A STRANGE EXHORTATION

A STRANGE EXHORTATION

James 1:2-4 Living Bible (TLB)

² Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, ³ for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.

COUNTING IT ALL JOY IN TIMES OF TRIAL

The Apostle James is one of my favorite Gospel writers. He is direct, and downright practical. He doesn’t mince words when he talks about the subject of faith which he asserts should be a living faith. In the first chapter of his  Epistle, he begins to deal with the subject of trials and temptations. These are objective realities which confront everyone of us especially Christians. The great Apostle directly confronts the believer not to have the wrong impression that when one comes to faith in Christ Jesus everything will fall into place, and life, will proverbially be, a bed of roses so that when trials, or tough times come, one begins to question “Why?” On the contrary the good Apostle might probably answer “Why not?”

There is a popular theology today known as the  health and wealth gospel. The problem with this gospel is that it contradicts the true gospel, and goes against the historical experience of God’s people through the generations. The remarkable history of trials, and testing.

The great Apostle Peter dealt with the same subject in his Epistle reminding the believers that for a little while, if need be, they have been grieved by various trials. (1 Peter 1:6-9).

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:6-9).

The James passage clearly states that the testing of our faith produces perseverance. And the Peter passage states that our faith, which is priceless, will be proved genuine and result in praise to God.

It is clear that Christians are not immune from trials and temptations because if we look closely at the writings of the two Apostles, they tell us we  should even welcome them and rejoice in them so that the genuineness of our faith may be tested and given a chance to grow.

St. James teaches that when we face trials of any kind, we should consider them joy. How are we supposed to do that? 

Trials, difficulties, hardships, adversities, misfortunes, do not bring joy. They bring sadness, pain, unhappiness, fear,  suffering, and anguish.

We need to confront the teaching of James with honesty because this is a tough issue. How in the world are we going to count it joy when we fall into various trials. Can we Christians do that?

Those who would argue that we should do so, have failed to grasp the real meaning of the exhortation. Counting it all joy when you fall into trials does not mean that we simply are to falsely rejoice in hardships, or we simply are to rejoice by putting up a strong face, like a stoic philosopher pretending and acting as if everything is fine when things are hard.

St. James seems to teach that we have to use trials and hardships as means to strengthen our character and develop our ability to endure the difficulties of life.

Let’ go back to James. He said count it all joy or be happy when you are surrounded by trials of every sort. What a very strange statement. How can there be joy in trying times? St. James is getting across the message that our faith can only be tested in the crucible or fire of testing and temptation.

THE TESTING OF OUR FAITH PRODUCES PATIENCE

James is dogmatic in proclaiming that the testing of our faith produces patience. James addressed his epistle to the Jews who were scattered abroad. There was the dispersal of the Jews  throughout the world. This was a national tragedy for them. They experienced diverse trials. James exhorted them saying, “Count it all joy when you are surrounded by trials of every sort” “for when the way is rough your patience has a chance to grow”.

Patience is a godly virtue which is very hard to achieve in this age where everything is quick and fast. We push buttons and get quick results.  We eat fast-food served in less than a minute. We go to places with speed. We hate it when we are made to wait. We discard gadgets which are slow and replace them with the latest versions which are faster or fastest. Waiting is a torture for some. We are short tempered as we are impatient.

The Greek word patience translated in the New Testament is a compound word. It is a preposition meaning “endure” and a verb meaning “to abide”. Patience means to abide, endure and hold steady whatever the condition.

There are two aspects in the word patience in the context of Scripture. Patience may be passive- that is steadfastness without agitation or reactive action or avoidance. Patience may be active-  a bearing of the load. Both aspects according to St. James are profitable in the Christian life.

“Be patient,” James said, “as you wait for the coming of the Lord.”

Waiting is not a useless, waste of time.  It may be viewed as passive but actually it is active, for in the course of waiting something is happening, which will bear fruit at the right time. To the believers the coming of the Lord is the most awaited event. They do not know exactly know, when, but they observe and wait for the signs and the seasons, and are assured that the Lord’s coming is certain. It would take a lot of patient waiting to welcome His arrival.

