You should be happy when your life sucks

I have started my study on the Book of James for the 5 week sermon series.

The book starts with these words; "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of any kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."

James starts the book with a clear indication of his answer to the question, "What is the meaning of life?"  In one verse this guy writes more meaning than I have in my entire life.  Man, what is the purpose of life?  I guess most Americans would agree that we are looking for happiness, peace, and security.  None of those are bad things...inherently.  I say this because that's what I feel.  That what I see advertised on TV.  That's what I hear shared for prayer requests, as well as what I share for prayer requests. 

James then concludes his opening thought like this, "Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

What is the purpose of life?  I think that James is saying the purpose is to work through this life to become complete and mature, lacking nothing.  So how is this unique to James and Christianity?  Doesn't this sound like self-actualization or some forms of eastern religions?  Do the best that you can in this life so that you can come back even better.  Where is the separation?  What unique perspective has James brought into the equation?

Let's look just a little bit further and James says, "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."  You see James doesn't see a "coming back again" thing going on in life.  He doesn't see an exultation of ourselves.  He doesn't see us being able to complete ourselves or achieve peace on our own.  He doesn't recommend us trying to persevere on our own.  He doesn't allude to us being strong for the sake of ourselves.  It has little to do with us.

It's about Christ.  Once again - right?  It's about the completeness that comes from a person being united with God.  It comes from the relationship being made complete.  It comes from us and our connection to God.

Why can we stand any trial?  Only because of Christ's strength.  Why have so many people died for the sake of Christ?  Because they can't understanding living for any other reason.

The verses don't imply that God is the one causing us to go through the troubles.  It does teach us that we can walk away stronger from each trial.  Each bad think that comes our way can make us weaker or stronger.

My friend in high school, Cory Anderson, was super tough.  He still is.  We had a wrestling coach in Junior High that told Cory he would never amount to anything.  He wasn't just talking about wrestling.  (How a teacher can say that to a student blows my mind.)  Cory could have been hurt by that and let it just eat at him.  He could have become a victim to a jerk teacher.  He could have let that prophecy be fulfilled.  Not Cory.

Cory used that as motivation.  He was an amazing wrestler.  He was one of the strongest people I have known in real life.  He was my wrestling partner and he is the reason that my nose is crooked and I can only breathe out of one nostril.  Cory was tough.  Very tough.  Cory went to graduate school.  Not bad for someone who "would never amount to anything."

So should we all be happy when our lives suck?  No, not really.  It's perfectly natural and acceptable to get beaten down and hurt.  Sometimes the right thing to do is to just cry.

But, at some point, you must get back up.  Count it all joy that God would care enough about you to let you live your life and make your own mistakes so that you can be on the journey to maturity.  But even through that there are storms that will come that will be more than we can bear on our own.  God promises to be with us in those storms.  Any good parent knows that you must not always run to help your kids up.  Sometimes it's best for them to pick themselves up and keep on moving.  I would rather my kids have wonder, challenges, and adventures in life than look for empty happiness in the security of a good education, nice mortgage, happy job, and pointless existence.

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