BIBLE READING

James 1:2-12 NIV

[2] Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, a whenever you face trials of many kinds, [3] because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. [4] Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. [5] If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. [6] But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. [7] That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. [8] Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. [9] Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. [10] But the rich should take pride in their humiliation---since they will pass away like a wild flower. [11] For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. [12] Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

REFLECTION

A word that's becoming popular in business and popular psychology in the States right now is 'GRIT'. Books are being written extolling the virtue of having 'grit' in life, business, and other aspects of life. In her book 'Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance', author Angela Duckworth says this: "...the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent but a focused persistence called “grit.” 'Focused perseverance'. I like that definition.

In Luke 9: 51 we read this about Jesus:"Now when the time was almost come for Jesus to be received up [to heaven], He steadfastly and determinedly set His face to go to Jerusalem." Jesus had grit - He knew what suffering and anguish lay ahead to accomplish salvation, but that didn't deter Him. He pushed through his natural emotional fears and inner foreboding for a greater purpose.

The Apostle Paul had the same attitude: "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." He 'stained' forward, 'pressed on', pushed through, did whatever had to be done, to fulfil the mission God had given him.

'Perseverance' is a very Biblical word. Yet we live in a world where most people want to take the easy path, avoid all pain and discomfort, and have everything they desire at as little cost as possible. Yet the writer to the Hebrews admonishes us: "...let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." James says this: "Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." In other words, immature people give up easily, they never become all God created them to be, whereas those who want to mature and grow have a stick-ability, a 'keep on keeping on' attitude.

Life is full of obstacles and opposition. That is just inevitable. It's how we face them and how much we allow them to affect us that will determine where we end up. It also determines our reward, not just in this life, but in the life to come: "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crownoflife that the Lord has promised to those who love him." (James 1: 12)