“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
– James 1:2-4
Yesterday we talked about the faith of desperation and how God honors it, just like He does the faith of propriety. Today, I want us to look at a third and final kind of faith: the faith of sufficiency. When we have grown through exercising the faith of propriety and desperation, we ultimately mature and come to a faith of sufficiency. This is the best kind of faith because it’s one that has nothing to do with external circumstances; it’s the type of unhindered trust in God’s character and goodness that cannot be shaken by what happens around it. Job ultimately came to this point of steadfast belief in the Lord’s big-picture plan for Him. As he trusted the heart of his Heavenly Father, He developed an inner contentment that carried Him through the worst of times and ultimately saw the restoration of everything he had lost (and even more)! Similarly, the apostles had this kind of faith after they were filled with the Holy Spirit; though they expected things to get easier, just the opposite happened. Nevertheless, in the midst of persecution and famine, they trusted in the heart of their Savior and they were content. It’s also the kind of faith that James is talking about when he says to consider it joy when you encounter various trials. Why? Because perseverance is the sweet fruit of suffering and when it is digested, it births contentment and sufficiency! Friend, because you are in Jesus, you can be content in every circumstance, whether you have nothing or whether you have everything! When your faith is grounded in who He is instead of who you are or in what’s happening around you, you can live in freedom. Just like a tree that is planted by streams of water, when you put down deep roots in the soil of God’s greatness, you flourish. Since your sufficiency is in the Creator of the universe, the One who loves soul, you are blessed and taken care of — there is no good thing that you lack! |
Prayer
Jesus, I want to have a faith of sufficiency. Teach me to build my life on the foundation of your goodness so that no circumstance can shake me.
Reflection
Do you have a faith of sufficiency?
2 Responses
Yes .Most definitely.Because in Jesus I have everything. He satisfies my every need.I never have to worry about little trivial things.Today marks the fourth anniversary of me being cancer free.Praise be Jesus Christ for that wonderful miracle.I never gave up and kept my faith strong and solid as a rock.And of course the prayers and wonderful messages of support from my friends and also from Shepherd’s Grove and Hour of Power sustained me. I hope and pray that Pastor Bobby Schuller and his beautiful family continue to spread the life giving messages of hope and healing to all the nations Around the World.May God continue to bless their efforts. P S . My favorite Psalm is the 23rd.God bless all at Shepherd’s Grove at Irvine Presbyterian Church .And especially the magnificent choir singing and wonderful music performed by the orchestra.
These lessons on three types of faith in Jesus were all great, but is there not an additional type of faith, faith in God’s Word and Promises no matter the current circumstance? Perhaps in some ways, it is covered in one or more of the other three. The faith of propriety perhaps helped Joseph in the beginning, but then, while doing good, he ended up being sent to prison. What sustained him? Was it not his faith in God taught to him by his father, and the dreams he had, that promised He would see the goodness of the Lord in the lamd of the living? David talked about it is Psalms 119. ~Your promise preserves my life… Sustain me O God according to your promise and I will live. Do not let my hopes be dashed….I rejoice in your promise like one who finds great treasure.