What Kind of Person do You Want to be?
If you asked most people the best part of being a Christ-follower, you’d probably hear answers ranging from “the worship”, “answered prayer,” forgiven sins,” peace and joy,” “God’s presence,” etc. I doubt many of us would claim that our favorite part of following Jesus is “trials” or “the testing of my faith.” Most of us revel in the spiritual highs and try to get out of difficult situations as fast as possible or at least grit our teeth and hang on until it’s over.
James chapter 1 seems to challenge that thinking. In verse 2, James tells us to consider trails a joy and then in verse 3, he tells us that the testing of our faith produces perseverance (some translations say endurance).
Recently, I’ve begun asking myself several times a day (especially when I’m facing a decision or temptation), “What kind of man do I want to be?” When I’m thinking of splurging on this great gadget at Home Depot that’s on clearance or when I am considering a 4th brownie, I ask myself, “What kind of man do I want to be?” I want to be a man who exhibits self-control so I forgo the gadget and the brownie—at least usually.
I want to be a man who perseveres. By persevere I mean to hang in there even when it’s tough, to keep my goals and what God says is best for me in mind. Just to be sure, I looked perseverance up on-line. I found two definitions. 1. Steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success 2. Continuance in a state of grace leading finally to a state of glory.
All that sounds like exactly what I’d like, but God says it takes testing of my faith to get there. I guess the next time I come up against something difficult or painful and want to high tail it out of there or complain, I’ll has myself, “What kind of man, do I want to be—one who gets his faith tested and receives perseverance or one who runs away from God because it’s easier?”
Questions:
- What kind of person do you want to be?
- What will your response be next time your faith is tested? (running, complaining or hanging in there and persevering?)
u da man!!!! thanks for your friendship, jeff.