In prayer today, I sensed that many believers have to deal with confusion in their understanding and walk with the Lord. Many sincere saints usually face the conflict that their experience and perception of God do not tally. What they "know" of God and what they experience in life are not in harmony. This gives room for a lot of confusion and sometimes one wonders if there is not some deception at work. In some areas in the world there is a very clear manifestation of the spirit of confusion amongst the believers. Deception is usually at work whenever there is a prevailing spirit of confusion. As I thought on these, the first chapter of the book of James came to my mind. This is the basis of our study of this chapter. The book’s call for ethical living based on the gospel provides its relevance. The two fundamental emphases are personal growth in the spiritual life and sensitivity in social relationships.

FINDING GOD’S PERSPECTIVE
The saints have been scattered abroad. They are in various places, suffering loses and practically being confused about the nature of what they were going through. Why is God allowing this to happen to us?

Verse 2: count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

The normal reaction to trials is to complain and ask questions from God. “What did I do wrong?” “Why is God allowing this to happen to me?” Many of these questions come up in our minds from time to time. From the human perspective, these questions demand a logical answer. From God’s perspective however, the situation demands a changed mentality. Without the changed mentality, confusion and deception can easily step into our lives. For many this has already happened. Talking about perspectives, David had God’s perspective of Goliath rather than man’s. The perspective we have towards things and events in our lives can determine the results we will get in live. Let us learn to have God’s perspective on the events in our lives. Studying God’s Word and prayers can help us in this matter. Also, I have found out that God’s perspective make us unpredictable to Satan, whenever we face trials. Satan has been around long enough to know human reaction to issues and he tries to limit us to human perspective of the issues involved. God’s perspective shows us how to be victorious because it helps us to see things the way God sees them and we can cooperate with God’s purposes to be fulfilled in our lives. Satan plans for us to see God as the problem, as if He is against us and wants us punished for our sins but the opposite is true. Satan is a liar and a father of lies. (John 8:44).

God’s Perspective on trials is “Count it all Joy ”. Becoming a Christian does not automatically exclude a believer from difficulties (see John 15:20; 2Tim. 3:12; 1 Peter 1:6,7; 4:12-19). The proper attitude in meeting adversity is to count it all Joy, which is not an emotional reaction but a deliberate intelligent appraisal of the situation from God’s perspective, viewing trials as a means of moral and spiritual growth. We do not rejoice in trials themselves, but in their possible results. Testing carries the idea of proving genuineness. Trials serve as a discipline to purge faith of dross, stripping away what is false. Patience is not a passive resignation to adverse circumstances, but a positive steadfastness that bravely endures. So rejoice when trials come to test your faith and know that patience results when your faith is tested by trials. What you know makes all the difference.

Verse 4-5: Perfect does not mean absolute sinlessness, but carries the idea of being fully developed or mature. Complete underscores the thought of fullness and wholeness. We are to endure so that God has enough time to bring about the Christlikeness He intends through the trials. Let your trials work for you! In Romans 5:4-5, we see Paul also saying he glories in tribulation also, because he knows how it will work out. It works endurance. When our Christian character goes through hardship, hope of receiving what God has promised grows stronger.

In the trials we are to ask for wisdom. Usually we do not know what to do in some trials, God does. We need to ask in faith. God wants to help us through the trials we face. Our inner attitudes of faith and endurance will help us experience the help of God. The wisdom we need here is the spiritual understanding of the purpose of trials and what to do about them. God is liberal and without reproach, that is, generously, not stingingly, condescendingly, or grudgingly. Doubts disqualify us from receiving from God.

A DOUBLE MINDED MAN
Verse 8: A double minded man is a person drawn in two opposite directions. His allegiance is divided and because of his lack of sincerity he vacillates between belief and disbelief, sometimes thinking that God will help him and at other timesgiving up hope in Him. Such a person is unstable in all his ways, not only in his prayer life. The lack of consistency in his exercise of faith betrays his general character.

Settle it in your heart that God is not against you but for you. Don’t run from Him to Him for all the help you need in trials. Wisdom is the ability to know how to translate spiritual realities into the natural. Wisdom is the key to victory in many areas of our lives.

Verses 9-11: Both poverty and prosperity are examples of trails that test our faith. Either may result in spiritual disaster. Do not derive your significance from your material possessions or lack of it. The Christian who is materially poor can rejoice in his high spiritual position as a child of God. Both the rich and the poor can rejoice at this but Wisdom counsels that the poor Christian should not allow his material state to bring depression but rather think about his exalted position in Christ. The rich Christian should be aware of the temporary nature of material wealth and rejoice in a new value system, knowing that the natural tendency to be proud of earthly wealth can be destructive to true spirituality. We are to be rich towards God, as we get rich in earthly wealth. Anyone rich only in temporal things will fade away. Luke 12:15-21, we see the story of a man who was rich in temporal things but not rich towards God. Jesus said “Ones life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses”. I think it consists in what he can give away. We are to live without allowing the earthly wealth to have a hold on us and the way to do so is to see wealth the way it is in the light of eternal blessings.

Verse12: The crown of life is for here and now and it implies living life to the fullness and in abundance. The testing precedes the approval from God.

Verse 13: God does not entice into evil. We see the anatomy of sin in verses 14-15. Our desires entice us internally to sin. The steps are as follows: something in us longs for something, whether right or wrong. Our desires run usually on the strength of our old nature in Adam. The secret is to watch what we give our attention to. Whatever we give attention will give rise to what we desire. Whatever the source, when desire is conceived in us something else is born. When the source is of the flesh or from the trio of the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes or pride of life, then sin is born in us. When sin is allowed to grow in us, it brings about death. Death is the spiritual separation from life that we feel when we have allowed sin to be full-grown in us. In Mark 7:20-23, we see how it is what comes from within that defiles a man. Now we see how that happens. When inner desires respond to outward enticement, sin is spawned.

God is the giver of every good and perfect gift and there is no doubt about His intentions and willingness to bless and help humanity . In the light of these we need to conduct in ways that are worthy of the relationship we have with God. We should be slow to speak and slow to wrath for anger that springs from self-centeredness does not accomplish the righteousness of God, but will be conducive only to malice and destruction.

It’s the implanted Word that can save our souls (will, mind and emotions). When the Word takes root in us then the will of God can be done in our lives. In meekness (teachableness) can we allow this process? The product of souls being affected is the doing of the Word. Anything short of this is self-deceit. Salvation leads to service. It is self-deception to believe that God’s goal for church attendance is merely to hear the word, instead of to experience a transformation of life that results in Ministry. The one who merely hears the word quickly forgets it; only the one who continues in it is blessed. God’s Word is the perfect law of liberty. It does not enslave us to the bondage of legalism, but rather frees us to keep its precepts by an inward compulsion. An uncontrolled tongue and a deceived heart are companions to empty religion. True religion (real relationship with God through Christ) will issue in practical living, as exemplified in pure speech, pure love, and pure character. These are just typical characteristics of positive duties that spring from a heart rightly connected to God.

In the light of these we need to take an inventory of our lives. In what areas of your life do you claim faith, while your actions show unbelief? Obedience to the Word of God brings about the work of God. We are to hear the Word and do the work. To hear and do nothing is one sign of a deceived heart. Faith acts. To believe is to DO! God bless you and all that is yours.

Rev Kola EWUOSHO

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