The Apostle James affirms patience as helpful in perfecting the Christian life. One does not stand in his own strength in occasions which call for patience, for God empowers him to be steadfast. The Bible does not convey the message that the followers and disciples of Christ would have easy, comfortable, trouble free, prosperous lives, all the way. The journey of the Christian is not smooth all the way. There are bumps, curves, valleys, plains, hills, rocks, deserts, and wilderness..

The apostle James seems to imply that the key is to look at the trials from an intellectual not an emotional perspective. If one should view the various trials he undergoes from God’s perspective and recognize them, as producing something very valuable in his life, notwithstanding the unpleasant experience, the benefits derived is joy.

There is no joy in the trial itself, but the benefits derived are joyful.

Job describes it this way: But He knoweth the way that I take; when He hath tried me I shall come forth as gold. (Job 23:10)

The Apostle James uses the phrase “the testing of your faith” which calls for the proving of our faith. Faith can grow and be refined by being tested.

Patience grows out of trials. Faith develops and become steadfast in trials. As muscles develop strength by being used and made to endure heavy lifting, patience develops and grows from the exercise of faith. We are encouraged to apply the grace of patience in our lives. We need to seek God’s Hand in our trials and trust Him, even if we do not understand what is happening and pray He will reveal what He is teaching us in these trying times. St. James says, “Let patience have its perfect work.”

TRIALS PRODUCE GROWTH AND MATURITY

Trials produce growth and maturity. The Christian who passes through testing under the Heavenly Father’s watchful care, will fully develop as a mature believer.

The Apostle James is saying that  no Christian can mature in faith without undergoing the fire of testing brought about by the unpredictable  circumstances of life. The testing of our faith produces trust and belief, a confidence that God is still in control no matter what.

We cannot develop that trust and unshakable confidence in God's presence and power without experiencing hardships. We cannot exactly rejoice in our hardships but we can use the hardships and trials as means of growing in faith, as means of testing our trust and relying on God again and again and again discovering that God never fails.

Strengthening our character means that we develop within us a core of faith and belief, a central focus of trust in God,  through the experience of enduring trials.

We live in a fallen world, and  Christianity is the only religion that teaches the fall of man, that humanity is a fallen race without hope of redemption if not for the saving grace of God. Many of the problems we face are the direct result of our own sinfulness, pride, self centeredness and spiritual blindness. God does not tempt us. Pride, selfishness, lust, jealousies, anger, hate, greed, arrogance, deceitfulness, covetousness, all these and other human weaknesses  conspire to tempt us and lead us into problems and hardships when we give in to them. The problem with most people is that they want to blame someone, something, or God,   for their troubles and difficulties.   James said the source of our troubles is not God. He explains that we face trials and difficulties not because these are God's intention for our life but because of the sin nature in us.

Throughout the New Testament, we can find a common theme: testing will come to all God’s people. The only questions are when and what kind will they be.  Times of testing are neither an indication that we have been abandoned  nor selected for an attack by the enemy. They are the result of living in a broken world.

St. Peter addressed the whole issue when he wrote to the suffering brothers and sisters in Rome. He said that the proper response should be threefold: First we should rejoice, just as James said, no matter how strange the logic is, for suffering has a far deeper purpose in building our faith. Second we should commit ourselves to the loving care of our Heavenly Father, and third, we should continue doing what is right, no matter what others say or do.

There is a common perception today that in this world faith in Christ will exempt one from hardships in life especially those associated with one’s health, happiness and prosperity. This is not true. Preaching a Christianity that is easy, pleasurable and indulgent is a high form of deception. A hostile world is out there. Finances are short, expenses are mounting, debts are overdue, a child is sick, the employer is losing, health is failing. The strain and stress of the world are very real. When they come the human tendency is to  point an accusing finger at circumstances, which one cannot change, or blame God for not preventing them.

