Casualties of Apathetic Affliction

Two Primary Reasons for the Purpose of Trouble in our Lives 1. The Purpose for Correction 2. The Purpose of Completeness

“Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” Haggai 1: 5-6

“Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” Chareb… lies desolate. Wasted and dry.

2. Willingness to neglect 1. Lack of interest. 2. Willingness to neglect 3. Priority Predicament A. W. Tozer made a statement that "Trying to have happiness (peace) without a sense of God's presence, is like trying to have a bright day without the sun!"

“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1: 1-4

James Provides Three Strenuous and Counterintuitive Options 1. To consider in pure Joy 2. To Persevere ὑπομονή hypomonḗ = endurance in the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings. 3. Perspective ὁλόκληρος holóklēros free from sin, faultless

Application 1. Priorities 2. Perspective 3. Position