GodSprings - 27, April, 2018

When Through/in Trials - Asking Wisely / Living Foolishly?

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God.
James 1:5a

In the beginning years of cars being used a man’s Model – T Ford broke down in the middle of the road. He tried his level best but couldn’t get it started. He tried to advance the spark and adjust few things but in vain. Just then a limousine pulled up behind him, and a wiry, energetic man stepped out from the back seat and offered his assistance. After fiddling and toying for a few moments the stranger said, “Now try it” Immediately the engine leaped to life. The well-dressed individual then identified himself as Henry Ford and said, “I designed and built these cars, so I know what to do when something goes wrong.”

When we are in the season of suffering we all try to solve or understand things from our perspective. God is the last one on the list to be approached. We approach God when we realize all our efforts have failed us and we are yet to understand what this trial or phase of suffering is making in our lives.

I am sure you are wondering what wisdom has to do when in trials. Is there a connection? If this verse is looked as an individual verse it loses its beauty. James has not yet finished on trials and says that when in trials what we really need is wisdom.

James is not talking about some abstract theoretical problem. When we go through trials we don’t have all the answers to our questions. The word lack used here is a banking word which means deficit or shortfall. This means when in trails we are sure to have a wisdom deficit. The Greek word for wisdom is sophia. It is not just knowledge but it is knowledge that is applied in practical ways and godly ways.

As we have seen earlier trials comes in all shapes and sizes. When through/in trials more than the decision between right and wrong which is also quite hard I believe it’s the decision between bad, worse, worst and good, better, best which can drive us nuts. Also when in trials we seldom try to view things from God’s perspective as we are constantly blaming God for putting us through this time of distress and trouble.

James 1:1 we saw that James is writing this letter mainly to the Jewish Christians who have been scattered among the nations because of persecution. He wants to teach them how to live out their faith and how to act as real Christians. Our true nature comes out when we are facing a problem. Our true faith is revealed in storms.

When Rebekah was pregnant with twins we read in Genesis 25:22ff

The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.”

Rebekah knew that something was going on inside of her. She was not able to make out. And when she was not able to find out the reason she did the right thing of going and inquiring it to the Lord. She took her need for wisdom to the Lord.

In most cases we try to solve the problems by our own understanding and knowledge. We are happy and contented to move along with trial without knowing the why in these trials and struggles. Rebekah did the right thing of going first to the Lord.

I always used to pray to keep me away from trials and difficulties. But the struggles that I went through in the last one year has made me change my prayer – Dear Lord, I know you want me to go through this trial. I am ready to be tested. I will not move for I know you are doing it seeing the end and not the moment. Grant me the wisdom to understand what you want me to teach through this trial. Help me see things from your perspective.  

Still wondering whom to ask and what to ask? I am sure today or tomorrow we all will have to go through some struggle. May we ask God who created us for the wisdom rather than being a fool by depending on the partial knowledge about our self and about what our future holds for us.