Bad things happen to everyone – it’s true. Including me. I remember a particular morning in the office it seemed like there was one problem after another – and they began to add up. It was time to go to lunch and yet another crisis came to my attention and before I knew it, it was going on 2 p.m. I had to get to lunch. So, I’m in my car and I hear sirens. I’m at the intersection in front of our church and I turned left to get out of the way, as the fire trucks usually go up the hill. Not this one, it turns my direction and I pull over as it speeds by; I am finally able to continue to get on the 5 north to the next exit. I’m not even on the freeway, but stay in the exit lane that is just 1,000 feet in front of me … and I notice a car going by me on the freeway with a sticker that says, “I love my Pastor.” Aww … I had to laugh and say, thank you! It helped me know God has a bigger picture and I can laugh at my “problems.”
As long as we’re living and breathing, stuff happens; suffering happens; problems will occur. The book of James, found toward the end of the New Testament, is not a book known for its deep doctrine. It’s not a theological treatise; it’s a practical book.
It’s called “the little big book”, and is, at times, referred to as the proverbs of the New Testament. There are two key words that we will see in James: works and faith.
They’re not contradictory but they are complementary. However, the theme of James is not just faith and works; it is faith that works!
James begins his letter in verse one by identifying himself as “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Now, James is the brother of Jesus! Jesus wasn’t the only child born to Mary and Joseph. James was one of several sons and daughters. If they are listed in birth order in Matthew 13, James is the oldest after Jesus and so the closest in age to Jesus.
As anyone with siblings will tell you, comparison is inevitable. Most of us have heard the statement, “Why can’t you be like your brother/sister?” How do you think it must have felt to literally have a perfect brother? I wonder if James heard, “James why can’t you be more like Jesus?”
After Jesus’ resurrection, not only did James believe, he went on to be considered an apostle and became the pastor of the church at Jerusalem. He was noted for his deep faith and his profound life of prayer.
James, in this letter, is writing to people who are going through severe hardship. They were hated, rejected and considered outcasts. But rather than console them he challenges them. He challenges them to rethink their difficulties. And he challenges them to trust God in the midst of their difficulties.
James would have laughed at the idea that believing in God will make all your problems disappear, and that you will “live happily ever-after.” In fact, James is saying that it is our response to our trials that prove the reality of our faith. Someone has said, “People are like teabags, you don’t know what’s in them until you put them in hot water.”
When you experienced times of trial in your life you may have asked, “Why? Why am I experiencing these troubles?” Or “What purpose could this possibly serve?” I know I have.
Have you ever really looked for the answer? Or did you just throw your arms up in disgust, blame God, and turn bitter. Think back to a recent trial, big or small. How did you feel about it? How did you react to it? What kind of thoughts went through your head? What was your attitude? Anger? Frustration? Disappointment? Failure?
I don’t think we are to passively endure a time of testing, but we do have the opportunity to learn from the experience. It’s our attitude that determines outcome. Bad things happen to good people all the time. What’s your attitude?
Rev. Dan Koeshall is the Senior Pastor at The Metropolitan Community Church (The Met) in San Diego, California, themetchurch.org.
