of accountability makes us uncomfortable, and that is why it is the second greatest commandment. It takes a divine kind of love to pull this off without becoming like one of the pharisees. Jesus' love was never pretentious because he understood the nature of what was at stake (Matthew 16:24-28). We cannot afford to be pretentious or superficial in our relationships toward each other because eternity hangs in the balance. If we do not commit ourselves first to the Lord Jesus Christ wholeheartedly, we can never have the kind of honest fellowship with each other we were meant to have.