If we are to grow in our faith we should look for God’s Hand in our trials and trust Him even in the darkness of our despair. Look for what God is revealing to us in our trials. To the Christian,  going through adversities should drive him closer to God.

The issue is how will God’s people respond?  The  people of God are not left helpless. God is saying “Cease striving and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Be still and know Me, He said. He assures that “in quietness and confidence shall be your strength” ( Isaiah 30;15). 

God has given us His promises. First He promised to be with us always. He goes with us through the fiery trials. Second he promised to protect us. Nothing can happen to us apart from the will and protection of our Father. Third He promised to refine us so that we can come out pure in our faith that His power may be demonstrated in our lives.

FATHER'S DAY MESSAGE

FATHER’S DAY MESSAGE

TEXT: Hebrews 12:9-11; Proverbs 19:14

It is a common saying that we have no choice in the selection of our parents. I am using the word parents in the sense that persons must necessarily have fathers and mothers in the biological sense. But the word parents may not necessarily refer only to biological parents, since parenting has a far broader connotation. Adopting parents may not be the biological parents of their  adopted child, yet they are still parents in the real and legal sense of the word.

The subject of our meditation this Sunday, is about fathers, in celebration of Father’s Day. There are good fathers, very good fathers, fairly good fathers and sad to say bad ones.

I have lived with my father for a greater part of my life, since birth and childhood, except for the number of years when I left home to pursue an education, courtesy of my father. After finishing school I worked and exercised my profession, and still lived with my father, with free board and lodging. After I got married, I brought along my wife and still lived in his house, and my father never complained. Whenever I run short of money to fill up the feeding bottles of his “apos” (grandson) my father would happily oblige to provide the infant formula. Now this gives you an idea what a parasite I am for a son. But after all what are fathers for?

Society, and even Biblically speaking, has typecast the father as the man of the house. We look with disfavor at the sight of a man who is a bungling, inadequate, henpecked husband and father. We expect fathers always to be in control of family matters and to solve every problem. Fathers are supposed to earn a good living and provide a good quality of life of their family. We see how fathers work hard and make sacrifices to provide for their children and we can only imagine the countless days, months and years they have worked for the sake of their families.

Sometimes fathers have to pretend they know everything. Fathers are expected to be trouble shooters, ready to fix anything that breaks down in the home. Fathers are supposed to pretend they are emotionally strong and should be able to hide their most sensitive feelings,  so they appear as a real men. Some fathers are embarrassed to show any emotion, so they struggle not to cry or break down. Fathers could be proud and uncompromising. They find it so low and demeaning to apologize to their wives or children even if they are wrong.

Fathers are supposed to display coolness or passivity even if he feels like crying, as he gives away his daughter in marriage while his wife sobs beside him. After all, father believes that only mothers cry during the wedding of their daughter.

Now this is typical old fashioned father. I hope some fathers here do not fit the description but if you do, do not worry you are in good company.

Let’s proceed to the more serious part. The Book of Proverbs Chapter 19:14 says “ A father can give his sons homes and riches but only the Lord can give them understanding wives.”

The significance of this Proverb strikes us because we look at fathers as the provider and head of the home and they are the persons sometimes difficult to understand. Some  fathers are not expressive of their feelings, and to paraphrase Proverbs while a father’s role is mainly as an economic necessity, we thank God that he is given a wife who could understand him better. Only mothers could figure out quite well fathers. Most children view their father as an authority figure, and some fathers typically project an  image of indifference to the simple mundane affairs of child rearing and nurturing. Fathers are mainly perceived as economic necessities and the responsibility of bringing up children rests upon the mothers.

