Chippie the parakeet never saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage. The next he was sucked in, washed up, and blown over.
The problems began when Chippie’’s owner decided to clean Chippie’’s cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the attachment from the end of the hose and stuck it in the cage. The phone rang, and she turned to pick it up. She’’d barely said "hello" when "ssssopp!" Chippie got sucked in.
The bird owner gasped, put down the phone, turned off the vacuum, and opened the bag. There was Chippie -- still alive, but stunned.
Since the bird was covered with dust and soot, she grabbed him and raced to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and held Chippie under the running water. Then, realizing that Chippie was soaked and shivering, she did what any compassionate bird owner would do . . . she reached for the hair dryer and blasted the pet with hot air.
Poor Chippie never knew what hit him.
A few days after the trauma, the reporter who’’d initially written about the event contacted Chippie’’s owner to see how the bird was recovering. "Well," she replied, "Chippie doesn’’t sing much anymore -- he just sits and stares."
It’’s hard not to see why. Sucked in, washed up, and blown over . . . That’’s enough to steal the song from the stoutest heart.
Sucked in, washed up, and blown over.... sums up how I feel some days. Can the rest of you relate? ''
James the brother of our Lord Jesus seems to be able to relate. He starts off his letter talking about the real 'popular' topic of trials and tribulations.
James 1:1
“James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ: To the 12 tribes in the Dispersion. Greetings.”
When anyone starts out a letter calling themselves a slave that should be a warning sign. Something has happened and it was not spending a vacation on the beach in Hawaii. James was in good company though. Paul and Jude also refer to themselves as slaves or servants to the Lord.
James tells us right up front who he was writing to. His primary audience of the early church was fellow Jewish people who were part of the 12 tribes of Israel.
James 1:2-4
“2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”
This may be hard to swallow, but we are to find joy in our trials. I guess this might be something to expect from someone who calls himself a slave. But the truth is, we are supposed to find joy in our struggles. I know the logic does not make sense, it does not compute. How can someone really find joy in going through a trial. The point here is that we are not to allow our trials to drag us down into despair. We are to remember who we serve. We are to remember that our trials help us to grow in our dependence on God. Especially if we are suffering in Jesus name over something. That means we are taking a stand for Him and being persecuted.
To be clear we are not just talking about the simple struggles we have in our life or the challenges we are faced when we share our faith. We are talking about those life changing and extremely challenging trials. We are talking about Abraham being told to sacrifice Isaac his only son type of trials. Abraham endured the trial and passed the test and His faith and trust in God grew. As we make it through our life changing trials if we hold onto Jesus our faith grows, we learn that He has our back, and trial by trial we find it easier and easier to have joy as our endurance increases.
We must truly believe in the teachings of Christ and His followers and be determined to follow them as we go through trials. It is only through faith in the power, Word, and promises of God that we grow through our trials.
We cannot do it on our own, we cannot do it with only a little knowledge about God. It is only through spending time talking to God, studying His Word, that we can even begin to understand His power, Word, and promises. Having a strong faith based on knowing God and His Word allows us to endure through our trials, to not worry about them, and to have joy.
James 1:5-8
“5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways.”
We spent some time talking about Prayer last week and we know that it is something that we should be doing constantly. Here we are being told that if we are going through a trial we should not only pray for what is needed, but more importantly to pray for wisdom on how to deal with it.
Remember Abraham went and gathered the supplies and was set to sacrifice Isaac as He was told. Why did he do that? He trusted in God's promises and power. God promised to make a nation out of his son Isaac, so it was going to happen. If God was going to ask for Isaac to be sacrificed, He must have the power to bring him back. Abraham had the wisdom he needed to deal with his trial.
When we are going through something we do not understand, we need to be praying for God to show us how to navigate through it and how we can use it to further His kingdom. I don't know how many times I have heard someone ask why they are going through something or why someone had to suffer. It may not always seem like it but even the darkest of times can be used by God to help others. I have read stories of people who lost a child, one of the most agonizing things to endure, who were able to comfort others who went through the same.
This wisdom that James is talking about is not given only to pastors, or super saints. It is given freely to all who ask. Whether you have been a Christ follower for 5 minutes or 50 years, whether you are living the best life you can or just walked in from the bar, if you ask, God will give you the wisdom you need.
