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James 1:4
4 But [de] let [echo] patience [hupomone] have [echo] her perfect [teleios] work [ergon], that [hina] ye may be [o] perfect [teleios] and [kai] entire [holokleros], wanting [leipo] nothing [en] [medeis]. KJV-Interlinear
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. NASB
The theme of this book is the 'application of wisdom.' Wisdom comes with maturity. James calls for believers to become perfect, which is a reference to spiritual maturity and will be more explained in the next few verses.
Maturity comes with learning, and learning comes by means of studying and applying. As the believer grows up, the natural process of growth results in spiritual maturity.
The learning process in the spiritual life, is very much similar to the academic life. We study, we learn, we experience life, we make decisions, we learn from our decisions and/or from our mistakes (as it were), and we grow as a result.
In the academic world, or life outside of the fellowship sphere, we may or may not learn from our actions. There is a tendency to not learn, since the believer (or unbeliever) operates outside of the sphere of Gods discerning environment.
The believer (and not the unbeliever), who is in fellowship, has the advantage of Gods discerning abilities. That is Bible doctrine in the soul. This discernment helps one to see life clearly and to learn properly, and thus to grow properly to maturity.
'Endurance,' as we studied yesterday, is a reference to patience, confidence, stamina, survival, the ability to stick with life without falling apart. Combined with proper discernment, the believer can focus on the events of his life. Combined with being in fellowship, the believer advances (automatically) toward 'perfection,' or spiritual maturity.
Being born alive is not enough. You must believe in Christ in order to be saved, in order to go to heaven.
Being saved is not enough. You must be perfect (mature) in order to enjoy the phenomenal benefits of salvation, in order to witness and recognize Gods work within your life.
In spiritual maturity, you will lack for nothing. God is there regardless of your life's situation. And your situation could be good, it could be ho-hum, or it could be absolutely horrible.
But remember one important principle, every human being is a clay pot. Clay or dust of the earth, from which God made us. Each clay pot comes in various sizes, shapes, with ornamental markings, and some that are made very plain.
Into each clay pot, God pours the life of each one of us. And though our circumstances are very different, we all have the very same objective in life (spiritual maturity), and the very same provider in life (God and doctrine). How will you invest what God has given to you (life, time, and doctrine)? How will you deal with the circumstances which God has given you in life? How will you match the two up?
