Perseverence

4-2-2009
The best-selling book of all time isn’t actually a book, it is a canon, which is a collection of books, and it is the bible. I’ve also been told the bible is the most stolen book as well! Crazy isn’t it? Every answer you will ever need to know about life exists in the bible, but most of us don’t even know where to begin reading. As I began researching Christianity, I had no clue where to start, so I have to believe I’m not the only one.
Let’s be honest, there are a few books in the bible that can be a little confusing at times! It’s not that there isn’t wisdom and truth, because the entire bible is truth. The fact is some of the bible is simply hard to understand. That being said, I have decided to focus on the book of James for a little while, as we continue to grow with one another through these daily devotionals.
Understanding the context of what you are reading is as important as understanding what you are reading. I’ve often called the book of James, “The how to be a Christian” book of the bible. The actual purpose is to explain proper Christian behavior, and to expose incorrect Christian behavior. James, Jesus’ brother, was a leader in the Jerusalem church, and is the author of the book. James is all about documentation, and he is tired of people saying one thing and doing another.
James begins his letter by outlining some general characteristics of the Christian life. First and foremost, James wants all believers to understand that not only are you not immune to trials and struggles in life, but you will have them. James also tells us how to handle tough times, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1: 2-4). Wow! James is saying embrace the tough times, and find the positive in every situation. Remember in yesterday’s message we spoke about the difference between joy and happiness. James isn’t saying you are going to be happy during struggles, but consider it joy that you are struggling because something good will come of it.
Very few people have what it takes to persevere through hard times. I would submit to you that in the past decade, we have created a generation of quitters. My wife and I run a select baseball organization for kids, and I can’t believe how many parents allow their kids to quit, and usually it’s the parent’s idea! When I grew up, I played for one team, and I was LOYAL to that team. From little leagues all the way to the big leagues, it is rare to see a player stay with the same team for more than a couple of seasons. We must understand that quitting cannot be an option! If you make a commitment, fulfill it! Persevere and see your task through. Once the task is completed, evaluate the situation and decide if it is time to move on to another task. James is speaking about this exact topic in the first few chapters. Anyone can be on top of the world and happy when times are good, but only champions fight through the tough times. Some say character is built during the struggles of life, but I would submit to you that character is REVEALED during the struggles of life. It is through these struggles and the testing of your faith that develops perseverance. Embrace the tough times in a positive light, and know you are NEVER alone as God promises to be with you at all times.
If you can show me someone that has accomplished anything of significance, I can just about guarantee you they went through some tough learning experiences to get them where they are today, and if it weren’t for those learning experiences, they wouldn’t have accomplished all they’ve accomplished. Remember, there’s no such thing as a smooth mountain, if there were, there wouldn’t be a way to climb it.
Application:
1. Read James 1:1-4
2. What struggles are you going through in life, and do you need to change the way you take on those struggles? Are you finding the positive?
3. Who can you encourage during right now, that you know needs encouragement? Have them read James 1: 1-4