Ralph Porter

© 2003

    How do we respond when the pressure rises? How do we respond when times are hard and we don't know what to expect tomorrow? As we've already observed in recent weeks, James' instruction concerning how to live in the hard times, when the pressure is rising around us, is risky reading.

    More than two hundred million Christians in more than seventy countries around the world today face relentless threat of persecution for their faith. It could happen here-in our lifetime! I sense concern among God's people as to what we may expect in coming years.

    On a lesser scale, we all struggle with the pressure of the current economic situation; the possibility of war. We face personal pressure-pressure at work; pressure at home; pressure making ends meet. So, how do we respond when the pressure rises?

    The principles James presents are valid anytime the pressure rises, but they are especially relevant to the church in times of suffering for Jesus. Is there an observable difference between how we face hard times, and those around us who don't know Christ? Hard times demonstrate the true nature of our faith in Christ.

    James was written to Jewish believers, scattered by persecution, to help God's people face times like these. In their day many were following the principle that it's every man for himself! They weren't concerned about helping one another.

    James was writing to demonstrate how God's people ought to live during times of discouragement and pressure. He presents a call to a living faith which works under pressure! His main idea is that a living faith produces fruit, even in the midst of hard times!

    In the first chapter, James introduces two fundamental premises. His first premise is that a living faith endures the pressure (1:2-12). The last couple of weeks we have analyzed that premise and discovered seven principles to help us endure the hard times. In the second half of the chapter James introduces a second premise concerning how we face the rising pressure in our life: a living faith conquers temptation (1:13-27).

    All too often, in contrast to these traits, when we begin to suffer-when the pressure rises-we begin to think about ourselves and our problems. We forget about God's love. We forget about others. We begin to defend ourselves and abandon others.

    In his commentary on James, George Stulac warns us that "The greatest danger isn't the wrong done to me, but the wrong that may be done by me. The real threat is that when the wrong is done to me, I may be tempted to sin myself!"

    That's precisely how a trial is converted into a temptation! What God intends for our good, becomes the basis for a temptation-a temptation that Satan is only too happy to use to destroy us!

    The temptations James has in mind are those that come in response to the rising pressure in our life: anger or revenge; self-centered self-defense; criticism of people who suffer less; or jealousy of people who have more than we do.

    When that happens, we have a tendency to blame God. We're quick to blame anything or anyone but ourselves. We blame our spouse as Adam did when he disobeyed God and ate the fruit in Genesis 1. We blame our circumstances. (What do you expect me to do in the midst of this mess!)

    We often blame Satan, like Geraldine, the popular character in the Flip Wilson Show in the early '70's: "The devil made me do it!" A quick search on the internet reveals that the phrase has become popular today, attached to all kinds of corruption!

    Ultimately, when we begin to pass the blame around for our actions, it's all God's fault! Back in the beginning, when Adam is making excuses for his sin, and blames it on Eve, it's even more significant that she is identified as "the woman YOU GAVE ME!" It's God's fault!

    Proverbs 19:3 summarizes the common way people blame God for their problems: "A man's own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the Lord."

    A woman in the midst of an already troubled marriage came to faith in Christ. Unfortunately, her husband wasn't interested in joining her in her faith. As the marriage continued to deteriorate, she went for counseling. Eventually she was seduced by her counselor. When she turned to a pastor for help, she was hurt and bitter. Who did she blame her troubles on? Not on the counselor. Not on herself. She blamed it all on God! God let these terrible things happen to her! After years of bitterness, she realized God was the only One who truly loved her.

    We do the same thing when we face hard times. "You let this happen!" Frequently people say to me: "I confess, I've been really mad at God about this!" Someone has said: "To err is human; to blame it on God is even more human!"

    The common delusion, which James is addressing in this passage is that since God ordains everything, he ordained our situation, knowing how we would respond. Therefore, He's to blame for our sin when we get angry about it! God's to blame for a cheating student: "God gave me a hard professor and a weak mind." God's responsible for the thief caught stealing: "God placed me in such poverty." God's to blame for marital infidelity: "God placed these strong drives in me."

