19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the

-James 1:19-21 ESV

QUICK YET SLOW

There is a paradox of quickness in life that makes us slow. A quick listener results to slowness in our comments and outburst of anger. Quick listening slows the outburst of anger, specifically verbal anger. When we listen and understand the person, we do learn how to be more tolerant and sympathetic, don’t we?

Take for example, we may be impatient to a person who is slow to get simple instructions that we have been repeating many times. Until we listen and know

James' instruction makes it clear that we can learn to control, or at least slow down our angry impulses. To refuse to let our passion for anger control us is itself

To be carried by anger is disastrous. It does not lead one to do the righteousness of God. Our human selfishness, fear, or desire to control are exposed to the world around us should we be angry. These destroy our testimony. However, those who trust the Father to be in control, to provide what is needed, and to bring justice when the time is right, have their passions put at bay.

And, what is the key? The ‘remove and receive or put away and put on’ principle. Put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word. Removing our wickedness without receiving the word is a futile effort or attempt to use our fleshly ability. The Holy Spirit should control

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16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

-James 1:16-18 ESV

GOD’S GOODNESS REMAINS

Let us not believe the lie that trials are allowed by God to destroy us. However painful our trials are yet they do give us the opportunity to trust God more deeply, don’t they? Difficult times are instruments to grow our spiritual strength. It drives us nearer to God rather than farther away from Him.

A healthy and growing believer in his faith isn’t governed by his passions or emotions. Emotions are powerful things, but they are not outside of our control. Our feelings often follow the lead of our perspective. When we remind ourselves of the truth, we are more likely to trust in it. It matters immensely that we tell ourselves the truth about God and His care for us.

God is always good – immutable or unchangeable. His goodness is the very reason why everything works together for good.[Rom 8:28] Our Father is ‘the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.’ God does not change when our circumstances change. He doesn't swing from being a good God to a bad God when our trials happened. He is still the source of all the good in our lives. He never changes. Doesn’t this truth encourage us to hang on even when the tides are changing to our disadvantage?

James expressed one example of God’s goodness. That is, we believers are the "first fruits" of His creation. That is, we have this status above all the rest of what He has made. What more evidence do we need that our God is good and loving and powerful and faithful to us? Let us rejoice because our names are written in heaven.

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12 Blessed is the man who remains

-James 1:12-15 ESV

THE CROWN OF LIFE

Is it worth remaining steadfast under

Why does a person remain steadfast in

Conversely, a person who won’t endure

Satan can’t force us to sin. He

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9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

-James 1:9-11 ESV

HUMILITY & HONOR

James mentioned both the poor and rich

Conversely, the rich brother must

Even Paul has warned, “But those who

It is not wrong to be rich. The bible

Hence, we should resolve like Paul to

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5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no

-James 1:5-8 ESV

WISDOM AND FAITH

The growth of faith happens through trials. Most often than not during a prolonged trial, we are affected emotionally so that we begin to question the wisdom of God in allowing suffering. The wisdom from God is his revelation of what is right and wrong contrary to the world’s perspective. Wisdom is an answer to our prayers.

 It is important to note however that our faith must be genuine. Do we take God as true to His promise? As the writer of Hebrews said, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”[Heb 11:6]

Otherwise, we are just mocking ourselves. God won’t answer our prayers that are merely hollow and meaningless words. These reveal how unstable we are like debris floating along the waves in the ocean. A doubtful Christian is unstable not in some ways but in ‘all’ ways.

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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.

-James 1:1-4 ESV

JOY DESPITE TRIALS

James was writing a lot of his readers, who most likely were facing poverty and persecution. He used the words "trials of various kinds.” Let us be realistic that trials of life can be like sparks that fly simultaneously upward [Job 5:7]. What are the trials that you are facing today? How are you handling or embracing them?

Surely, trials are painful and difficult, are they not? Yet we should ‘count’ or consider it as a reason for joy. We could be joyful upon knowing the reason why. James assumed that they ‘know’ beforehand the truth about the purpose of God in allowing trials. That becoming ‘matured’ in Christ could only happen through trials. Perhaps the readers were reminded of the heroes of faith in the Old Testament like Joseph, David, and many more. As Job said, “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.”[Job 23:10]

It is said that a pearl farmer will place an epoxy inside the mother of pearl oyster so that it will produce the substance to counter the irritation. He is the potter and we are the clay. Could a clay complain about how he is molded? God allows our trials in order to irritate us. Then, through these trials will produce steadfastness. As Paul also expressed similarly, “we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope and hope does not put us to shame” [Rom 5:3,4] Our character of being faithful, patient, humble, and hopeful is the result of the tempering of fire. Circumstances, especially the difficult ones, should cultivate us to become like Christ. [Rom 8:28] We couldn’t control our circumstances but surely we can control our ‘thinking and feeling’ about them by the grace of God.

Let’s be like the kettle. We should sing while under fire, should we not? As a runner gains endurance by forcing to run another mile, we also gain the ability to trust God through trials. Each experience grants us a deeper, stronger level of trust in Him. In all areas of life, growth only comes through overcoming difficulty.

In closing, this process of maturity isn’t towards sinless perfection but into becoming developed in every part as a ripened fruit.

