To the Ends of the Earth: Action – Catholic Men’s Devotionals, Week 2– Double-Minded or Doubly Joyful

Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord.

James 1:2–8

Sin, while always connected to pride, is also a product of doubt. As Catholic men, we find ourselves facing trials and folding under pressure in our efforts to persevere. We find it difficult to consider it a joy that our faith is being tested. We hate weakness and failure, and trials bring us both. In the end, it is doubt that can cause us to stumble. When we are double-minded, unsure of our motives and our methods, unstable in all we say and do, we fall short of God’s call to be men of action who build the kingdom on the sturdy foundation of Jesus Christ. When we doubt that God will supply the wisdom and the strength for us to see our trials through, we allow the enemy of our souls and this broken world to toss us about, leaving us floundering in our faith.

Saint James has the prescription for our doubting, double-minded, unstable ways. The whole first chapter of his letter offers the answers to finding the full measure of joy in the midst of trials:

1.         We will boast in our lowly yet high standing.

James reminds us that a lowly man can “boast in his exultation” (Jas 1:9), because his source of strength comes from God alone. Accepting our lowliness helps to change our perspective and guides our actions. We recognize our need for God and become open to the transforming power of the trials of life that reshape us to serve the One who is our source of strength.

2.         We must avoid the birth of sin.

James describes the power of temptation, which leads to the birth of sin if we give in to our own desires. Moreover, “sin when it is full-grown brings forth death” (v. 15). Temptation is the work of the world, the flesh, and the devil, not God. God gives us the power to persevere, not to fall, to discover our worth and purpose as we strive to avoid sin and to love as he has loved us.

3.         We must not allow the sea of our troubles to toss us about.

We cannot receive God’s wisdom and blessing if we are too busy being blown back and forth by our doubt (v. 6). We must ask God to supply us with the assurance and understanding we need to navigate our struggles in faith so that we will be strong and steady men of action who build the kingdom by all we say and do.

4.         We need to be men who act on the word we hear.

James compares those who hear the word and do nothing about it to a man looking at his reflection and then forgetting what he looks like (v. 22–24). Faith without works is dead (cf. Jas 2:17). Acting on God’s promises shows trust and fulfills the call to live out our faith through acts of charity.

5.         We can look deeply into God’s perfect law and be set free to love.

We need to focus all our spiritual attention on the depth of God’s abiding love. As we gaze into the perfect Law of Love that sets us free, we find the strength to say no to sin and yes to all that God calls us to do for our world. We can grow stronger every day and become a blessing to others, sharing that perfect love that has so transformed us.

A Call to Action

This week let love, service, and purity mark you as a joyful doer of the word. Accept that while trials are never pleasant, there is joy in trusting that God uses them to mold us into men who will not fold under pressure. Double-minded men make poor witnesses. When we accept our lowly position in God’s plan and allow his wisdom to fuel our faith, we can become men of action who share our faith through our words and our deeds graced with the power of our Savior’s perfect love.

See your struggles as a rigorous spiritual workout, letting God build your spiritual muscles as he shapes you into a man after his own heart. With each day that unfolds, accept the testing of your faith, knowing that God is making you stronger, destroying doubt, and teaching you how to love others and live with integrity. Remember that in Christ, believers become wise servants who stand strong against the waves of indecision and doubt. If we hold fast to faith, we can carry out his will with passion and power and a joy that is inexpressible.

You can learn more about the To the Ends of the Earth devotionals HERE