GodSprings - 28, April, 2018

When Through/in Trial - Will God Too Turn Me Down?

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
James 1:5

Imagine you are going with a friend on a highway. As you see the fuel indicator showing empty you pull the car at the petrol pump. You ask the man at the petrol pump to fill the tank. When it is time to pay you realize that you forgot to take your valet. Your friend though he has behaves as if he too forgot to take his. Your friend asks you to stay back and promises to go home and bring back the money. But he never returns. How many of us would like to have a friend like that who would leave us in time of trouble. Though it is a made up story when we are in trouble we usually are deserted even by the ones who are very close. What about God? Will God too turn us down?

Becoming a Christian is a process. It’s trials that make us perfect complete Christians. James tells us that we must be immovable when trails come we should remain steadfast through the trial and not fail. But for that we need the right wisdom to take the right decision.

We saw in yesterday’s devotion that one of the most important things we need in a trial and even in life is to ask wisdom from God. In most cases we will ask wisdom and advice from everyone else but God. James knows this is the human nature and so admonishes us to go to God. In the same verse James tells us why one should go to God. James doesn’t directly tell that we should not go to others but when he says ask God indirectly it is implied we should not ask others. Why does James think asking God is the best option?

James uses two words ‘generously’ and ‘without reproach’ as the direct result of asking God. James says that God gives generously. The original Greek word used for generously is aplōs which means without reservation, without having second thoughts, sincerely and wholeheartedly. God is not going to hold back if we ask for it. It is God’s character to give. It is something that is inherent. God does not choose to be like that. God is like that - generous by nature. God will not have any second thoughts and will give without any reservation or concern.

The second reason James wants us to ask God for wisdom in trial is because God will give without reproach. Now reproach is not a word that we use frequently in our usual conversations. The Greek word used for without reproach is mē oneidizontos which conveys that idea that God will not find fault in our request and so God will not humiliate us for asking. It also means that we will not irritate God by asking for wisdom.

Everyone wants to be with a person who is happy and everything is going right for him/her. None of us are happy when we are going through a trial. James being the half brother of Jesus has seen the life of Jesus closely or at least heard the stories and struggles that Jesus had to go through from first hand witnesses. James is sure that everyone will leave the person in trial though the person in trial wishes to have fellowship. And so James asks the one in trial to ask God to help because God won’t humiliate us.

When Jacob’s wife Rachel could not conceive children, she became a laughing stock to those who knew her. We all know that in the Jewish culture to be childless was thought to be under a curse from God since they believed that God alone opens the womb. Asking others for help was useless as they would only laugh at her. Rachel in Gen 30:1 asks Jacob “Give me children, or I shall die!” and Jacob replied “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?” (Gen. 30:2) The only one whom she could depend or share her sorrow was her husband and he too reacts in a pathetic manner. But there is one person who heard her cries. Gen. 30:22 we read Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb.

Still confused whether to approach others or God. None will understand us as our God who created us. Go to God. Approach God and be sure He will not leave us empty handed because He is the only one who will not look down on us and humiliate us.