    Destructive desires will come-it's not a matter of whether they'll come! The question is how will we respond to these desires? How do we respond when the pressure rises?

        . . . when we've been wronged, and want revenge.

        . . . when we want to win at all costs, and it doesn't matter if we stomp on someone else.

        . . . when we see others who have it better than we do, 

                    and we react with feelings of jealousy, envy, anger, maybe even hatred.

    James' readers were passing through a time of serious affliction. In the midst of their affliction they began to murmur and complain. It was the same reaction Israel had in the wilderness. When they suffered, they began to murmur--just like US! We become angry; we complain; then we justify our reaction: "It's God's fault!"

    "Since God sent the problems, He should understand our need to defend ourselves. "What do you expect?" "After all, I'm only human!" We make all kinds of excuses. "If God sent the hard times, then He has to accept the consequences--it's only natural.

    James goes back to our presuppositions to correct our thinking. "Wait a minute!" he cries out, "let's take a little closer look at our presuppositions."

    Let no one say, when he is tempted: "God is tempting me. God has nothing to do with temptation!" He is totally separate from any temptation to commit evil. He tempts no one. God has nothing to do with it!

    We must never say, nor even imagine, that God is the one tempting us. He never has, and He never will! God has never tempted anyone to sin! It's a moral impossibility.

    While it is true that God allows the pressure in our lives, that pressure is for our good. The rising pressure is not an excuse for our bad attitudes. God has nothing to do with temptation to do wrong. If we respond wrongly to what God has sent for our good, who's the guilty one?

    So where does temptation come from? We bring evil into the picture because of our own desires. Neither God, nor the affliction, nor even Satan himself, is responsible for our attitude. We are the guilty ones!

    Affliction gives us an opportunity. Satan tempts us. Sin attracts us. But we make our own decision on the basis of our desires. Chuck Swindoll affirms: "Our unique inner 'itch' longs to be satisfied by that particular outer scratch." In other words, We want what we want, when WE want it!

    We are "drawn away" and "enticed" like trolling with a fishing lure. The combination of the speed of the lure, its depth, the slant of the sun, and the refraction of the light draws the fish away from its secure hideaway. Then he begins to follow the lure, "enticed" by its peculiar wiggle, so that in a sudden burst he lurches for the jig, and swallows it whole!.

    That's how it works with us also. When temptation passes by, we're drawn away from that which would keep us safe, and we're enticed to throw caution to the wind and grab a bite! When we face hard times and begin to complain, we think we can blame God for it. But the truth is, I'm the source! Pogo agrees: "We have met the enemy and they is us!"

    Years ago the London Times asked: "What's wrong with the world?" G. K. Chesterton responded: "I am." The trial gives me an opportunity to complain. Satan tempts me to assume a bad attitude. Sin attracts me. But, the decision is mine! I decide what path I will take.

MY DESIRES   =>   SIN   =>   DEATH

    The life cycle of temptation begins with my desires. When those desires conceive, they give birth to sin. Once that sin is born, it continues to grow to full maturity. Then it yields its fruit: death. If we allow our natural human desires to "run their course"-if we do what comes naturally-that's where these desires lead!

    When we allow that self-centered response to fester, it will grow up-it leads to death! James isn't talking about eternal condemnation in this context. It is true that our natural desires do lead to eternal condemnation also-but that's not James' point here! He's talking to suffering saints under pressure. They are facing the rising pressure precisely because they are recognized to be the children of God.

    He warns us throughout this book, that if we, even those who are members of God's family, allow that natural response that festers inside us to simmer at a low boil, it will eventually mature. That anger festering inside us-that desire for revenge-that jealousy-will kill us! That's not God's plan for us! It's not true that He's to blame! We are! It's our desire that leads to sin and eventually will kill us! If we just respond naturally, it will kill us!

    But, it doesn't have to be like that because God is the source of GOOD gifts, not of temptation to sin. We can easily be distracted-led astray from a proper perspective. So James issues a warning: Don't lose sight of the real issue here. God is the source of GOOD gifts! God wants to use the pressure for GOOD! Far too often we fail to recognize God's GOOD purpose in our suffering.

