Embracing the Pressures of Life—Part 2
Note: This is Part 2 of the series. You may read Part 1 here.
5. Pressure Sharpens Our Perspective on Life (1:9–12)
For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away (James 1:11).
Pressure has the capacity to bring remarkable clarity to an otherwise foggy existence. The pressures of life that squeeze the poor man causes him to glory in the prospect of eternity and to rest in the sweet gift of his “high position” in Christ. Likewise, the pressure that comes on the rich man ought to bring him to understand that his life is like the flower of the field. It’s here today and gone tomorrow. Which means that he ought not waste all his earthly life pursuing earthly treasure but remember that one day very soon he will stand before the Judge of all the earth. Thus both the rich and the poor Christian are served by the pressures of life to get their minds fixed on “the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (1:12).
6. Pressure Crystalizes Our Theology (1:13–18)
Let no one say when he is temped, ‘I am being tempted by God’… (James 1:13).
Pressure also puts our theology in the furnace. What you truly believe about God comes out when you encounter various trials. This is one of the reasons counseling is such a privilege. We get to come alongside people, squeezed under the boulder of life, who are suddenly seeing that their theology can’t bear the weight of the moment. They need help. And like James, we get to instruct them about the character of God.
God is not trying to tempt them—or us—into sin (James 1:13). He’s not out to get us in that way. He’s brought pressure into our lives for good. And part of the good is to show us that we are NOT good (1:14). We have a broken inner man that is prone to indict God and suspect Him rather than denouncing ourselves. Pressure helps us see this bad theology at work in our lives and put it to death. Pressure helps us to identify the sinful ways we think of God and refine our theology to be in line with the reality of God’s word.
But again, without the pressure of life we wouldn’t be forced to scrutinize our theology at that level and we would not have the opportunity to realign our hearts with what is true and right and good.
7. Pressure Causes Us to Live Out Our Theology (1:19–27)
This you know, my beloved brethren (James 1:19).
Lastly, pressure forces us to live out our theology—whether good or bad. I love how James put it in verse 19, “This you know, my beloved brethren.” In other words, “You guys already know what I’ve said and what I’m about to say. You know who God is. You know who you are. You know how God works.” But obviously, they were tempted to resist what they knew—at some level—and to not live it out consistently.
Therefore, they needed a reminder to “be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger” and to remember that “the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God” (1:19). I take that to mean: stop flying off at the handle when you feel the pressure of life and things aren’t going your way. Stop running. Stop yelling. Stop resisting. Close your mouth and call to mind what you know to be true. And then, start living in light of that—“prove yourself to be a doer of the word” (1:22).
In the midst of pressure, you have an opportunity to showcase your theology like no other time. Your unbelieving co-workers are watching. Your wife is watching. Your husband is watching. Your kids, your family are all watching. How will you respond when the pressure is turned up? They all know it’s been a hard day for Dad, what will it be like when he gets home? Will he demonstrate that he actually believes the God he’s been teaching us about? Or will he act like God has fallen off his throne in this situation?
Of course, Scripture has a lot more to say about pressure. But the truths from James 1 ought to be enough to cause us to embrace pressure like a sweet friend. A friend that God employs to accomplish great good in our lives.