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what struggles produce

Have you been through some struggles lately?  All around me are folks, including myself, who have been through a number of things.  Some of them seem insignificant.  Some of them seem huge.  Yet how we deal with these situations says a lot about our faith.

James 1:2-4  (nasb) --- Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 

I shared those verses with our people at The Community Fellowship yesterday, and a couple things hit me between the eyes.  I want to ask you to think about them:

  • First, when we live with that kind of perspective of trials, we gain life.
  • Second, when we live with that kind of perspective, we will serve others.

I close with Scripture on both those topics:

GAINING LIFE

James 1:12 (nasb) --- Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.  (that is eternal life)

Luke 21:19 (nasb) --- By your endurance you will gain your lives. (this is life on earth and the good life)

SERVING OTHERS

James 2:18,20,26  (nasb) --- But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."  But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?  For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. (faith not only holds us and helps us through trials, but faith helps us help other people in the middle of their trials)

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