Words of Wisdom #1

 As we enter into this new month meditating on these Words of Wisdom, they are not my words, but those of scripture from James and Jude. James begins his letter:

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

I know a number of people whose favorite book of the Bible is James. Often they are spiritually mature - James has helped them "grow up" in the faith.  These Jewish Christians had been forced from their homeland, and they were facing all sorts of trials because of their heritage and because of their faith. The question was: "How would they face these trials? Would they remain steadfast in their faith?" Part of the key to that answer is how they viewed trials: opposition or opportunity? James challenged them and us to look beyond the current crisis or chronic struggle to the state of peace and joy that only Christ can offer. These trials have a purifying effect and teach us something important in not becoming a miserable person: contentment. When James says you will be lacking in nothing, he is not saying you will be comfortable and rich and have everything you want, but that you will have that state of heart and mind that has learned to be content. Have you learned that yet? Don't waste a perfectly good trial: determine to come through it more content.