How Are You Responding To Trials, As A Believer?

As I read James 1 this morning, I thought of the five virgins who did not have enough oil in their lamps and were rejected. I stay concerned for my family that they not get distracted by the cares of life and run out of oil. Good times may be the most dangerous, as we tend to forget the Lord.

The Lord corrects those he loves and how we respond is very critical. Do we draw nearer to the Lord or do we move away from the Lord and lose faith? This is an act of our will as we make the decision. Sin brings death into our lives. There is a war for our souls.

Please take note that James echos the Apostle Paul and his warnings that we finish the race. We are personally responsible to keep ourselves unstained from the world. Just because we said a "sinner's prayer" does not mean we will escape destruction. Many will hear Jesus say "Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who practice evil!'"  Matthew 7:23 ISV

James 1 ISV

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you are involved in various trials, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4But you must let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

5Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to everyone generously without a rebuke, and it will be given to him. 6But he must ask in faith, without any doubts, for the one who has doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7Such a person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8He is a double-minded man, unstable in all he undertakes.d

9A brother of humble means should rejoice in his having been exalted, 10and a rich person in his having been humbled, because he will fade away like a wild flower. 11For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass. The flower in it drops off, and its beauty is gone. That is how the rich person will fade away in his pursuits.

12How blessed is the man who endures temptation! When he has passed the test, he will receive the victor’s crown of life that Gode has promised to those who keep on loving him. 13When someone is tempted, he should not say, “I am being tempted by God,” because God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. 14Instead, each person is tempted by his own desire, being lured and trapped by it. 15When that desire becomes pregnant, it gives birth to sin; and when that sin grows up, it gives birth to death.

16Do not bef deceived, my dear brothers. 17Every generous act of giving and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father who made the heavenly lights,g in whom there is no inconsistency or shifting shadow. 18In accordance with his will he made us his children by the word of truth, so that we might become the most important of his creatures.h

19You must understand this, my dear brothers. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20For human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.21Therefore, rid yourselves of everything impure and every expression of wickedness, and with a gentle spirit welcome the word planted in you that can save your souls.

22Keep on being obedient toi the word, and not merely being hearers who deceive themselves. 23For if anyone hears the word but is not obedient to it, he is like a man who looks at himself in a mirror24and studies himself carefully, and then goes off and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the one who looks at the perfect law of freedom and remains committed to it—thereby demonstrating that he is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of what that lawj requires—will be blessed in what he does.

26If anyone thinks that he is religious and does not bridle his tongue, but instead deceives himself,k his religion is worthless. 27A religion that is pure and stainless according tol God the Father is this: to take care of orphans and widows who are suffering, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.