2Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
We discussed this short passage at caregroup recently. Some people shared various trials that they were going through. We discussed them, one at length, and I was struck by a few things:
- There are various kinds of trials - some are big and some are small
- God uses all trials - (for steadfastness, and ultimately for our perfection and completion, of our sanctification)
- Trials often require wisdom - if our concerns are clear cut, there can be a trial, but they are more rare. Trials often occur in the moral dilemmas, the ongoing strains that we are not sure what we should do about them. James puts this section here for a reason, and we who would be wise should take advantage of this truth. God gives wisdom.
He wrote truth down in the Bible. There are both commands explicitly given and principles given that we can apply widely to discern how to honor God in various situations, but for those few situations that aren't clear, we can ask our God for wisdom. He gives generously.
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