There’s a lot of pain in this world.

We all experience it, and conflict is a big part of it. Thankfully, for those of us who have given our lives to Christ, we’re not alone. He is walking with us through every season, through all the pain, through every conflict, writing us into His unique Gospel story.

As He leads us on this journey, we soon realize that without conflict, we would not grow. Stated the other way, with conflict comes growth!

“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. 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 1:1-4)

With conflict, comes growth.

Before we start unpacking these verses and this ‘with conflict comes growth’ statement, let’s consider the historical context that this group of Believers would have lived in.

It’s believed “…that this letter was written before A.D. 50 to the Jewish Christians who were dispersed due to persecution.  James writes this letter as a pastor to a scattered flock whom are enduring hardship.” (TrinityStudyCenter.com/James)

If we’re really going to set the stage for this passage, we need to understand that the Believers James was writing to were experiencing conflict at every turn.

• They were under the rule of a foreign government.
• The foreign military despised their race and their culture.
• Death due to illness was a daily occurrence.
• Financial security was uncertain due to the numerous amounts of corrupt taxation.

Furthermore, their family members and tribesman were rejecting them because of their newfound faith in this man named Jesus. Their tribesmen who are fellow Believers were scattered all over the known world with little or no communication.

Let’s be clear that these Believers were experiencing some conflict. However, let’s also highlight the principles found within this text.

Principle 1: Share The Conflict

As we come back to our passage, focus on the first verse.

“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.” (1:1)

It’s important to recognize that although these Believers were scattered due to an array of conflicts, James considers them unified in their struggles. He greets them accordingly, as a group of Believers who are ‘sharing the conflict’. God is leading James to recognize their disconnect as a people, but to show them that they’re not alone and that they’re in this conflict together.

One of my preferred Christian authors is a man by the name of Donald Miller. Perhaps you’ve read his book, “Searching For God Knows What” or his memoir, “Blue Like Jazz”? Mr. Miller’s latest book is titled, “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years”.

In this book, he explores the concept of God as the writer of a dramatic screenplay. We all have pivotal and dramatic roles. He proposes that if our Writer (God) does not allow conflicts within our screenplay, our stories simply aren’t worth telling.

The following is a quote from chapter 27: “The Pain Will Bind Us“.

“I remember seeing a story on 60 Minutes about a group of American businessmen who were taken captive and held for ransom in South America.  They were chained to each other for two years.  They were kept in a cage and treated like dogs.  In the interview, the three of them looked healthy, but I wondered about the scars they had on their bodies, the scars we couldn’t see. I noticed during the interview, the men were better with each other than most groups of men tend to be.  They didn’t finish each other’s sentences, they knew when to stop talking and let the other express what he was better at expressing.  And there was a love between them that was not a mushy love or even a brotherly love; it was a love I can only imagine being melded in the kind of torment that is only understood by somebody else experiencing the same pain.  They were bound by conflict. And it’s not just big pain that binds.  It’s any sort of conflict.  It’s any sort of common purpose being arrived at through a tough middle that brings people together.” (Miller, 2009, Pg. 183-184)

Principle 2: Embrace The Conflict

After the first verse and James’ recognition that these believers are disconnected; he jumps right into the subject at hand.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,” (1:1-2)

James is advising these scattered Believers to ‘embrace the conflict’ that’s set before them. To joyfully accept what they cannot avoid. Now, these Believers have no better human nature than you or I. This passage and the principle of joyfully accepting conflict are just as foundational for us as Believers today. And yet, how often do we allow our inner conflicts and conflicts with other people to overwhelm us?

It’s not an easy task and it’s not supposed to be. It’s not a natural reaction for us as human beings.  This is what separates us as Believers, from the world around us. In a world that is selfish, we are called to be selfless. And this concept of rejoicing in the face of adversity is found throughout Scripture.

Principle 3: Endure The Conflict

As we look to the end of verse 2, we need to take note of the comma behind the “…trials of many kinds…” At this point we’ve established that we should be joyful during times of trials, but why? The answer is found in verse 3.

“…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.” (1:3-4)

It’s all about perseverance! Verse 3 is our call to ‘endure the conflict’ to complete the growth process. And if we didn’t get the message, verse 4 fully explains the process, “…that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

We’re called to grow!

To grow spiritually into mature, complete Believers who are not lacking anything, we must ‘endure some conflict.’ Unfortunately, an easy life does not produce strong Christians.

“…I realized how much of our lives are spent trying to avoid conflict. Half the commercials on television are selling us something that will make life easier.  Part of me wonders if our stories aren’t being stolen by the easy life.” (Donald Miller – A Million Miles In A Thousand Years)

Share, embrace and endure your conflicts this week. In turn, experience the growth needed to persevere.

Join the Conversation, Share Your Thoughts

• What conflict are you facing right now?
• How could you share this conflict?
• How will you embrace it and endure it?