FATHERS NEED TO COMMUNICATE

Deuteronomy 6:6-9

6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 

There is a need to clarify the father’s role. A father’s action could strongly influence his children. The importance of developing close relationship between fathers and their children should be taken seriously. Dr. James Dobson, a leading Christian Psychologist and Christian family counselor  said  fathers should spend quality time with their children and often talk to them sincerely, openly, and frankly. Fathers should not only show their love and affection to their children through their actions, they should also express it in words. There is no better way to communicate your love to your children than to verbalize how you feel towards them and express your understanding and appreciation of them. Communication with your children should be maintained and cultivated. Deuteronomy commands fathers to talk to their children about God’s Word. Talking to your son or daughter is a heartwarming experience. Communication breaks all barriers of mistrust and builds up trust and closeness. As a father you would be the first person to whom your children would open up to or confide with if they have been used to talking to you openly and candidly without hesitation, fear or timidity.

John Powell, well known writer, a Catholic Priest of the Jesuit Order, in his book Love and Communication wrote of his experience with his own father in this succinct and poignant account, and let me quote a portion of what he wrote:

“It was the day my father died. It was a bleak cold and blustery day in January. In the small hospital room I was supporting him in my arms when his eyes suddenly widened with a look of awe I had never seen before. I was certain that the angel of death had entered the room.  Then my father slumped back and I lowered his head gently onto to the pillow. I closed his eyes and told my mother who was seated by the bedside praying. It’s all over mother. Father is dead. My mother said, ‘Oh he was proud of you. He loved you.’ Somehow I knew from my own reaction that these words were saying something important to me. They were like a sudden shaft of light. Like a startling thought I have never before absorbed. Yet there was a definite edge of pain as though I were going to know my father better in death than I had ever known him in life. … leaning against the wall in the far corner of the room crying softly …a nurse came over to me and put a comforting arm around me. I couldn’t talk through my tears. I have wanted to tell her I’m not crying because my father is dead. I’m crying because my father never told me that he was proud of me. He never told me that he loved me. Of course I was expected to know these things. I was expected to know the great part I played in his life and the great part I occupied in his heart but he never told me.”

This could well be a fitting reminder to us fathers, that words are important to our children. Do not allow the day to come when our children would say  “My father never told me that he was proud of me that he loved me.”

After the responsibilities are over and the children have grown up and become adults it is said that some fathers usually stop being expressive of their feelings. They seem embarrassed and feel awkward exhibiting fatherly love and affection in words. They would rather keep quiet and simply make the assumption that their children are expected to know they are loved.

FATHERS ARE TEACHERS

Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Proverbs 1:8 says, “Listen my son to your father’s instructions and do not forget your mother’s teaching.”

Along with communication is instruction. Proverbs 1:8 says, “Listen my son to your father’s instructions and do not forget your mother’s teaching.”

Fathers are teachers. Children will better remember their parents for their instruction, guidance and example, than anything else.

A Christian father is one who loves and fears God. He imparts godly wisdom to his children. The world today is full of snares for the feet of the young. Young minds cannot yet discern the hidden dangers or the dreadful end of the path that seems  right but leads to destruction. Fathers should take the lead in bringing their children to the saving grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The preparation for this divine instruction should start early in the children’s life.

One of the stories in the Old Testament which is instructive is the account about Eli the Priest and his two evil sons.  Eli,  was presumably a good man, a religious man, but weak and indecisive as a father. He was diligent in his priestly duties and responsibilities, and disciplined in his calling as a priest . But he failed to discipline his two sons. His two sons became evil to the point of blasphemy that they demanded and appropriated for themselves portions of the sacrifices brought to the temple, in violation of the religious law. Worst, they flagrantly committed the sexual sin of fornication right at the very door of the tabernacle.

We can assume that Eli might have warned his two sons about their corrupt and shameful practices but it was too late because they did not heed their father’s correction. The problem was a long standing one for they were already grown up men, and it is plain that Eli their father failed to teach and discipline them in the right way early on. Eli had never disciplined his sons. His sons were bringing a curse upon themselves because their father failed to discipline them.

