James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 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. (James 1:1-5)
James was pastor of the church at Jerusalem. In this epistle he writes to his scattered and persecuted flock. Many different “temptations” had come into their lives. This Pastor exhorts his flock: “Don’t miss your opportunity!”
1. Opportunity for Joy. “…My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations…”
Adversity teaches us to rejoice in our blessings. Life’s storms bring clarity. We recognize the blessings we daily take for granted. In the storm, we appreciate things that really matter.
In a health crisis, we learn the value of health! If someone offered you ten thousand dollars to cut off your arms, you would not sell them! Even if they offered you a million dollars. Your health is valuable. In a health crisis, we learn the value of the health of others. You wouldn’t sell your arms for a million dollars and I’m sure you would not sell your spouse or children for a million dollars either, right? (At least I hope not). By these standards, you and I are rich in health and in relationships!
In a health crisis, we learn the value of our salvation and our Saviour. You would not sell your salvation for a million dollars, would you? Of course not! We know in the midst of a crisis that our Saviour is with us, He knows all about our predicament, and He is in control. Jesus is omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent. God is in control of our destination.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:28-29)
2. Opportunity for Personal Growth. “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
We can rejoice that God is “perfecting” (growing) us through the trial. Be “patient”. God is equipping you, constructing you, making you “entire, wanting nothing” (complete).
In this health crisis, our weaknesses can become strengthened. God is trying to make us more spiritually mature Christians.
When a trail disrupts our lives, our daily routines are disturbed. The daily grind and the ruts that we were stuck in are interrupted. Our American society and culture at the present moment has been completely disrupted. We, at this time, have an opportunity to reinvent ourselves. Your life is composed of routines, so we can rethink the way we do life. All priorities that directed our lives before can and should be called into question: Why have I been doing the things that I have been doing?What is the value of the activities that I had been involved in? As we question these things, we can rearrange our life accordingly. We have an opportunity for personal growth!
We can grow in our home life. The children are out of school. After school programs are halted. Many adults find themselves quarantined from work and are at home. We have an opportunity to start a new family culture and structure by having family time, family devotions, and we can reconnect with God and each other.
We can grow in our church life. Unfortunately, we do not have the blessing of assembling ourselves together for corporate worship at this time, but we do have an opportunity to grow in other areas. The churches’ use of media is being sharpened. We are coming up with alternative ways of sharing the gospel: virtual tracts, phone calls, and texts. Church people have an opportunity to call and check on one another and build caring relationships.
We have an opportunity to grow individually. We have an opportunity to flourish in our devotional life. We can become better prayer warriors and Bible readers. Many people have opportunity now to study the Bible. We have a chance to reevaluate our health and develop a culture of a healthy lifestyle.
Through health crises, if we “let patience have its perfect work,” we will come back stronger than we ever were before. We will grow.
3. Opportunity for Prayer. “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.”
The health crisis is a catalyst for prayer. We can use this trial as an opportunity to seek God’s wisdom in prayer. Wisdom is “knowledge rightly applied.” The implication of wisdom in these verses means, “seeing things the way God sees them.” God offers to us His mind on the crisis at hand.
When we seek wisdom in prayer, we are confessing our lack of wisdom. We are telling the Lord we want to see the situation from His perspective so we can act accordingly. We might know facts, figures, and statistics, but we do not know how to act unless God gives us wisdom.
God’s extends a very exciting invitation. Ask for wisdom and it will be freely given to you!
May this health crisis be a catalyst to make us better prayer warriors both individually and corporately.
At LBBC, we are challenging each member to set the alarm on their phone for noon and pray every day. Pray for this crisis.