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7 After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the

10 And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he

12 And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more

-Job 42:7-17 ESV

RESTORED

The tension is over. Job repented and is restored with God. On the other hand, God rebuked Eliphaz [representing his friends as the eldest]saying,

‘“My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. 8 Now, therefore, take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” [v.7,8]

Eliphaz and his friends did repent for misrepresenting God to Job. They did as God told them. And, the Lord accepted Job’s prayers for and on behalf of Job’s friends. Their relationships both with the Lord and Job were restored. Moreover, Job’s siblings came to comfort him and each one blessed him with money and ring of gold.

The Lord bless Job’s latter more than before his losses and suffering. It is believed that Job was between 50-70 years old when he suffered. And he lived for the next 140 years. Job must have died at 200 years old, enjoying God’s blessings for the rest of his life. As James summarized God’s goodness in his life, saying,” Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.”[Jas 5:11]

It's important to note that the blessing was not a reward to Job because of his upright behavior, was it? The Lord is compassionate and merciful.[see Lam 3:22,23] His is a story of redemption. He deals with us not according to our sins but with His mercy. Job clearly sinned but he did not curse God to His face as Satan has predicted.

Many today wrongly believed either that life’s blessings and miseries are God’s retribution. Or, their blessing is an entitlement for it’s God’s design for us to receive comfort and blessing. Conversely, Job got the message that the Lord never explains his suffering in this life. Instead, he obtain peace to submit unto the sovereignty of God. That, God knows what He is doing – He is always right!

Then Job answered the LORD and said:

2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,

things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

4 ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’

5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;

6 therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

NOW MY EYES SEE YOU

As a jackhammer pounding a rock, God had pounded Job with tough questions. Having been aware of these unanswerable questions was more than enough to override his questions.

At long last, Job was brought back to his knees and see God as before. He acknowledged and exalted God’s sovereignty, saying; ‘“I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.;[v.2]

Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.’[v.3]

Why did God speak with Job without answering his questions directly? Author Dr. David McKenna had beautifully explained, saying;

‘The answer is that Job is casting a dark shadow between his mind and God’s mind with the why of ethical questions about his sufferings, which the human mind can not comprehend or understand. We lack the perspective of God’s view in creating the universe, controlling its forces, and caring about its creatures. Job needs to learn that the issue is not ethical, the question is not why, and the need is not understanding. The issue is spiritual, the question is who, and the need is trust.’

In other words, we should not pursue the ‘why’ questions but ‘who’ question. The ‘why questions’, generally, are unanswerable. They are as waves pounding the shores constantly reminding us how vast the ocean is. Our God is inscrutable. He is in charge! He calls the shot! Can we trust Him even though his wisdom is past finding out?

This shift of focus made Job realize his mistake and he exclaimed; ‘I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.’[v.5]

Job knew God and that settled everything. He saw God.

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Text: Job 41

2 Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook?

3 Will he make many pleas to you? Will he speak to you soft words?

4 Will he make a covenant with you to take him for your servant forever?

5 Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you put him on a leash for your girls?

6 Will traders bargain over him? Will they divide him up among the merchants?

7 Can you fill his skin with harpoons or his head with fishing spears?

8 Lay your hands on him; remember the battle—you will not do it again!

9 Behold, the hope of a man is false; he is laid low even at the sight of him.

10 No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me?

11 Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.

-Job 41:1-11 ESV

Job found it impossible to grasp the natural and physical order of creation. God furthermore has directed him to study two beasts – behemoth and leviathan. Two examples are enough to stun Job that he faces an impossibility.

The first of these is the monster behemoth, generally thought to be the hippopotamus. Perhaps, it’s something bigger. It is among the strongest creatures of God’s creation (40:15-18), all-powerful on the land, untroubled in the water and very difficult to capture (40:19-24).

The second beast described to Job is the leviathan, the mythical sea monster or, possibly, the crocodile, whale, or dinosaur. Can Job catch one with a hook as he catches a fish? Is he able to make it talk, work for him, or make a pet of it? Can he catch and sell it in the marketplace (v.1-6)? Even if Job were able to catch one he would regret it. He won’t do it again (v.7-8)! Hence, no one in his right mind would dare stir up leviathan. It follows that it is unthinkable to try to stand up against or contend against God (v.9-11).

This dragon-like beast is described as ferocious and enormous, is it not? Its armor of tough skin, strong jaws, and terrible teeth are terrifying(v.12-17). Aside from that it blows air and water out of its nostrils, it appears to be blowing out fire and smoke too (v.18-21). The animal is so fearfully strong that just the sight of its movements would make even the strongest feel terror (v.22-25). No weapon can pierce through its iron-like skin (v.26-29). His movements through the mud like is as a threshing-sledge whipping up white foam on the water (v.30-32). Undoubtedly, this gigantic creature is the king of beasts, whose strength no human could match. Yet, both are special part of the world God has created (v.33-34).

God said’ ‘On earth there is not his like, a creature without fear.’[v.33]

Job should fear this creature. Should he not fear God? We can just reflect on how great is God, the creator of the universe! We should marvel in worship of His awesomeness and majesty, should we not?

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Text: Job 40

And the LORD said to Job:

2 “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?

He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

3 Then Job answered the LORD and said:

4 “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?

I lay my hand on my mouth. God’s Word for Today

6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

7 “Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.

8 Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?

9 Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his?

-Job 40:1-9 ESV

SHALL A FAULTFINDER CONTEND WITH THE ALMIGHTY?

‘I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would know what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me.’[Job 23:4,5]

Faced with God’s questions for which he has no answer, he wisely chose to be silent. He said,

‘“Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.

5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.”[v.4,5]

For the second time, God spoke to Job through the storm[v.6]. He challenged Job to ‘dress for action as a man’, even

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