| The book of James in the New Testament portrays | | | | destroying the steel, makes it stronger". (p3). The |
| trials as tests that come through suffering which | | | | result of trials in our lives will be the ability to |
| Christians are to endure and overcome. James 1:2-4 | | | | persevere to the end, hoping for our reward in |
| sees enduring trials as a cause for joy, because they | | | | heaven. This ability is a virtue that only trials and |
| produce maturity and develop perseverance. | | | | suffering will produce. It also yields a stable character |
| Perseverance is the steadfastness in the belief or | | | | and a firm showing of our faith. The story of |
| assurance of eternal security in Jesus Christ, which | | | | Abraham in Genesis 22 is an example of a man |
| the believer possesses after overcoming trials. R.H. | | | | developing perseverance from his test. |
| Johnson, in his article "Overcoming Under Trial" (p1) | | | | God had promised Abraham that He would make him |
| describes trials as the "the old way of testing new | | | | father of many nations and that He would establish |
| bridges." He further went on to explain that formerly | | | | His covenant with Abraham's descendants, giving |
| new bridges were heavily loaded before being used | | | | them the land of Canaan as an everlasting |
| for public service, not to ruin them or make them fail | | | | possession. God also gave Abraham and his wife |
| but remain strong with normal use. R. Jonathan, an | | | | Sarah a son in their old age and they were happy. |
| early rabbi cited in Jewish literature works such as | | | | Suddenly, God tested Abraham by telling him to take |
| the Talmud; also once said "A potter does not | | | | his son Isaac and sacrifice him as a burnt offering to |
| examine defective vessels. What then does he | | | | Him. Abraham had promised to be obedient to God |
| examine? Only the sound vessels. Similarly, the Holy | | | | and had even consecrated his son to the Lord by |
| One, blessed be He, tests not the wicked but the | | | | circumcision. However, his hopes of becoming the |
| righteous." These two citations help the Christian to | | | | father of a great nation were being dashed, as he |
| know that trials or suffering are inevitable for us and | | | | was now to kill the son of the covenant. This did not |
| if endured, will lead to heavenly reward and so there | | | | hamper Abraham's loyalty to God but he obediently |
| is every reason to rejoice in anticipation of the | | | | took the boy away to be sacrificed. He was |
| reward if we stand firm in our faith. | | | | confident that God would do something to fulfill His |
| According to Peter H. Davids in 'James - A Good | | | | promise to him. When Isaac questioned his father |
| News commentary', 1983, (p3), the trials to which | | | | about the animal for the burnt offering, the answer |
| James refers are the testing and refining situations in | | | | was that God himself would provide it. Abraham |
| life, hard situations in which faith is sorely tried, such | | | | endured this ordeal of going up the mountain with his |
| as persecution, a difficult moral choice, or a tragic | | | | son, building the alter for the sacrifice, arranging the |
| experience. Even though these may be sad or bitter | | | | wood for the fire, binding his son and laying him on |
| experiences, James does not dwell on them but | | | | top of the wood to kill him. It is almost unimaginable |
| transforms his perspective of such trials to the | | | | that a father could do this to his own son, but |
| results. In effect, a trial is not an end in itself; it is | | | | Abraham suffered this test, trusting God to do |
| only a means to an end. For the believer, the end | | | | something for him later, as He had done before. God |
| result is the development of perseverance and divine | | | | proved Himself to Abraham by providing a ram for |
| wisdom in facing or handling these trials. | | | | the sacrifice and by also renewing His covenant to |
| The wisdom of the world seeks to avoid the issues | | | | bless him and multiply his descendants. Abraham |
| in a trial circumstance through accommodation on and | | | | persevered as a result of suffering and was |
| or compromise. However, wisdom from God helps | | | | rewarded accordingly. |
| the Christian to overcome trials through faith. | | | | Perseverance is a development, which shapes a |
| The story of Job in the Old Testament is a perfect | | | | Christian believer's character around his commitment |
| illustration of a true believer in God who developed | | | | to Christ. It indicates the assurance given to those |
| perseverance and wisdom in the face of trials. Job | | | | who follow Christ, reminding them that God's power |