Our text, in the Book of Hebrews 12:9-11 New International Version (NIV), declares:

^“9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! ¹⁰ They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Fathers should take care not to exasperate or provoke their children to wrath, because this alienates their minds from them, and renders their instructions and corrections useless, and puts them upon sinful practices; anger gives satan the opportunity to lead us to sin against God; and indeed it is difficult in the best of men to be angry and not sin; see ( Colossians 3:21 ) . Fathers are particularly mentioned, they being the heads of families, and are apt to be too severe, as mothers too indulgent.

Fathers are enjoined to teach their children knowledge of divine things, setting them good examples, taking care to prevent their falling into bad company, praying with them, and for them, bringing them into the house of God, under the means of grace, to attend public worship; all which, under a divine blessing, may be very useful to them; the example of Abraham is worthy of imitation, ( Genesis 18:19 ) , and the advice of the wise man deserves attention, ( Proverbs 22:6 ) .

FATHERS ARE LEADERS AND EXAMPLES

The husband and father is the head of the family. His wife looks to him for love, faithfulness, help, and support, in the care, education, and training of their children. A good father of the family should be controlled by the love and fear of God and guided by God’s word the Bible in leading his children to live in obedience to God. We can learn a lesson from the life of Jacob. In Genesis 33:13-14 there was a time when Jacob undertook a difficult journey with his entire family and as he led them, he  saw how tender and young were the children, and some of the flocks and herd had their young with them, so   he said, if they are driven too hard, even for one day all the flocks and herd could die. So he decided to lead the children and the animals,   to follow him at a slower pace that was comfortable for the children and the livestock, so they would be able to endure the long journey.  

In our life’s journey fathers stand as strong and protective leaders of their families. Like Jacob a good father should quietly and faithfully lead on his family, providing comfort and support to those who walk by his side. Fathers mark out the paths and boundaries  which would guide the steps of his children.  A good father should combine affection with authority, discipline with kindness, sympathy with firm restraint. He should teach such noble virtues as integrity, honesty, patience, courage and diligence, as much as practice these virtues as a worthy example. Fathers should think about how they are viewed by their children. The eminent Bible Bible Commentator and Preacher Dr. Charles Swindoll said  “Sometimes there is an instruction deeper than words.” Children will always treasure those fond memories of their fathers as they reflect on their father’s character.

We are reminded of the prodigal son in Luke 15. In 17^th verse, we are given the picture of the prodigal son overcame by remorse, and when he came to his senses, he remembered his father and wanted to return home. He said to himself I will go back to my father. It was his memory of a loving father that moved this lost son to go back home to his father. He remembered his father.

Some day we fathers will be gone and only our memories will be left to our children. The kind of life that we live will judge us. What a joy it would be for our children to be remembered as a good, fine Christian father.

Let me close by saying that a father’s role is not complete until he assumes the spiritual leadership of his house. Earthly fathers should bow and worship our Heavenly Father, and commit his family to the care of our Heavenly Father, who is greater than any earthly father.

Christian writer Hannah Whitall Smith wrote, “Fathering Means Blessing. Our Lord draws the comparison between earthly fathers and our Heavenly Father to show us not that He is less good, tender and willing to bless, but much more. Can we conceive of a good earthly father giving stone or a serpent to a hungry child instead of bread or fish? Would not our souls revolt at the thought of such a father who could do such things? But it is not only that our Heavenly Father is willing to give us good  things; He is far more willing. There is no grudging in His giving. …Those of us who are parents know how eager we are to give good things to our children… why then should we torment ourselves with anxiety lest (God) should fail to grant what we need?”

When the cares of the day are over, it is ideal for the father to gather his family and unite  in grateful prayer acknowledging God’s care during the day. Brought up under the wise and loving guidance of a godly father, children will have no desire to wander away and seek worldly  pleasures or be influenced by ungodly pursuits. Evil will not attract them. The spirit that prevails in the home will mold their character. And when they shall leave the home to take their places in the world, they will have fond memories of a kind, loving, respectable father, whom they will always remember as a godly man.