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i’m pretty stuck on the sermon as i look back on yesterday’s gathering as a church family. i have taught through the book of james multiple times in my life (though always with kids at a bible study…never preaching through it), but i have never seen it through the lens i look through now.
there are so many people who are struggling these days. more than ever before? probably not…but it sure feels like it. it seems like we have fewer and fewer people who are financially stable in these upside down economic times. so many who are dealing with crazy life issues. lots of hurt. lots of confusion. lots of questions.
it is certainly not the days and culture of persecution that the readers of james’ letter were living in. but it is our world and the message of james is no less challenging and no less demanding of us. we need to listen carefully.
the instruction from james 1:5-8 is to pray for wisdom. in the most difficult of times, pray for wisdom. when it seems like we can’t go on, pray for wisdom. when it looks like all is lost and there is no hope, pray for wisdom. not relief. not help. not removal from conflict. not a change in circumstances. nope. we are to pray for wisdom.
here’s what i’m afraid of: we come to god when we want something, but do we really trust that he knows best. do we trust his wisdom enough to pray for it? or are we more comfortable just telling him what we want him to do? honestly, most of the time, we really think we know what’s best for our lives…until we’re out of control…and then we come running to god…because there’s nowhere else to run!
here’s the bad news from this passage: with that kind of belief system about god and about how he works, he’s really not god at all…we are…and he is nothing more than our servant who exists to give us what we want. and with that kind of faith, james says we really shouldn’t expect anything from him at all. ouch! go read it for yourself…
so it’s time to take inventory. here’s what a “double-minded” man is: wanting god on your terms.
you want his power…when it will give you what you want.
you want his goodness…when you can’t find it anywhere else.
you want his truth…when it fits what you want to believe.
you want his presence…when it fits your schedule.
you want his relationship…when your friends aren’t around.
you want his grace…when you’ve dug yourself a hole.
you want his forgiveness…when you choose to sin.
you want his way…when yours doesn’t work anymore.
you want his help…when you can no longer make it by yourself.
i think it’s time for us to go to god on his terms, not ours…don’t you think?
yes, it was a good sunday.
have a great week.
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