50 likes | 208 Views
Faithful Endurance. James 1:2-8. Trials as Tests of Faith. Not asking “why?” but “what?” A test is an opportunity to perform, not fail It’s not if you suffer but when you suffer To be human is to suffer Rejoice in the face of suffering?
E N D
Faithful Endurance James 1:2-8
Trials as Tests of Faith • Not asking “why?” but “what?” • A test is an opportunity to perform, not fail • It’s not if you suffer but when you suffer • To be human is to suffer • Rejoice in the face of suffering? • Suffering itself is not the cause for joy but rather the faithful maturity that results • We don’t actively seek suffering, we “fall” (v. 2) into it and welcome the opportunity to mature in our faith and develop Christlikeness
It Takes Wisdom (vv. 5-8) • It takes godly wisdom to view trials and suffering as opportunities for faithful endurance toward maturity • “Woe is me” is worldly wisdom • There should be no victim mentality in those who are matured through suffering • It’s an insult to God’s character to doubt his generosity • God gives with no strings attached • The double-minded is not he who has an occasional doubt; he is the fence-sitter who lacks Christian commitment