    Kent Hughes tells about a frustrating time in the early years of his ministry. Things weren't going well. Attendance was down and he was about to throw in the towel. One night, when things hit bottom, Hughes turned to his wife and said: "God called me to do something he hasn't given me the gifts to accomplish. Therefore, God is not good." He felt as though he was the butt of a cruel joke and wanted to quit. In desperation he said: "What am I to do?"

    Like all good wives, she answered his question. "I don't know what you're going to do. But for right now, for tonight, hang on to my faith . . . because I believe. I believe God is good. I believe He loves us and is going to work through this. So hang on to my faith. I have enough for both of us."

    All of us entertain thoughts, at one time or another, that God is not good. "How could a good God allow this to happen to His children?" We sometimes think evil of God when tragedy comes to those we love, when we've been fired, or undergone a divorce, or when we observe the victory of evil over godly people.

    Those Jewish brethren in the first century felt that way too! James reminds us that however bad things may seem, God IS good! God is the source of all GOOD gifts and this is no exception. He is the source of good gifts; NOT of bad attitudes! Nothing evil ever comes from Him. What God is doing is part of His plan to perfect us, to make us into all He wants us to be!

    God has given us all we need. We have received every good and perfect gift from Him (17). He put the stars in place to brighten His creation. He keeps them where they belong. He has them under control. After He made them, He acknowledged that they're good!

    On a clear night we look out beyond the moon and the spinning planets of our solar system to the vast blanket of stars; a message dazzles our eyes from a zillion points of light: God is not only powerful, He is perfect and good! He's the source of light-there's not a single shadow in Him (John 1:5).

    The One Who created it all never changes. He is reliable and stable--We can count on Him! We can count on Him for GOOD gifts! He didn't suddenly goof this time. A friend of mine used to say: "I'm not important enough that God should make His first mistake in me."

    God has given us new life, by means of His Word, so we might be examples of what He wants from all His creation (18). There's an interesting word play in this section: Our desire "bears its child": sin (14). When that sin matures, it bears it's natural fruit: death. But, God "gives birth to" us, so that we might be the "first fruits"-the prime example-of what He produces.

                    1:14    Our desire's birth         =>    sin      =>     death

                    1:18    God's birth                    =>    fruit     =>    new kind of life

    We are first fruits, so others might see what God wants and follow us. That's what God produces and that's God's purpose for us in the midst of our affliction. God's goal is fruit-bearing-that we might represent the "pick of the crop"-the choice, lush, fruit.

    God hasn't changed. He is faithful. He never fails. He will never stop providing all we need to do good. God is infinitely good. He never has had and never will have more goodness than He has now. He is unchangeably good. God will always--eternally--be good to us. I'm the problem!

    God has given us a new life, every good gift, every perfect gift, new birth, by means of His Word, to make us examples of what God wants from all His creatures. Ask God to transform our negative attitudes into those which ought to control our mind. Ask Him to remove our incorrect reaction and give us what HE wants to produce in our life.

    Joe Bayly authored a column in Eternity magazine for twenty years. During those years he reported the pain of the death of three of their children. In his last column he wanted to recount God's grace in the lives of his four living children. He concluded the article: "Mary Lou and I are aware that all this represents the grace of God, but also that for ourselves and our children the road hasn't ended. Yet we know that both by His severity and by His goodness God has shown consistent faithfulness. God IS good. He is worthy of all trust and all glory. Amen."

    That's what the hard times should lead to! God IS good. He is worthy of all trust and all glory. We can't blame God for our failure to do what's right! We can't pin that on Him. It won't stick! God IS good. He is worthy of all trust and all glory.

    The choice is ours:

                         Pressure  +  Faith    =>    Perseverance    =>    Perfection

                         Pressure  -   Faith    =>    Sin                     =>    Death

    Which will we choose? To trust God and grow to perfection? That's His good gift to us! Or, will we choose to doubt God and pursue our desire, which leads to death? Ultimately, that choice will KILL us!

    When we understand God's GOOD purpose, we can trust God in the dark! We can hang in there! We can even rejoice while being bombarded by all kinds of pressure!