James 1:1-12

By Pastor Bafikile

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING

“When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping!” I chuckled. But then I thought: Could you real ly cal l yourself “tough” i f you headed for the mall every t ime l i fe went sour? As I drove, I pondered how to real ly fi nish that sentence, “When the going gets tough, the tough . . . do what?”

You can choose how to complete the thought. Here are some of the wackiest endings: “When the going gets tough, the tough “go to Asia,” or, the tough “start drinking.” One even said, “The tough lighten up!”

All of these alternative endings are humorous in their own way. But, they also represent ways to deal with “tough going.” For example, shopping could symbolize immediate gratifi cation. Racing off to Asia might mean you’re running away from the problem. Start ing to drink is a picture of distract ing yourself f rom the trouble at hand. And if you s imply l ighten up, or laugh it off —that’s kind of l ike denial .

I don’t th ink any of us would get very far in l i fe i f we repeatedly chose those responses to trouble. They al l contradict the tradit ional ending to the phrase. “When the going gets tough, the tough get going .” The tough hang in there; they persevere.  James 1:12 says: “Blessed is the man who perseveres under tr ial , because when he has stood the test, he wil l receive the crown of l i fe.”

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH ….. (DO WHAT?)

The phrase is a play on words involving idiomatic (Proverb) and distinct meanings of "go" and "tough."

In context, "the going" means "the situation," "gets tough" means "becomes diffi cult," "the tough" means "people who are strong or enduring," and "get going" means "become fully engaged." Taken together, the meaning of the phrase is "When the situation becomes diffi cult, the strong will work harder to meet the challenge."

Another interpretation could mean, "Those who act tough and proud will vacate a situation when it becomes diffi cult lest they be proven not as tough as they appear to be."

Yet another interpretation could mean, "When the situation becomes almost impossible, those who are truly strong are wise enough to pull out, rather than being totally decimated."

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING (PROVERB) (INTERNET SEARCH)

1. Describe a moment of pure joy in your life. What did you do? What happened? How did you react?

2. When have you had to persevere to reach a goal? What kept you going? How did this experience change you for the better?

3. How can trials be helpful to us (James 1:3-4)?4. What kind of help does God provide for

Christians when they endure trials (James 1:5)?5. How is a trial different from a temptation?6. If trials can be so beneficial, why don’t we look

forward to them?7. Why is it diffi cult to respond to trials with joy?

REFLECT ON YOUR LIFE

8. List some typical kinds of trials in the life of a Christian. Be careful to distinguish between a trial and a temptation.

9. Describe the diff erence between having a short-term and a long-term perspective on trials.

10. Think of someone who has had a diffi cult life. What has helped that person persevere? What did that person learn through it? What did that person’s experience teach you?

11. When did you experience the most diffi cult period of your life? What kept you going through it? What did you learn through it?

12. What trials are you currently facing?13. What would help you respond to your trials with

real joy?

RESPOND TO THE MESSAGE

14. Responding to trials can be diffi cult when you are alone. Who could meet with you regularly to help you and pray for you during a diffi cult time in your life?

15. Think of a specific trial you are facing right now. Write down several possibilities for how God may be using it in your life. Ask God for the ability to respond to the trial with trust in him and in his plan for you.

RESOLVE TO TAKE ACTION

James teaches that God’s purpose is to develop Christians who are mature and complete. If it were up to us, that process probably wouldn’t include times of stress, hardship, or testing. But God knows us well, and as our loving Father he knows that our faith and character are developed only through trials and testings. The apostle Paul’s teaching in Romans 8:28 makes such a practical diff erence when we face diffi cult trials: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Although we might be tempted to turn away from God and run from him during our trials, knowing God’s love and remembering his purpose in them can help us to trust him even more.

REALIZE THE PRINCIPLE

Many people in the Bible struggled with diffi cult circumstances, but they did not give up. Read Hebrews 11:1-40. What enabled those people to persevere?

Do you have true grit? Write down some recent responses to trouble in your life. Do you tend to stay the course, or do you look for a way out?

If you need encouragement to persevere, read the following Scriptures: Psalm 73:26; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12; Hebrews 10:19-39; 12:1-3.

YOUR JOURNEY…

“If we are willing to do the mental work, almost anything can be healed." Did you know that limiting beliefs and ideas are often the cause of illness, and shows how you can change your thinking - and improve the quality of your life!

Song: “impilo inzima, ifuna abomeleleyo, kwasho abadala, ifuna abomeleyo

Jeremiah 30:17 : For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord, because they have called you an outcast: ‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares!’

CONCLUSION