Don't Throw Yourself to The Wolves!

Introduction

Intentionally putting ourselves in temptation's way to "withstand trials" to in-turn grow is not what God intends for us via James 1:2-4.

"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

What does this mean? 

Facts, According to Scripture

God will give us the measure of what only He intends for us to endure.  

Many of us in our walks' "baby Christian" phases may have read the above passage, misinterpreted, and took matters into our own hands.  This misinterpretation may have caused us to put ourselves close to temptation's fire or trial to harden and refine ourselves.  In doing this, we are actually hurting and not helping God's plan for us; we are getting in God's way. 

God has an intentional set plan for us.  His plan for our life includes how He will refine us, what storms He will allow us to face, and what doors He will open for us to walk through along the way.  Simply put, there are some things that God may never intend on us to face.  Loading ourselves down with burdens we choose could cause us to wither as opposed to being patient, taking things as God allows, and growing on His timing.

For example, how many people do you know have actually succeded from partaking in a "get rich quick" scheme?  If you do know someone who did, it is pretty rare.  On the other hand, how many established businesses or corporations do you know of grew slowly, gained a reputation, and sustained their strength and stature?  They're existent all over the world. More situations like this exist than the other.  Good, steady growth often yields more than erratic, spontaneous, and unpredictable growth.

"'...A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.'" 

-Matthew 13:3-8

Facing trials on purpose is like standing in -20 degree weather and expecting not to get cold; if we stand there long enough, shivering tremors will eventually ensue.  If we choose to walk close to the fire of temptation and sin, we will eventually fall in. 

In God's eyes, our personal desire for growth is probably very commedable and surely God appreciates our desire to progress, but He calls us to totally rely on Him. 

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."  -Philipians 4:6

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." -Proverbs 3:5-6

So, if God refines us on His timing, then why should we set ourselves up to fail through impatience?  Instead, we can relax and take the storms as they come as God chooses them for us, knowing that He brought us to it.  And if God brought us to it, guess what?  He will bring us through it.  Whether it is more or less than we can handle, God will be our strength to pull us through it as long as we follow and trust Him.  It will cause us to grow.

Even Paul (an apostle who wrote much of the New Testament) had to learn how to get out of God's way and rely on Him:

"...Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

-2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Further Perspecive

In Exodus, the Israelites were commanded to follow God through the desert to the promised land.  God used a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.  The generation that entered the desert never made it out; for fourty years, the Israelites wandered through the desert.

But why?

The generation that left Egypt exercised wavering faith in God and kept turning away.  What could've very well been, with obedience and faith, a 240 mile, 10-20 day trek through the desert became a 40-year journey.  All God asked them to do was basically, "Get behind me...," or, "Follow me..."  Lack of faith turned them away from the promise was directly in front of them.   Furthermore, God desired to lead the Israelites and He was visibly in front of them.  What more could they've asked for?  Nowadays, what more could we ask for?

 Conclusion

We don't have to "live and learn".  Get behind Jesus and follow Him.