| was an upright and blameless man who feared God | | | | will keep them as Christians until they die and that |
| and turned away from evil. However the time came | | | | they will surely live with Christ in heaven forever. It |
| for him to go through trials and suffering rained down | | | | involves persistence and steadfastness in prayer, |
| on him in all forms. His wealth, which was measured in | | | | seeking God's wisdom to help him overcome his trials. |
| thousands of animals, was all lost in one day. He also | | | | Divine wisdom is a communication of God, showing |
| lost all his ten children and as if all this was not | | | | man the path to life. This communication takes place |
| enough, he was also with physical pain. This very | | | | through persistent and steadfast prayer and comes |
| righteous man was now suffering both psychologically | | | | directly from God to man. It is only God who gives |
| and physically, but his reverence for God did not | | | | to man a heart capable of discerning good from evil. |
| waver. Even his wife lost confidence in God and told | | | | Prov 1:7 and 14:27 tell us that the fear of the Lord is |
| Job to hasten his death, which was seen imminent, | | | | the beginning of wisdom and the source of life; and |
| by cursing God. Job's reply to her was that we | | | | that only fools hate discipline and wisdom. Solomon, |
| should not only be ready to accept 'good' from God | | | | when he became king of Israel, asked God for |
| but also trouble. He refused to turn his back on God | | | | wisdom to rule his people and to distinguish between |
| even though conditions became worse with the | | | | good and evil. It is this divine wisdom that helps |
| arrival of his three friends who accused him of | | | | Christians to make the right decisions as to the |
| suffering because of some secret sin. However, Job | | | | proper actions to take under specific circumstances, |
| sought the face of God. He cried out to God for an | | | | with the Holy Spirit as a guide. This wisdom is what |
| explanation of his suffering, which he knew that he | | | | we are reminded about in James 1:5 as a free gift |
| did not deserve. He passed his life and endured these | | | | from God to believers, which leads to practically wise |
| trials with the wisdom that he gained from God, | | | | living, manifesting itself in good, godly character and |
| which surpassed all the human wisdom that his | | | | behavior. James says that God is very willing to give |
| friends displayed. This story portrays the fact that | | | | this wisdom to us and will not reproach us for asking |
| true godly wisdom is to reverently love God more | | | | but that we have to ask in faith, believing that God |
| than all the gifts we receive from Him and to trust in | | | | will give us the best solution to our problems. |
| his goodness even though we cannot always | | | | As Christians, we must realize that trials are inevitable |
| understand his ways. It is worthy to note that God | | | | and are necessary for us in order to develop |
| gives us a special grace for every trial if we ask for | | | | perseverance. We also need God's wisdom to |
| it. That is why, according to B. W. Woods, 1974 | | | | overcome them. James tells us that it is wisdom that |
| (p72), John Milton could write poetry while he was | | | | enables us to face trials with "pure joy" (James 1:2) |
| blind and Beethoven could compose music even | | | | but we must have steady faith to receive and act |
| though he was living in the silent world of deafness. | | | | on it. The Bible states that as Christians, God wants |
| God's grace is sufficient for every situation or | | | | us to think like Christ, love like him, care like him, |
| condition. The apostle Paul wrote in his second letter | | | | obey like him and sacrifice like him. (Rom.8: 29). This |
| to the Corinthians that after having pleaded with God | | | | should remind us that even though we cannot be |
| three times to take away his "thorn in the flesh", | | | | Christ but we must be ready and willing to suffer like |
| God told him that His Grace was sufficient for him | | | | him. |
| because this power is made perfect in weakness. (2 | | | | REFERENCES |
| Cor 12:8-9). God's grace produces wisdom in man, in | | | | NIV Study Bible. |
| faith and perseverance. | | | | Davids, Peter H, James. A Good News Commentary. |
| God uses trials or tests to strengthen our faith in | | | | Leicester: Inter Varsity Press, 1983 |
| Him. As Davids puts it, "The process of testing is like | | | | Woods, B. W. Christians in Pain - Perspective on |
| the tempering of steel: the heat, rather than | | | | Suffering. |