第一章 1-11節

1作神和主耶穌基督僕人的雅各請散住十二個支派之人的安。2我的弟兄們，你們落在百般試煉中，都要以為大喜樂；3因為知道你們的信心經過試驗，就生忍耐。4但忍耐也當成功，使你們成全、完備，毫無缺欠。5你們中間若有缺少智慧的，應當求那厚賜與眾人、也不斥責人的神，主就必賜給他。6只要憑著信心求，一點不疑惑；因為那疑惑的人，就像海中的波浪，被風吹動翻騰。7這樣的人不要想從主那裏得甚麼。8心懷二意的人，在他一切所行的路上都沒有定見。9卑微的弟兄升高，就該喜樂；10富足的降卑，也該如此；因為他必要過去，如同草上的花一樣。11太陽出來，熱風颳起，草就枯乾，花也凋謝，美容就消沒了；那富足的人，在他所行的事上也要這樣衰殘。

 

默想

1. 人生必然會遇上各種考驗，我們若相信神，也就確信，即使我們遭遇愁煩，祂會藉著我們掙扎的過程來陶造我們，因為“信心經過試驗，就生忍耐”（3節），使我們更成熟，更能為主所用。當我們遭遇財務上、關係上、健康上，的種種困難時，這是我們最能夠專注並依賴神的時候。而當我們明白“我本軟弱主剛強”時，我們也就能夠充滿喜樂。
2. 回想我曾經遭遇的一個試煉，是什麼？當時我對神的信心承受怎樣的壓力？我從這經歷的當中得到什麼“智慧”？
3. 在現今這個崇尚財富的社會，9-11節對我有什麼意義？雅各教導我應當以那些事情為榮？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. 9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

 

Meditation

1. Life involves us in many kinds of testing; it is in God that the testing of our faith produces endurance and because of Him, we are able to grow mature.  When we experience difficult times—whether financially, relationally, or otherwise—those times are when we are most able to focus and be dependent on God. These times can be filled with joy when we realise that He is strong when we are weak.
2. Recalling a trial I have experienced, what pressures did it bring on my faith?  What “wisdom” did I gain through it?
3. In this wealth-chasing modern society, what do vv 9-11 mean to me?  What might James say I should “take pride in”?  Will I heed his teaching?  Why?

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.