"Money is the best deoderant"....Elizabeth Taylor

"Money is the best deodorant" says Elizabeth Taylor.  It makes even the bad smell good!!!




Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.  For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
James 1:9-11


At first glance, it seems a bit odd that James inserts this comment about the rich man and the poor man right after he implores us to ask God for wisdom when we are handling trials.  He's told us that our thoughts ("consider") towards trials are to be those of joy...because we can trust that God is doing a great work to develop endurance in us and that endurance will make us whole, lacking nothing.  Indeed, that is reason for joy.  Even in the midst of trials.


And we don't default to that position naturally - we need God's wisdom for that.  We have to ask Him for that perspective, for that ability to see trials like He sees them, for the grace to trust His purpose.


Got it.
But why then the comment extolling the poor man and pretty much feeling sorry for the rich man?  In this context?

Maybe lots of reasons but I think this is at least one of them.
Because when times are tough, our human tendency is to think that something we can see --- like money -- would ease the pain, solve the problem, make the trial go away.
Think about it for a minute.  Focus on a tough time you've had recently or are in right now.
Did it cross your mind that an additional influx of cash would make you feel better?
Chances are, somewhere in the midst of that problem, you at least entertained the thought that money might be a help.


And maybe, in some respects, it might have.


But James turns that thought upside down to tell us that God's economy is different.  Unlike Elizabeth Taylor, God tells us that money is not able to make a bad situation into good.  Instead, it has the potential to make it worse.  If we have don't have "enough" money to get us out of a tight spot, then we are more likely to realize the truth --- that our only hope is God.  That's what James calls "exaltation"...a high position. 
On the other hand, if we have "enough" money, James exhorts us to focus instead on the truth that, in reality, we are spiritually impoverished  -- "humiliation" and in desperate need of a Savior.


Trials. 
They stink.
Maybe so.  But we gotta be careful not to trust that money is gonna make 'em smell better.
It won't.


Only realizing our helplessness and clinging to God's help will.

Joy in trials? Really?

Count it all joy, my brothers,when you meet trials of various kinds,  for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.  For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 1:2-8


It's no secret to any of us that this life is full of trials.  Seems like we're either in one, coming out of one, or about to head into one.  "Of various kinds" - all sorts of things that cause pain, angst, grief.  Trials.  I don't like them and you probably don't either.  I'd rather have comfort and ease and pleasure, thank you just the same.


Interesting that James tells us that our perspective on these trials should instead be....JOY.  Joy.  Joy?
Really??


Why?
And,  how?


First, the why.  That's found in the second phrase - because the testing of our faith produces steadfastness and the full effect of steadfastness at work brings about a life lacking in nothing. Lacking in nothing?  WOW!  Read that again - lacking in nothing. Sign me up!


Oh, wait.  The path to that life is the road marked "trials". 
And James says our countenance on that path should be "joy" - the word "chara" literally means little lambs jumping and skipping without a care in the world. 
Gulp.  In the midst of trials.  Trials bring suffering and pain and discomfort.  But James says our attitude them should be joy.
Because of what they can bring about in our lives.


How??
Well, James tells us to "count it" - another translation says "consider it".  There's the key.  "Consider".  Choose the thoughts. Think carefully about, especially in order to make a decision. Contemplate.
Deliberate, intentional thoughts.


Thoughts that require divine intervention because they are not our natural default.  That's why James exhorts us to ask God for wisdom. 
Wisdom that enables us to trust that whatever God has allowed into our lives is there so He can prove our faith to be genuine, so that He can let steadfastness operate in us....and result in lives that lack nothing.  Wisdom that clings to the character of God - always faithful, always loving, always good - and trusts that His purpose for us is good.


"Doubting" isn't emotional wavering.  The Greek word used here is "judging...coming to a wrong conclusion about".  James is encouraging us here to cling to the truth about God.  In the midst of a trial, it's easy to instead believe that God's not always good.  That He doesn't love us.  That He should've done some things differently.


Wisdom - "Sophia" - is the ability to see life from God's perspective and to trust Who He is.  Always good.  Always at work on our behalf.  Always loving.  Towards those who follow Him.


Trials.   Testing.  Like gold going through a fire to "proof" it.  And once it comes out, it is more priceless than before.


That's the reason for our joy.
Genuine faith more precious than gold.

Testing, testing, testing 1,2,3.....

Update on email receipt difficulties - if you aren't receiving the posts regularly by email, thank you for getting in touch with me!  We are trying to narrow down the issues -- if you have gmail, I'd love to hear from you.  Whether you receive them or not.  We found that some gmail subscribers have found the blog emails in another folder.  Not the same for others, however.  So please let me hear from you particularly if you get email through gmail.


If you have a different provider and are not regularly receiving the posts (note : I don't post every day --- sometimes I actually have to sweep floors and make dinner :) but I do at least post every Wednesday) please email me chamfam@bellsouth.net and let me know your email provider.  I've had difficulties outside the blog with yahoo and am wondering if my computer has a grudge against yahoo and is blocking some posts over that.


As always, thanks for reading!!

Looking for an expert

All is not well in my blog-world.  I've been limping along in cyberspace, posting and publishing, but my blog skills are, well, Neanderthal.  So there have been problems with delivery and post views and stuff I don't even know about.  I have tried (some) to figure it out but don't even understand the jargon enough to know what my questions are -- I'd rather just write :)


SOOO if any of you readers are blog-savvy and feel "led" to offer me some help, I'd much appreciate it.  I have lots of questions and will promise to give you a good laugh by revealing my ineptitude.


Seriously, if anyone is willing to help me with this stuff, I'd be much obliged.  Just consider it your spiritual gift :)

help, please :)

If you have signed up to receive Living Letters posts via email, are you getting them?  Just heard from a new reader and hers are coming through.  I don't know much about blogs and how they work but I want to troubleshoot this problem.  Just need to know how widespread it is.


Thanks, y'all!


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