The Purpose of Troubles
James 1:2-4
As we celebrate CPC’s 131 year anniversary, I cannot help but reflect on the journey the Lord has taken our church on for over a century. This journey has not been without trials and troubles. Did God ordain this winding pathway for our church? Or was it all up to human folly?
The more I reflect, the more I am convinced that these troubles were intended by God to reveal His grace and will in us. In the gospel of John, Christ reminds His disciples that ‘in this world there will be trouble’. A disciple’s life is not trouble free at all, in fact a Christian ought to expect trouble to come. But what is the purpose of trouble? Why have grief, pain and sadness? Are the troubles of CPC worth celebrating in the Lord?
In the letter written by James, he writes to a Church that has been scattered across the Roman Empire. This period of Church history was filled with troubles both macro and personal. What was a believer to make of this season in life? What was God’s purpose for this scattering of the Church?
James writes pastorally to Christians saying ‘consider it pure joy’ because troubles bring perseverance and perseverance makes a believer ‘mature and complete, not lacking in anything’.
In Scripture, we find the purpose of the trial is maturity. The stripping away of our immaturity so that Christ may be strong in our weakness. For a disciple of Christ, a trial is not something to simply endure or to avoid but something to take joy in as it brings us closer to Christ in maturity and faith. In the hands of God, trials reveal more of Christ in us as it scrapes away our ego, pride, arrogance and self-reliance. Let us be encouraged by James’ words, whatever season we are in. Let us not be defeated by troubles, but let it rid us of our worldliness and self-centeredness so that Christ may be made more and we may be made less. As we emerge from each season of trial, we are able to praise with more of our hearts, souls and minds.
For in trial, Moses saw the faithfulness of God; David experienced the grace of God; Nehemiah knew the strength of God; Peter encountered the restoration of God and Lazarus was found by God even in death.
Let us celebrate our 131st anniversary, for through the years our Lord has revealed Himself to be faithful and He will continue to be faithful, even to CPC.
苦難的目的
雅各書一章二至四節
在慶祝雪梨華人長老會131週年之際，我不禁回顧神與我們同行了超過一個世紀的歲月旅程。路程當中不乏試煉及遭遇困境。究竟這是否神命定我們教會必經之路？抑或都是人為的過失呢？
我越想越肯定這些困境皆出於神的心意，藉此顯示祂的恩典及美意。約翰福音記述基督提醒門徒說：「在世上你們有苦難」。所以作門徒並非一帆風順，反而是要預定有苦難來臨。不過，究竟為何有苦難呢？目的何在？為什麼有悲哀、痛苦及憂愁呢？雪梨華人長老會的苦難又是否值得在主裡慶祝呢？
在雅各書中雅各寫給一個流散在羅馬帝國的教會。這是教會歷史中充滿艱辛的時期，對整體如此，對個人亦然。作為一個信徒，在這季節裡的人生應如何理解？當時的教會流離失所，神的旨意又是什麼呢？
雅各以牧者的心腸，勸慰當時的信徒說：「都要以為大喜樂」，因為苦難帶來忍耐，而忍耐則使信徒「成全完備，毫無缺欠」。
聖經教導我們試練的目的是成長，剝去我們的不成熟，使我們的軟弱在基督裡得堅強。對一個基督的門徒來說，面對試練並非只是去忍受，抱無可逃避的態度，而是歡喜快樂地藉此與主在信心及成長上變得更為密切。神用祂大能的手剝掉我們的自我，除去傲慢，氣焰及單靠自己的弊病。無論在任何季節的人生階段裡，讓我們從雅各的勸勉得鼓勵，我們不要被患難擊倒，而要除去我們的世俗及自我中心，使基督得以顯大，我們則顯微。當我們每次從試煉的季節走出來時，我們更能從心靈和意志去讚美神。
因為在試煉裡，摩西得見神的信實；大衞經歴了神的救恩；尼希米認識了神的大能；彼得得以與神恢復關係；拉撒路得以從死亡中被神尋回。
讓我們慶祝131週年，因神在這些年來已顯明了祂的信實，並且祂繼續以信實看顧雪梨華人長老會。
