Adjusted View

I have had a significant revelation this week. I am sure as you read this it will seem elementary. Admittedly, it is foundational to being a follower of Christ. Nevertheless, it is a truth that bears sharing as it easily gets out of focus.

In working through the book of James over the last month - actually, I have not gotten out of chapter 1 in the last month - I have realized how often we default to putting ourselves in the center of the picture instead of God. For instance, in the first portion of James 1 the writer addresses three hot topics: trials, money, and temptation. Appropriately, to some degree, we read the Scripture and process how it affects me as an individual and what my response should be. I want to know how the Lord wants to bless me while quickly removing from trials and struggles I have to face. Because I am a committed Christian I seek to figure out what my response to money should be. Honestly, I hope if I am humble enough that God will bless me with riches. In regard to temptation, I look for the way of escape God is supposed to provide and ultimately for deliverance from the temptation all together. If He doesn't make either or both very clear to me then it must either not be that bad or not my fault.

We view God in relationship to us! We want to know what we can get and how we can benefit. This is particularly true the more significant the requirement on God's part. After all, isn't it more difficult to find joy in struggles than it is to NOT murder? I may have wanted to "ring so-and-so's neck" but I have never really wanted to kill them! So I approach the Scripture and even obedience to the Scripture most often from the standpoint of what I am going to be able to receive from it.

The adjustment has come this week in the realization that the appropriate perspective is NOT God in relationship to me, rather, it is me in relationship to God. He must be at the center of it all. I will never find joy in trials as long as I am in the spotlight. The moment that I surrender my rights, my security, and my comfort to the work that God wants to do even in the middle of my deepest struggle then I can find confidence and peace as my faith is expressed in him. Once I am there it is only a short journey to find joy.

In the latter part of James 1 he brings up the issue of anger or wrath. It is easy to immediately process the issues of anger. A good Christian also contemplates the necessity of adjusting his/her behavior to more appropriately align with the expectations of the Scripture. From my perspective, that puts God in relationship to "me". If I am going to place God at the center then, instead of seeking potential adjustments to my behavior, I must ask a deeper, more significant question - "What does my anger indicate about my relationship with God?" Processing the Scripture at that level puts "me" in relationship to God. While it is a much more uncomfortable place to be, it is the only appropriate place for a follower of Christ to stand.

I would love to hear your thoughts and have further discussion about my thoughts if you are interested. Thanks for reading!

Blessings,
Pastor Gary