Real and lasting joy

TODAY'S READING: James 1:2-18
You know what? I don't like difficult times. Do you? Most of us don't.
I don't think God likes us to have difficult times, but I know that He uses them to help us grow. The bottom line is that God wants us to rely on Him in difficult times. But we want to find comfort everywhere else.
It could be our material goods. Or food. Maybe it's physical pleasure. We might seek comfort in alcohol or drugs. Sometimes it's just the noise of life. But we all seek comfort from the difficulties of life. And we often look in the wrong place.God wants us to look to Him.
James calls it an opportunity for joy. The joy only found in God. The joy not found in the things of this world, but only in the things of His kingdom.
God doesn't put temptation in our life to test us. It is our selfish desires that cause temptation to bring us down. It is the "quick fix" of earthly happiness that robs us of the joy of godliness.
We live in a culture that wants everything now. We use credit cards to buy things we really can't afford. We have relationships that rush into a false sense of intimacy. We buy the book that gives us the easy remedy to (fill in the blank). We buy that car/house/clothing/whatever it is that will make us feel better about ourselves because of the name on the label. We hang around with friends that have shallow relationships with us but make us feel "popular." We consume food or drugs that make us feel better for the moment.
I would imagine you can relate to at least one thing (if not many) in the list above. I know I can. We have been poisoned by our culture to turn away from God and trust in the stuff this world offers. It's in our hallways. It's on the television. In the movies. It surrounds us and seeps into our soul.
But James gets right to the point at the end of this passage and hits us right between the eyes.
Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above, who created all heaven's lights. Unlike them, he never changes or casts shifting shadows. In his goodness he chose to make us his own children by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his choice possession. (James 1:17-18)
Those clothes you just bought. Out of style next year.
The car you drive. It will be on a used car lot in a few years.
The friends that are not real friends. They may turn their back on you next week when it fits their needs.
The addiction that brings you comfort. You will need more next month just to get the same pleasure.
The debt you have accumulated. You will spend more as you try to ease the pressure and keep up with your peers.
As bad as that sounds, there is an answer.
Look to the One who is good and perfect.
Look to the One who never changes.
Look to the One who created us.
Look to the One who considers you His choice possession.
The message is clear. Let go of the things that possess you and grab on to the God who loved you enough to give His Son so He could have a real relationship with you. That is the source of real joy.

shine!
Jason