Susie-Q&A

• May. 26, 2006 - Count It All Joy

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4

(ESV)

What does it mean to "let steadfastness have its full effect"? Any ideas?

Comments

• May. 26, 2006 - I love the ESV

Posted by Melkhi

I like how it uses the word "steadfast" instead of "perserverance" as in the NIV. The first chapter talks about the fact that God can't be tempted by evil and that with Him, there is no variation or shadow due to change. What is that but "steadfast"? I never would have noticed that comparison between God and what His people are called to be with the word "perserverance".

Maybe "let steadfastness have its full effect" means not to fret over the trials. If I'm fretting instead of counting my trials joy, then am I truly growing in steadfastness?

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• May. 26, 2006 - My thoughts...

Posted by Anonymous

I've always thought it meant - Don't try to get out of the trial before God is finished using it to teaching you. We always want to find a way out of our trial. We want it done...now! I know I've even said, "OK God, I've learned my lesson!" But as I heard a preacher once say, "During a trial, don't ask WHY, but WHAT (would you have me to learn)? Maybe this is what it's talking about when it comes to steadfastness...stick with it until God is finished. Hope this helps a little.

Kitten

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• May. 26, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by mistresninos

You're going to hate me (because it's so long) but I'm going to paste Matthew Henry's comments here.

BTW, I was just thinking of this verse today and was going to post on my other blog about it but my friend is having some trials right now and felt it was best to wait until another day. Are you doing a study on this passage? I hope you'll share your notes or thoughts if you are.

God Bless.

Sara

3. There must be patience: The trial of faith worketh patience. The trying of one grace produces another; and the more the suffering graces of a Christian are exercised the stronger they grow. Tribulation worketh patience, Rom_5:3. Now, to exercise Christian patience aright, we must, (1.) Let it work. It is not a stupid, but an active thing. Stoical apathy and Christian patience are very different: by the one men become, in some measure, insensible of their afflictions; but by the other they become triumphant in and over them. Let us take care, in times of trial, that patience and not passion, be set at work in us; whatever is said or done, let patience have the saying and doing of it: let us not allow the indulging of our passions to hinder the operation and noble effects of patience; let us give it leave to work, and it will work wonders in a time of trouble. (2.) We must let it have its perfect work. Do nothing to limit it nor to weaken it; but let it have its full scope: if one affliction come upon the heels of another, and a train of them are drawn upon us, yet let patience go on till its work is perfected. When we bear all that God appoints, and as long as he appoints, and with a humble obedient eye to him, and when we not only bear troubles, but rejoice in them, then patience hath its perfect work. (3.) When the work of patience is complete, then the Christian is entire, and nothing will be wanting: it will furnish us with all that is necessary for our Christian race and warfare, and will enable us to persevere to the end, and then its work will be ended, and crowned with glory. After we have abounded in other graces, we have need of patience, Heb_10:36. But let patience have its perfect work, and we shall be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

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• May. 27, 2006 - Stedfastness

Posted by Michelle

Perserverance right? Trials develope perserverance - like character building and we are to wait for it to work into our character - like ageing wine or cheese. It takes a while before our actions become our character. That's how I take it. When we are steadfast (sorry, can't spell) and perserver a seed is planted and in it's time it buds. It works in us. Anyway that is my two cents.

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• May. 27, 2006 - Patience

Posted by shaunms

At a meeting yesterday we prayed a Psalm (sorry, I can't remember which!) that talked a lot about patience, letting things happen in God's time rather than in our time. When I read "let steadfastness have its full effect" I thought of that Psalm and other things I've been reading lately about letting things unfold, trusting in God's faithfulness rather than pushing and striving all the time to make things happen. Of course, I may think of it that way because that's what I need to be hearing in God's word right now!

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