EM Worship Service (6/3/18)

[Summary]
James says to the recipients of the letter that they should consider their trials as pure joy. It implies that the believers are expected to face the trials in their lives. And their proper way to respond to the trial is considering it as joy. It is different from enjoying the trial itself (Masochism). Although trial is not a good thing itself, there are two reasons for us to 'consider' it as joy. First, the trial produces endurance in us. Everyone needs endurance because that's the way we can achieve something, even a small thing. And James 1:12 says that 'Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.' Another reason to have endurance is to love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 talks about love. And it starts with love is patient and it ends with love endures all things. Loving something different from me requires endurance. Therefore, we need endurance which can be cultivated through trials.
Also, trials reveals our lack of wisdom. In order for us to consider the trial joy, we need wisdom, which is seeing further. If we can see what's coming next through the trials, we can consider it joy. But what if we don't have wisdom? We can ask God (v.5). God is the one who gives wisdom without reproach. This character of God is the ground that we can pray without any doubt and it encourages us to pray, since it assures God's answer to us.