The Father of compassion

Faith in God does not protect us from the painful experiences of life. But it does offer us comfort and hope in the midst of the pain. The apostle Paul describes God as, “The Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3). He is the One who “comforts us in all our troubles”. The root meaning of the word “comfort” is to “strengthen much”. (Online Etymological Dictionary). When trouble and tragedy come we can be overwhelmed with grief. We may lose all our strength. It may seem too hard to keep going. It is then that we need the “comfort” that God gives to strengthen us.

God’s comfort does not come from denying our pain or pretending “everything is all right”. It comes from an awareness that God is with us in our troubles and that he offers us a hope beyond the present suffering. The apostle Paul is often considered to be a “spiritual giant” of the Christian faith. Yet, he could also write, “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might rely not on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” (2 Corinthians 1:8-11 NIV)

Times of tragedy and trouble remind us that life is uncertain and that we are sometimes helpless. But they can also be moments when we learn to lean on God’s mercy; love and strength. American president Abraham Lincoln put it this way, "I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day."

As we receive God’s comfort we can also offer that comfort to others through listening, loving and praying. In the words of the apostle, “On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers”. (2 Corinthians 1:10-11 NIV)

What makes you “mad”?

“What makes you mad?” This question was the basis of an interesting class discussion we had a while ago. What would your answer be? Anger is a powerful emotion. It is often linked to people or things which are important to us. Anger may be connected to a desire for power or feelings of powerlessness. Feeling angry is a normal part of life. But it is what we do with our anger that determines whether it is constructive or destructive.

The Bible has this to say about anger,

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” (James 1:19-21 NIV)

Have you ever become angry because you didn’t “get the whole story”? Perhaps you jumped in too quickly without hearing the other person’s point of view? Have you ever added “fuel to the fire” by saying things you later regretted? “I can’t believe I just said that!” is a common thought when we speak in the heat of the moment. Another comment is, “I wish I could take back what I just said”. Being “quick to listen and slow to speak” is one way to reduce the likelihood that this will happen to us. Hearing the other person’s point of view and thinking carefully before we talk can make a big difference.

James reminds us that anger can lead us to say things we later regret. It also refocuses us on the priorities of the Christian life. To follow Jesus is to want to live “the righteous life that God desires”. It is not about winning the argument, putting the other person down, or getting our own way. So, what is it that feeds an unhealthy and destructive anger? “Moral filth and evil” top the list. They lead us to put ourselves and our desires above God and above other people.

But there is an alternative way to live life. It is to “humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you”. The “word” referred to is the good news about Jesus. It is found in the Bible and gives us a different perspective on life. To receive it requires humility. Basically, this means we admit to ourselves and to God that we need his guidance and wisdom in our lives. His word planted in us grows to produce his life and goodness. This is in contrast to the “seed” of sinful desires mentioned earlier. (James 1:15.) Receiving this “word” saves us from the power and penalty of sin both now and for eternity.

Have you received this word into your life?

Temptation

"I can resist anything except temptation", said an old bumper sticker. For some people temptation comes in the form of chocolate. For others it is spending too much or "fiddling the books". Some people are tempted to gossip while others keep silent instead of speaking out. Temptation comes in many forms, but where does it come from? Television comedian Flip Wilson used to say, "The devil made me do it". Sometimes, God gets the blame for our temptations and sin. People argue that God is testing them, so it isn't their fault. But James has something else to say about the origin of temptation.
“Don’t blame God when you are tempted! God cannot be tempted by evil, and he doesn’t use evil to tempt others." (James 1:13)

Temptation doesn't begin with God it begins within. God is good and wants the best for us. He doesn't try and trip us up or cause us to do the wrong thing. Instead he wants to strengthen us to overcome evil and do the right thing. So, where does temptation come from?

James tells us that, "We are tempted by our own desires that drag us off and trap us." (James 1:14) Temptation comes from our own desires which are like planting a seed in the garden. As the seed grows it takes root, develops and finally bears fruit. In the same way, the desires we nurture in our minds eventually result in actions. If these desires are temptations to sin they will produce sin. In the end sin “leaves us dead".

But if all we try to do is avoid temptation our lives will be very negative. Instead, we need to fill our mind with positive thoughts and directions. So, James goes on to remind us, that God is the giver of "every good and perfect gift" (James 1:17). He also says that God never turns his back on us and is the one who puts light on our path.

We are often tempted to sin because we believe that God is "holding out on us". This is where sin began in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve believed the devil's lie that God was keeping something good back from them. As a result, they gave in to the temptation to distrust God. This led them to disobey God, be separated from God, kicked out of the garden and ultimately die.

The challenge is the same for us today. What thoughts about God and about life fill our minds? Are they ones that lead to truth and life or ones that lead to death? Who or what do you blame when you are tempted? How do you overcome temptation when it comes your way?