These verses go on to point out that you need to ask in faith. If you are a doubter you question every choice, thought, and are constantly second guessing yourself or your last decision. Remember Daniel and his buddies? They had faith that God would protect them in the fiery furnace and in the lions den. Their was not doubt in their minds. They KNEW that God would be with them during their trials.
How about you? As you sit here this morning do you know beyond any doubt that God will be with you? That He will give you wisdom? That His power is greater than your trial?
Spend time with God and you will have faith in His Word, promises, and power.
James 1:9-11
“9 The brother of humble circumstances should boast in his exaltation, 10 but the one who is rich should boast in his humiliation because he will pass away like a flower of the field. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and dries up the grass; its flower falls off, and its beautiful appearance is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will wither away while pursuing his activities.”
James is reminding the 12 tribes that it does not matter if you are poor or rich you are brothers. It is a reminder that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. The thickness of our wallets or the balance in our check books do not make one worth more than another in the eyes of God. To often in this world the poor are shunned and the rich are viewed as 'Sunday' Christians who do not live in reality. Everyone, rich or poor, are equal. Wealth does not increase or limit our ability to serve God and rejoice in His amazing gifts.
Those who are without much can rejoice in that they are heirs in the kingdom of God, this life and any suffering is only temporary. Those with a lot are to be humble in their actions and faith as their blessings are temporary. We are also told here that those who are more worried about the things they have or the pursuit of money than following God are headed for a fall. The things of this world do not last and we do not get to take them with us. No matter how much wealth you have accumulated it really does not matter, it does not last. A relationship with Jesus Christ is the only thing that matters and the only thing that lasts.
James 1:12
“A man who endures trials is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.”
Trials are a fact of life, we read about them throughout Scripture.
Matthew 10:22
“You will be hated by everyone because of My name. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.”
We as Christians will face persecution.
Philippians 1:29
“For it has been given to you on Christ's behalf not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,”
We will deal with trials, we will suffer, but in the end we will be rewarded. If we have suffered in the name of Christ, endured our trials, grew in faith, we will receive life not only in this world but also in the next. James is not talking about a literal crown here, but the gift of life. The life we are living and the everlasting life that we get to spend with our King.
Trials are real, they are going to happen, and we need to have faith as we endure them. They may be hard, but the joy comes from knowing that God is in control and He has given and will give us an amazing gift. New life in this world, and an everlasting life in His kingdom.
James 1:13-15
“13 No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone. 14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.”
Today people question why God let's them go through something or may blame satan for the struggle they are faced with. First off we need to know that God Does Not Tempt Us! Why would He do that? His original plan was for humankind to spend time with Him, not to be trapped in sin. Temptation leads to sin, so the things we struggle with are not God tempting us. That is completely against God's character.
What James is telling us here is that we do not sin because of an outward influence, but by our reaction to what is going on around us. A perfect example is that the smell coming from a bar can be an overwhelming temptation for an alcoholic, but for others it would small gross. The smell did not change, it is the reaction that changes.
God does not bring things into our lives to pull us down, His gifts are always good. If we are tempted that is on us and our inner desires, that is the ultimate struggle we need to overcome or the desire will turn into sin. Sin is part of our nature, not Gods.
James 1:16-18
“16 Don’t be deceived, my dearly loved brothers. 17 Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning. 18 By His own choice, He gave us a new birth by the message of truth so that we would be the firstfruits of His creatures.”
What does God give us? Perfect gifts!
Do you believe the Word of God? If you do, these words alone should let you know that none of the struggles or trials you are facing come from God. None of the medical issues you are dealing with were caused by Him. None of the financial struggles were His idea. None of things driving families apart started with Him.
Everything that comes from God is perfect and exactly what we need. Even to the point that He has given us His son Jesus Christ. It is through His death and resurrection that we are given a 'new birth'. It is this new birth and the perfect gifts from God that allow us to fight our tendency to sin.
Trials are nothing fun and we do not enjoy going through them. Whether they are a struggle with sin or something that changes our life,they are challenging.
James tells us a few things we need to remember when we feel sucked in, washed up, and blown over.
Faith in the Word, promises, and power of God will allow us to have Joy as we endure our trials.
Spending time with God will allow us to have Faith, so that we can have that Joy.
Praying for Wisdom while spending time with God will bring about that Faith that is needed to have that desired Joy.
God has given you the tools you need to endure your trials. Remember every gift from God is Perfect!
Thanks for reading and God Bless!
Robert
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