Pastor’s Podium

Several weeks ago I had a problem that many people have had at some point in their lives. My lawn was overgrown. In fact, it was taller than I’ve ever seen it due to the fact that my lawn mower had broken (or rather I broke it), and I had tried unsuccessfully for a few weeks to repair it. Fortunately, when I finally gave up on repairing it myself, Carrico was quick to get it working for me so that I could tackle the eyesore.

I knew that the experts say not to cut too much off of the length at one time, but I impatiently decided to cut it to its normal height. On the plus side, my lawn was finally neat and no longer an eye-sore, but the price for the immediate shortness was that the green changed quickly to brown patches.

Of course, any person with lawn expertise isn’t surprised by this negative result. It’s well known that cutting off too much at a time will stunt the growth of the grass as it expends its energy repairing the vertical damage. It’s also well known that excessive cutting leaves the grass vulnerable to weeds, disease, and other problems.

No, it really isn’t that surprising that such trauma to a plant would cause negative consequences; but what is surprising is that normal “trauma” leads to a healthy lawn. There are two entirely different outcomes even though the circumstance (cutting the lawn) is the same.

The Bible teaches something similar for Christians going through hardships, and it is particularly clear in James 1:2-4.

James 1:2 contains one of the most difficult and seemingly strange commands in all of the Bible, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” The command in that sentence is “consider”, and it refers to an intellectual process where someone comes to think about or look upon something (BDAG).

Now I don’t know about you, but joy is not how I naturally think of (or feel about) trials in my life. How can God instruct us to change our mindset and response to trials from what is natural to something wholly unnatural? He can give that directive because of the knowledge that He shares with us, that “the testing of your faith produces endurance.”

Much like the proper mowing of grass, God’s desire and design is that Christians would be built up and made complete because of the trials they experience. Just as my grass might protest (if it could) being cut, so too our trials aren’t easy or pleasant, but they can be used by God for a good purpose, growth.

However, just as the circumstance of cutting grass can either cause growth or harm, so too can the circumstances of our trials. While God wants to use these things to build us up, Satan (called the Tempter) desires to “tempt” Christians in their hardships in order to weaken us. For this reason, James clarifies that God does not tempt anyone.

What is the difference between a circumstance being called a trial and it being called a temptation? The difference is in the purpose. A trial is designed to strengthen, whereas the desired outcome of temptation is to tear down.

The difference between God’s work in allowing trials or testing our faith and Satan’s work of temptation is much like difference between mowing the proper amount or too much. The event may be the same, but the purpose and the outcome are vastly different. God doesn’t spare Christians the difficult times, rather God wants to use them to build up our trust in him and His provision.

If you are a Christian, what will you consider of your trials? Will you believe God, that He can use them to make you a healthier Christian, or will I believe the lies of Satan and allow these circumstances to leave you diseased, hurt, and ready to turn my back on God? Consider these things and know that God does care. Consider that, in these trials, there is a God who loves you and is working to build you up.