Steadfastness vs. InstabilitySteadfastness vs. Instability James 1:2-7James 1:2-7

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, with no given him. 6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7For the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7For that person must not suppose that he will receive that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.man, unstable in all his ways.

Key PointsKey Points

A biblical view of A biblical view of steadfastness steadfastness

2 views2 viewsStableStableUnstableUnstable

Lies regarding Lies regarding SteadfastnessSteadfastness

Money will make me stableMoney will make me stable More money will mean less More money will mean less

problemsproblems Stability happens naturallyStability happens naturally I’ll do it when I “grow up”I’ll do it when I “grow up” That’s for old peopleThat’s for old people I’ll get “right” when I’m marriedI’ll get “right” when I’m married I’ll “settle down” when I have kidsI’ll “settle down” when I have kids

What is What is STEADFASTNESS? STEADFASTNESS?

SteadfastnessSteadfastnessadherence, aplomb, assurance, backbone, balance, cohesion, constancy, dependability, determination, durability, endurance, establishment, firmness, immobility, immovability, maturity, permanence, perseverance, resoluteness, security, solidity, solidness, soundness, stability, stableness, steadiness, strength, substantiality, support, toughness

What is INSTABILITY? What is INSTABILITY? InstabilityInstability

alternation, anxiety, capriciousness (impulsive), changeability, changeableness, disequilibrium, disquiet, fickleness, fitfulness, flightiness, fluctuation, fluidity, frailty, hesitation, immaturity, impermanence, inconsistency, inquietude, insecurity, irregularity, irresolution, mutability, oscillation, pliancy, precariousness, restlessness, shakiness, transience, uncertainty, unfixedness, unpredictability, unreliability, unsteadiness, vacillation, variability, volatility, vulnerability, wavering, weakness

Signs of a steadfast Signs of a steadfast believerbeliever

The steadfast believer…The steadfast believer… Shows strength when facing trialsShows strength when facing trials

This leads to a believer who isThis leads to a believer who is Perfect & completePerfect & complete

Perfect = Without variancePerfect = Without variance Lacks nothingLacks nothing

Matthew 5:48Matthew 5:48 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your

heavenly Father is perfect.heavenly Father is perfect. James 1:17-18James 1:17-18

Signs of an unstable Signs of an unstable believerbeliever

The unstable believer…The unstable believer… Displays doubt when facing trialsDisplays doubt when facing trials

This leads to beingThis leads to being Compared to an wave in an oceanCompared to an wave in an ocean Their trials are like wind that tosses them asideTheir trials are like wind that tosses them aside They are self-deceivedThey are self-deceived They assume they will receive an answer from They assume they will receive an answer from

God only to receive nothingGod only to receive nothing James gives us an analogy. These types of James gives us an analogy. These types of

people are best compared to a person having 2 people are best compared to a person having 2 minds – unstable in all their waysminds – unstable in all their ways

WisdomWisdomBoth the Both the steadfast & steadfast & unstable are told unstable are told to seek wisdomto seek wisdom

A quick biblical view of A quick biblical view of wisdomwisdom

God gives wisdom - Proverbs 2:6-7God gives wisdom - Proverbs 2:6-7 Wisdom should be sought after like Wisdom should be sought after like

people seek after money - Proverbs 2:1-5people seek after money - Proverbs 2:1-5 We are commanded to get it & live We are commanded to get it & live

according to it - Proverbs 4:1-5according to it - Proverbs 4:1-5 ALL WISDOM isn’t GODLY WISDOM; ALL WISDOM isn’t GODLY WISDOM;

some wisdom is of a demonic nature - some wisdom is of a demonic nature - James 3:13-18James 3:13-18

Wisdom is found among God’s people - Wisdom is found among God’s people - Proverbs 10:31-32Proverbs 10:31-32

We’re to walk in wisdom when dealing We’re to walk in wisdom when dealing w/unbelievers - Colossians 4:5-6w/unbelievers - Colossians 4:5-6

Questions?Questions? What does steadfastness look like…What does steadfastness look like…

With GodWith God In marriageIn marriage In relationships with…In relationships with…

UnbelieversUnbelievers BelieversBelievers

At workAt work At homeAt home At EMFAt EMF

Does your view of steadfastness match Does your view of steadfastness match up w/James view?up w/James view?