James 1:2-3 NASB
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, [3] knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
James knew they would be having trials - it was a given. There was no way to avoid them. No way then, no way now.
As true aliens and strangers our ways can not be their ways. Our entertainment, work, study, etc. must be fundamentally different from theirs. Not to mention our motivation for all we do.
As we are citizens of His Kingdom and He is our Lord and Master we answer to Him first and foremost. Our allegiance to Him, our submission to Him and His cause has to take precedence over any and all others. Hence we must expect trials.
But what are the trials we really face. Most of us have cable TV and our favorite shows. We have our favorite teams and groups and we spend time effort and money to see them do their thing. And all too often we do so in a chorus of compromise with the world.
We'll blink at the inappropriate things just to watch the show or game or whatever. We'll tsk tsk at the half naked cheerleaders just to watch a ball game. (By the way - baseballs only redeeming quality is - no cheerleaders ;-}}}). We'll over-extend ourselves to be entertained, distracted even titillated. And in doing so we are overcome by the trials - or what should be trials - but sadly for too many of us, aren't.
In His reality (the only real reality) what I watch on TV - the coice I am faced with should be a trial. Whether or not I even have TV should be a trial of choice. But we will take part in the great lemming sit-a-thon, the couch potato olympics without any real consideration of the problem - being just like them - the citizens of this earthly kingdom - the one ruled by the Prince of the Power of the Air.
Am I saying TV is evil? Well what is something that is 97% evil, evil? Can you commit a little adultery, a little idolatry and it be OK? Guess you know where I stand - I'm not a TV watcher (anymore) nor am I a movie goer - it's just I'm tired of ignoring the trial and therefore excusing or tolerating that which I should not. For me all shows that start off watchable ultimately become un-watchable. It's just not worth the investment of time, attention, compromise and money.
You make your own decision - but please do it wisely and broadly/deeply.
But - back to the verse.
We are called to consider trials "all joy." why in the world would we do that? The answer is best given by Jesus:
John 15:18-19 NASB
"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. [19] "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.
John later writes:
1 John 2:15-16 NASB
Do not love the world nor the things in the world If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
When we encounter trials of faith and faithfulness it is a solid point at which we can be assured we are His. Why else would it be a trial? Had we no faith and no desire to be faithful we would hardly be concerned. Sadly though too many of us are little concerned if concerned at all by the love we have for the world and the trials that go un-addressed.
We look and act and enjoy too much of the world. We "love" too much of the world and this should drive us to our knees seeking His forgiveness and His strength and wisdom. We should also plead for a greater sensitivity to trials and ask for tender consciences that we might recognize the subtle schemes of Satan and the subtle seductions of the world.
Joy at trials? Certainly for we are His and trials are just part and parcel of being aliens and strangers here.
But it's not just joy, it's "all joy." That's unmitigated joy - joy un-deterred, un-marred, not mixed with anything. Tough call here. But it is the promise of heaven - eternally being with Him that makes it possible. We are weak and frail and we may have to work hard at it but "all joy" is possible. It is not a joy without sorrow or sadness but a joy without regret or bitterness. It mourns the struggle and the antipathy with and of the world but celebrates in the hope of heaven. The sorrow is a sorrow of not yet and not a sorrow of I can't. It's a sorrow for the unredeemed who can not see the poison, the pit, the judgement that awaits them.
James tells us to "count it" all joy - huh? Well the term is the present participle which in the Greek indicates on going action as the result of a completed act. In other words we count it because we are counted as Him. That is the only reason anyone would have to consider (esteem) a trial as joyful.
OK, enough for now -- How trial sensitive are you - how's your joy level?
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