Count It All Joy
(Exhortation - March 2004)
Life has its ups and downs is a pithy saying that is couched in truth. It is a fact that no one goes through life without encountering problems. Some are brought about by unwise behavior and life style, while others seem to be random and part of the sad circumstances of humankind. For the believer, however, trials and tribulations may be God directed toward the shaping of our characters.
The apostle James even states that we should be thankful and glad for them: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations” (Jas. 1:2), or in the words of the NIV: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” To the uninitiated in the ways of the Lord, this would appear to be an oxymoron: how can one rejoice and be thankful when one is suffering? The answer is in the following verse: “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” (Jas. 1, 3-4 NIV).
God is working in us, and with us, so that we might obtain the ultimate in maturity and be “conformed to the image of his son” (Rom. 8:29).
The testing of your faith
God sometimes uses trials by way of testing our commitment to
Him. Examples of this fact abound throughout the Bible, commencing with the
progenitors of the human race. The tree of life and the subtle serpent were
used to assess the obedience of Adam and Eve and to develop their
characters. Abraham underwent the horrendous trial of his faith by the
command to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. (It was also an acute test of
the faith and obedience of Isaac.) Even the antitypical lamb caught in the
thicket, the Lord Jesus himself, was led by the spirit into the wilderness
to be tempted and tried.
As we read of the confident and resolute responses to the tempter drawn from a mind steeped in his Father’s word, we may fail to recognize the tremendous struggle against sin that must have gone on in his mind. The words of the writer to the Hebrews help us to put the incident into perspective:
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard for his godly fear. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him (Heb. 5:7-9 RSV).
Truly the battle against the tendencies of human nature was not won without appealing to God with strong cries and tears in prayer.
Prayer a necessity
James reminds us of the perfect tool, prayer,
to counter our weakness in times of trials and trouble. We must pray for
wisdom, guidance and strength:
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways (Jas. 1:5-8).
When we are overwhelmed with the cares and problems of this life and do not know which way to turn, we may overlook the obvious source of help -- prayer. Sometimes prayers are offered to our Heavenly Father, but there is a hesitancy of approach fueled by an element of doubt. Faith is in danger of erosion when exposed to extreme pressure. Perhaps the negative and often-posed question “Why me?” should be replaced by the positive: “Was there ever a saint who went through life without suffering for righteousness’ sake?”
The example of Job
God declared Job to be blameless and
yet he was exposed to extreme mental and physical suffering in the loss of
his family, possessions, health and friends. Did Job deserve this? Was
God unjust in the treatment of this good man? Of course this is
unthinkable, and James provides us with the true reason: “You have heard
of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord, that the
Lord is very compassionate and merciful” (Jas. 5:11 NKJ). The Lord in
His mercy was working with the patriarch to bring him toward maturity of
understanding and perfection of character.
The patient endurance of Job and conviction that “God is” are admirable qualities that we do well to emulate, but initially there were also misapprehensions and conclusions for us to avoid. For example, we would not want to be guilty of complaining bitterly of the arrows of the Almighty, nor fervently wish that God would “cut me off” (Job 6:4,9). With our understanding of the bias toward sin present in human nature we would not say: “I will not restrain my mouth” (from proclaiming that we are perfectly innocent and blameless thereby inferring that God had made an error of judgement). Thankfully, we do not see death as the sum total of life:
O, remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good. The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not. As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more (Job 7:7-9).
It is certain however, that we identify with the sentiments of Job after his understanding had been opened:
“I am unworthy, how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth…Surely I spoke of things I did not understand…My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 40:4; 42:3,5 NIV).
May we, like Job, humble ourselves in repentance when we recognize our faults.
The lesson to draw from James is that we should endure trials patiently, rejoicing in the knowledge that the Lord God cares and that He is working in us to the end that we will reflect His glory throughout eternity.
The Joy of Christ
Time constraints prevent us from looking in
detail at the events of the apostles who, “Rejoiced that they were
counted worthy to suffer shame for the sake of his name.” Instead:
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who
for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat
down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2 NIV).
In the midst of troubles our spirits can be lifted and strengthened by focusing our hopes on the joys and glory of the kingdom, as did the one whom we have come to remember this morning. Trials are not pleasant but they can serve to strengthen our faith in the realization that the Lord suffered to open the way of fellowship with him.
The Greek word for fellowship ‘koinonia’ is used extensively in the New Testament. Vine gives the definition: communion, fellowship, participation, sharing.
Peter informed the early Christians that they should look upon their trials as a means of sharing in the suffering of the Savior:
Beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers (sharers) of Christ’s sufferings: that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy “ (I Pet. 4:12-4).
In a similar manner Paul speaks of his trials and persecutions:
Indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings… (Phil. 3:8, 10).
Sharing in love
The emblems before us serve as a reminder of the death and
resurrection of Jesus. They also bind us in fellowship not only with him
but with each other:
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion (koinonia, fellowship) of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, being many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread (I Cor. 10:16-17).
The fellowship that we share as a community is a great blessing. Historically there have been many hands stretched out to help those undergoing times of trial and problems. Practical help is invaluable especially when accompanied by prayers for patient endurance. We can all learn from our trials remembering that God, in love, is working to shape us in His image. This indeed gives rise to joy.