style="font-size:15px;"> Questions:
How do trials test our faith?
What does endurance have to do with our faith, or facing trials?
What in the world does that last part mean?? That endurance’s result is that we might be perfect and complete?
Verse 5 – But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously, and without reproach, and it will be given to him. Questions:
Is this lack of wisdom related to the trials? That is, are we asking God for an understanding of what the trial is about? For example, “Lord, please help me understand why I always seem to get passed over for promotion at work.”
Why are we assured by James that God won’t reproach us for asking for wisdom? Why would He? Seems like He sure got angry with Job for asking why all his (Job’s) trials were happening. (Job 38:1,2)
Verses 6,7,8 – But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Questions:
What does it mean to ask without doubting?
Is “asking without doubting” the same as being sure that God will
give me wisdom about the issue I’m asking about? What if He doesn’t? Does this mean I’m weak in faith?
What’s the nature of this kind of doubting?
What does it mean to be “double-minded”?
What does it mean to be “unstable in all his ways”?
Now we have a good feel for the passage, and quite a few questions that will help the group discuss and discover applicable truth. Please realize that we can’t possibly discuss and answer all the questions we’ve thought of. We’ll pick a few key questions and focus our attention on them.
The next step is to see what other verses there are in the Bible that are relevant to this James passage.
Here are a few key questions we’ll ask in the Bible study group. Other verses on this topic (cross references) can be easily found if your Bible has a small-print cross-reference index in the middle column or side margins.
What kind of trials did the early Christians face? How about today? In the first century: the book of Acts gives many instances of the early believers going through trials, including . . .
• Intimidation – (Acts 4:18) And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. (Acts 4:18)
• Physical beatings –. . . after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them to speak no more in the name of Jesus . . . (Acts 5:40)
• Death – And they went on stoning Stephen as he called upon the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus receive my spirit!” (Acts 7: 59)
• Persecution of many believers –. . . . great persecution arose against the church . . . Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and dragging off men and women he would put them in prison. (Acts 8:1,3)
The list of hardships and suffering goes on at length in Acts. The Apostle Paul’s hardships and torments are frequent and serious. These are alluded to in Paul’s letters to the Corinthian church. You can read his comments in 2 Corinthians 4:8–17; and 2 Corinthians 11:23–30.
What kind of trials do Christians face today?
• Health issues
• Family issues
• Money or job-related problems
• Others . . . ?
How can we be joyful at these times? And why? Here are some powerful verses that help us understand this seemingly difficult question:
. . . they rejoiced they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. (Acts 5:41)
All discipline (from God) for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. (Hebrews 12:11)
. . . And we know that God causes all things to work together for good
to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
How does testing improve our faith?
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6,7)
What kind of doubting is bad, and how do we avoid it?
And a leper came to Him, beseeching Him, and falling on his knees before Him, and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” And moved with compassion, He stretched out His hand, and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed” (Mark 1:40,41)
Compare this to the father in Mark 9:21–24
(Jesus). . . asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” and he said, “From childhood. And it has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us, and help us!” And Jesus said to him, “If You can! All things are possible to him who believes” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and began saying, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”
The difference between the man in Mark 1 and the father in Mark 9 is captured in the two phrases: “if You are willing,” and “if You can.” The first man has faith Jesus can if He will. The second man seems to question if Jesus can do the miracle. This is why, I believe, Jesus answers the poor father almost sarcastically . . . “If I can!”. . . meaning, “The issue here isn’t whether I can, but whether you believe I can.” Then the father cries out “help my unbelief.” So when we ask God for His wisdom, we may ask if He is willing to impart wisdom, but not doubt that He can.
Another aspect of doubting would be a sort of “ask-God-as-a-last-resort” attitude that, “Oh, well, I might as well ask God for help or understanding. I’ve tried everything else, so I have nothing to lose.” Let not that man think he will receive anything from the Lord!
Key: And without faith it is impossible to please God, for anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists, and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 NIV)
Conclusion to our brief Bible study on James 1: 1–8
James’ teaching here assumes that all of us Christians are going to experience various trials, hardships, even suffering in our lives. We can be joyful because we know God is in control and that the difficulty can actually bring us increased strength as Christians. We can even ask God to help us understand the cause and/or resolution of the situation, and accept His response without doubting His ability to do what He knows is best for us.
Leading
