The Bible frequently contrasts goodness with light and evil with the dark (Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 60:19-22; John 1:1-14), so to better understand the meaning of our question, we need to look at James 1:2-18. As a whole, these verses are speaking about enduring trials and temptations.
The word temptation here refers to trials or tests. It does not mean a temptation to do evil. While God evaluates (tests) us, he never incites us to sin (James 1:12-16).
Why would we want to be joyous about a test? Notice that Scripture did not say if we face a test, but when we face a test. We need to be ready; tests will come.
We do not have to pretend to be happy during those tests, but we should have a cheerful outlook of what the results will be. The test could be hard, but it is during the test that we become stronger as we keep our eyes focused on Christ.
“Trying” means testing and the “work” means to be producing. We are to learn to wait upon the Lord, and the patience that we gain while waiting on the Lord will build our character. When we learn to trust in God, we can become better people.
We should be heading toward maturity in Christ, instead of staying as babes in Christ. James advises us to transform our difficulties into seasons of learning. Harsh occasions can show us how to be tolerant and patient (Romans 2:7; 2 Corinthians 6:3-7; 2 Peter 1:2-9).
We could rephrase the verse like this, “let patience have her full effect, that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” We are to grow in our Christian walk. The sooner we start to prepare ourselves for the tests and to learn to trust in God, the sooner we will start to grow.
We should not complain about the tests, these are moments of growth. Those tests that we go through are for the edification of Christ, and for his glory.
God wants to make us “perfect and entire” (complete), not to keep us from all aggravation. We ought to express gratitude toward God for promising to be with us through unpleasant occasions.
We ought to request that he assist us with tackling our concerns or to give us the solidarity to endure through them. Then, at that point, we ought to show restraint. God will not let us be alone with our concerns. He will remain nearby to assist us with our growth.
Having wisdom means having the ability to make wise decisions during challenging times. If we really want wisdom, we can petition God and he will supply what we need.
Christians never need to wander about in obscurity, expecting to coincidentally find the responses. We can request God's wisdom to direct our decisions.
At the point when James discusses wisdom, he implies useful and practical discernment. Wisdom starts with us having respect for God, it prompts right living and results in an expanded capacity to tell right from wrong.
God will give us this wisdom; however, we will not be able to get it assuming our objectives are narcissistic. Our goals for the tests are not to be self-centered, but God-centered.
It does not come to you overnight, it takes time, and it comes from God. To become familiar with God's will, we really need to read God's Word, request that he show us the best way to submit to it, and afterward we should do everything that he says to us.
God does not concede each negligent or childish solicitation. To “ask in faith” signifies asking in the certainty that God will adjust our longings to his motivations (Matthew 21:22).
A wavering mind is not persuaded that God's way is ideal. It considers God's Word like any human exhortation holding on to the choice of insubordination (disobedience). It wavers between sentiments, the world's thoughts, and God's orders.
If our faith is new, frail, or battling, we ought to recall that God is dependable and that we ought to be faithful to him. To settle our faltering or suspicious brain, we ought to submit ourselves sincerely to God.
We know how restless the sea can be with large waves constantly rolling. They are subject to the wind, the tide, and gravity. Doubt can cause us to be just as unsettled.
We need to rely on God to show us what is best if we want to stop the restlessness. We should ask God for wisdom and trust that he will provide it so that our decisions will be secure and sound.
Wealth means nothing to God. The “brother of low degree” is an individual of humble conditions, without status or riches.
Such individuals are frequently disregarded, even in churches today, however, God does not ignore them. True wealth is found by fostering our spiritual life, not our monetary resources.
In the event that riches, status, and influence make a trivial difference to God, for what reason do we ascribe such significance to them and so much distinction to the people who have them? What we have in our hearts, not our financial balances matters to God and will last forever.
Being tempted comes from worldly cravings inside, not from God. It starts with a malicious idea. It turns into a transgression when we harp on that idea and permit it to turn into an activity. Sin develops more damaging the more we let it have its direction.
The best ideal opportunity to stop any temptation is before it turns out to be excessively enormous or moves too quickly to even consider it controlling (Matthew 4:1-11; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Timothy 2:22).
It is not difficult to fault others and wrong activities. Making excuses can incorporate that it is the other individual's issue, we were unable to help it, “it was only an error,” “no one is perfect,” “Satan caused me to do it,” we were constrained into it, or that we did not realize that it was not right.
An individual who tries to make excuses is attempting to move the fault from himself to some other person or thing. Then again, a Christian should acknowledge his responsibility regarding his bad behaviors, admit them, and ask for forgiveness from God.
In verse 16, James encouraged his readers not to be misled. Our emotions and wicked reasoning can fool us into turning from God. It is essential to stick to the truth, which is that each beneficial thing in our lives is a gift from God.
Amidst our tribulations, we are enticed to change our assessment of the dependability of God. We begin to decide of the multitude of things we think are absent in our lives, of everything we have lost. Assuming God is good, do we not have those things?
This demeanor prompts more temptation. We start to search somewhere else for the beneficial things we believe are missing. If God will not give them, we think that we need to take control and get them for ourselves, as we battle to obtain our own fulfillment.
Presently, James urges us to swap the normal human thought. He calls us to consider every one of the good things that we do have. Where did that substantial number of beneficial things come from? James is empowering Christians to come clean with themselves.
God gave us each and every good thing in our lives. He is the wellspring of all the good that we have and the good that we pine for. God does not change when our conditions change.
He does not go from being decent to terrible when our tribulations start. He is as yet the wellspring of the relative multitude of good in our lives and he will never change.
James additionally involves a figure of speech, alluding to God as “the Father of lights.” He is the wellspring of the light. The sun can never be in darkness. Now and again, darkness might fall on us, however, God is the light all the time.
If we turn from God, we get deeper into the dark. Abandoning God to get away from tribulation is about as crazy as trying to hide from the sun with an end goal to get away from darkness. When confronted with trials, we should look for the One who can make everything new.
What does it mean to stay loyal during tough situations? It implies proceeding to recognize that God is the wellspring of the good in our lives, and the good later on.
For further reading:
Why Do the Wise Shine Like the Brightness of the Heavens?
What Is the Power of God’s Light Over Darkness?
How Will Light Shine on All Your Ways?
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