​Know—an Understanding Mind (1:3)

​Know—an Understanding Mind (1:3)

What do Christians know that helps them manage problems and learn from them?

Faith is consistently tested. God tested Abraham to make his faith stronger when He told him to live by faith. God tests us to make us better, while Satan tempts us to make us worse. Testing our faith proves our true spiritual birth. James gives us some reasons why trials are good for us.

Trials are for our approval. The word "trying" can mean "approval." Peter helps us understand it better once more: "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth" (1 Peter 1:7). A gold prospector brings a sample of ore to the assayer's office to be tested. The sample itself might not be worth more than a few dollars, but the approval—the official word on the ore—is worth millions! The prospector finds comfort in the knowledge that he has discovered a gold mine. God's approval of our faith is essential because it shows us that our faith is real.

Trials help the believer, not hurt him. Paul said, "And we know that all things work together for good" (Rom. 8:28), and, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Cor. 4:17).

Trials, when used correctly, help us grow up. What does God want to make happen in our lives? Patience, perseverance, and the capacity to persist in adversity. “We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope” (Rom. 5:3–4). In the Bible, patience is not simply accepting things as they are but are carefully placed there by God to aid in our spiritual maturity.

People who are not mature are always impatient; people who are mature are patient and persistent. Impatience and disbelief often accompany each other, similar to faith and patience. Be "followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." (Heb. 6:12). "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise" (Heb. 10:36). “He that believeth shall not make haste” (Isa. 28:16).

The doorway to God's blessings is patience, and God wants us to be patient. The small child who doesn't learn to be patient won't learn much. When a believer learns to wait on the Lord, God can do wonderful things for them. Abraham went ahead of the Lord, married Hagar, and caused a lot of trouble in his home (Gen. 16). Moses killed a man and had to spend forty years with the sheep to learn patience (Ex. 2:11ff.). In his impatience, Peter almost killed a man (John 18:10–11).

Trials are the only way the Lord can teach us patience and build our character. Reading a book, listening to a sermon, or even praying a prayer won't help you get stronger. We have to face life's problems, have faith in God, and do what He says. The outcome will be patience and character. With these attributes, we can face challenges with joy. We know that trials will glorify God in the end.

This is why reading the Bible helps us be more patient (Rom. 15:4). We learn that God has a plan for trials when we read about Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, and even our Lord. As we put our faith in God, He carries out His plans. An understanding mind is irreplaceable. Satan can beat a Christian who doesn't know much about the Bible, but he can't beat a Christian who does know a lot about it and understands God's plans.