“Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials,knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Now the brother or sister of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position;but the rich person is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so also the rich person, in the midst of his pursuits, will die out. Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” – James 1:2-12
Have you ever lived in a two-story house? I did for many years of my life. Upstairs had bedrooms, a bathroom and maybe a sewing room or an office. Access to the attic was also from this space. Downstairs we had our living room, dining room, kitchen, and entryway. Upstairs was intended for sleeping, bathing and getting ready for the day. The downstairs was where daytime living occurred, meals were prepared and served, times of being together as a family took place, and in general “life” happened downstairs. Even though there were two different floors and each had its own set of purposes, it was considered one house and home. What took place upstairs had real impact on what happened downstairs. The same people that spent time upstairs were also the same people who spent time downstairs. They did not think of themselves as living in two different spaces but one home. They were the same upstairs as downstairs. Yet in our everyday lives we often act and live as though we are existing in two different worlds. One is sacred, and the other is secular as our culture often tells us. But the issue we must face is, is it true? Does this upstairs, downstairs life really exist and work in our everyday existence?
Francis Schaeffer presented this metaphor in his book “Escape From Reason”. In it he shared that in our western worldview, two realms exist. The upper floor is where faith, morality and meaning, or “the sacred”, reside. The lower floor is where we find facts, science, and public life. This division between the two realms creates a life that is fragmented and incoherent. We see this emphasized whenever the view of “separation between church and state” is declared by our culture. We also see it as we go to church on Sunday, hold our faith and life with God as a private affair, and then live the rest of the week with no serious consideration for our life with Christ.
What happens when we live like this? First, it is not reality as God defines it. It is a falsehood and breeds much confusion. As was stated before, we become fragmented and incoherent. We are unstable in our ways as we attempt to live and conduct ourselves while serving two masters.
James 1:2-12 teaches us how we are to live in a world that is going to bring suffering and trials. We all go through various trials and difficulties in our lives. Just because we are Christians does not exempt us from suffering. Notice that James says “when you encounter various trials”, rather than if you encounter them. Trials will come. So, what should our attitude be? James says consider it joy. The word, count or consider, is the Greek word Hēgeomai from which we get the English word hegemony. This word carries the idea of rule, leadership, or authority. Here we are to literally “lead before the mind”, to take control of our mindset, for it to be one of total joy. This is the point of view one has when trials or temptations come. Total joy, not a partial joy or temporary joy but total. The kind of joy that Christ looked to while despising the shame He would endure on the cross. Why? Because He saw the glory His Father would receive, the salvation His sacrifice would provide and God’s triumph over sin and death. For the believer, God’s word promises that testing produces endurance or steadfastness which in turn brings us into maturity over time. This is a Biblical worldview and is one seen through the eye of faith. Not a view of a life that “lives upstairs” on Sundays and then is abandoned when one goes “downstairs” and into the world for the rest of the week, but it is consistent no matter when or where one finds themselves.
In this example James writes that there will be times when you will need wisdom when trials come, to understand ‘how’ to count it all joy at such a time. James shares that if any of us lacks wisdom, to ask God for wisdom and He will most certainly give it to you! But and this is key; you must ask trusting in Him alone and not with an eye towards the answers the world wants to give. This creates instability as we are tossed around like waves on the ocean driven by the wind. This is like living with an upstairs and a downstairs mentality. You are double-minded, unstable because you don’t know which way the wind is blowing. But trusting in God alone for wisdom, not with a plan B, provides stability and continuity for your life as you face these trials.
James completes his thoughts with two examples of what this looks like. The man of humble circumstances is to live in light of his high position as God’s son with all the rights and privileges that comes with it. The rich man is to live understanding that what he has will certainly fade away as it belongs to this earth and not to trust in it for security, status, or honor. His position is the same as the poor man before God as a believer: a son. Both examples require faith, and each man can consider or count it all joy when trials come that they are destined for great things and that what they endure will strengthen and mature them. So, to answer our question we asked earlier – does this upstairs, downstairs life really exist and work in our everyday existence? The answer is no. It is unrealistic to believe that the sacred and the secular are separate, it is all sacred. This is living in one home with one mindset, one faith in one Lord who is over all and in all.
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